Press Release Written by Mitchell Coll
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Another week into the spring season and the 'Cats have two student-athletes being represented atop the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Weekly Awards, Ella Royer of women's lacrosse and Kylee Gunkel of softball, as announced by the conference office on Monday.
Ella Royer (Sherwood Park, Alberta) continues to shine for the Wildcats as she earns her third consecutive CACC Rookie of the Week honor in only her third week as a Wildcat. Royer is coming off a week where she produced 12 points (nine goals & three assists), 10 ground balls, and 11 draw controls in three games. The Wildcats enjoyed a 2-1 week overall, including back-to-back wins in West Virginia. Royer scooped nine ground balls, scored twice, and added one assist in an 18-5 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan. In a 20-5 victory over Alderson Broaddus, Ella Royer had three goals, one assist, four draw controls, and one ground ball. In the Wildcats' most recent game, Royer produced four goals and an assist, adding a game-high seven draws against Kutztown University.
The Wilmington University softball team finished its first eight-game stint during its annual Florida trip playing against various teams. The 'Cats finished the road trip with an impressive six wins. Kylee Gunkel earned CACC Pitcher of the Week for her overall performance on the mound in four games (three starts) played last week. Gunkel collected two wins and pitched a total of 21.2 innings. In four games Gunkel struck out 11 batters and picked up wins against Saint Leo and Florida Tech. Gunkel pitched a complete game, four-hit shutout gem against Saint Leo in a 1-0 victory. Gunkel only allowed four hits, had one strikeout and one walk. She struck out a week's best seven batters at Florida Southern.
Three other Wildcats earn spots CACC Weekly Honor Roll. Softball's Jess Reed had 12 hits last week, good for a .515 batting average. Women's lacrosse's Amelie Gamache had five goals, five assists, nine ground balls, and 20 draw controls to earn a spot this week. Men's lacrosse's TJ Caton had two goals, two assists, and seven ground balls against No. 13 Pace University.