Rhodes Receives 2nd Straight BIG EAST Offensive Player of Week Award
10/26/2021 12:02:12 PM | Field Hockey
Liberty’s Daniella Rhodes earned her second consecutive BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week award, it was announced on Tuesday.
In addition to Rhodes’ accolade, freshman Martu Cian garnered inclusion on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the first time in her career.
Rhodes’ honor is her third of the season and fourth BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week distinction of her career. Cian’s recognition is the second of her career, as she was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three weeks ago (Oct. 5).
Rhodes recorded two goals, an assist and five points in a pair of Lady Flames home wins last weekend versus Providence (5-2 final) and No. 22 Kent State (2-1 final). The junior forward from Durban, South Africa scored No. 9 Liberty’s final goal at the 59:05 mark in the win over the Friars. She tallied eight shots (six on goal) in the contest.
On Sunday versus No. 22 Kent State, Rhodes was involved in both Liberty goals in a 2-1 win over the Golden Flashes, the Lady Flames’ fifth ranked win of the season. She assisted on Cian’s goal in the eighth minute and then scored a highlight goal, a reverse shot into the top of the cage, at the 47:12 mark that gave Liberty a 2-0 edge. The goal was her 15th of the season in only 13 games, tying teammate Jill Bolton for the team lead.
In 13 games this season, Rhodes is tied for the team lead in goals (15) and points (36) and has six assists. She currently ranks third nationally in goals per game (1.15) and points per game (2.77).
Cian scored her fifth goal of the season in Liberty’s triumph over Kent State. The Liberty rookie’s goal came at the 7:14 mark on a reverse shot over the Kent State goalkeeper. The Buenos Aires, Argentina native tallied a career-best four shots against the Golden Flashes, two of which were on cage.
The freshman had two shots (one on goal) in the win over Providence, last Friday. In 16 appearances this year, Cian leads all Lady Flames freshmen in goals (5), assists (1), points (11), shots (17) and shots on goal (11).
Liberty has received 15 awards from the BIG EAST Conference so far this fall and one national award.
Rhodes, Cian and No. 9 Liberty (13-2, 6-0 BIG EAST) will wrap up their regular season slate with a home match versus No. 15 Old Dominion (13-3, 5-1 BIG EAST). Match time is 3 p.m. at the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
