Edison, NJ – Senior goalkeeper
Nikki Prestiano (Yorktown Heights, NY / Yorktown) and freshman attacker
Grace Lipponer (Lake Grove, NY / Sachem North) were named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, the conference announced on Monday.
Prestiano has recorded the honor for the fourth time in her career and the first time since she was recognized on April 16, 2018. Lipponer is Manhattan's first MAAC Rookie of the Week since
Emily Sandford garnered the honor on March 13, 2017. The last time two Jaspers won awards in the same week, Prestiano teamed up with Megan Yarusso '16 to take home Defensive and Offensive Player of the Week, respectively, on February 15, 2016.
In Manhattan's season opener against Vermont on February 18, Prestiano made 11 stops, including the 400th of her career. She followed that up with eight saves, four goals allowed and seven ground balls in the Jaspers' 9-4 victory at La Salle on February 23. As of February 24, The Yorktown Heights product is eighth in the nation with a 7.00 goals-against average and ninth with a .576 save-percentage.
Lipponer started both games and, with three scores vs. the Catamounts, was the first Jasper to notch a hat trick in her collegiate debut since Julia Lavelle in 2008. She then scored the final Manhattan goal in the win over the Explorers. The Long Islander is tied for the team lead with four goals and paces the team with eight shots through the first two contests.
Manhattan is home for two games this week, beginning with a dual against LIU Brooklyn on Wednesday, February 27 at 4:00 pm.
