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McCarthy Moves to First in Nation in Ground Balls American remains in national rankings as a team

April 23, 2002

Sophomore Nicole McCarthy is first in the nation in ground balls and second in caused turnovers.

WASHINGTON — American University sophomore Nicole McCarthy (Flourtown, Pa./Springfield) took over the nation’s top spot in ground balls this week for women’s lacrosse and moved up to second in the nation in caused turnovers. Junior Nadia Harmsen (Buzzards Bay, Mass./Tabor Academy) and sophomore goalkeeper Laura Randisi (Towson, Md./Notre Dame Prep) also received national recognition this week.

McCarthy has continued her impressive season by continuing to move up the national rankings through the season. This week marks the first time that she has been ranked first in the nation in ground balls, averaging 5.50 per game. She also moved up one spot in caused turnovers and is now in second position with 3.21 caused turnovers per game.

Two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week Nadia Harmsen has also been climbing the national rankings this year. She is currently ranked 10th in the nation in ground balls with 3.79 per game.

Randisi has had a solid season in goal for the Eagles and returns to the national rankings after posting two wins and allowing only 13 goals last week. She is now 16th in the nation in goals against average with a mark of 8.99.

As a team, American is nationally ranked in five categories. With McCarthy and Harmsen pacing the Eagles, American is fourth in the nation in ground balls with 34.36 per game. McCarthy and junior Robyn Mincher (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) have led the Eagles to a national ranking of fourth in caused turnovers with 15.71 per game. American is also 16th in the nation by allowing only 9.000 goals per game and is 18th in the nation in winning percentage. Finally, the Eagles are 26th in the nation in draw controls averaging 10.71 per game.

American is currently 9-5 overall and 5-1 in the Patriot League. The Eagles tied for the regular season Patriot League title with Lafayette. American begins Patriot League Tournament play this Saturday at Lafayette in a semifinal match against Villanova at 1:00 p.m.

American University, which is in its inaugural year as a member of the Patriot League, officially joined the conference on July 1. The University, founded in 1893, fields a 19-sport Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men.