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April 6, 2004

Sophomore Laura Barnes was selected the Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending April 4,

WASHINGTON — American University women’s lacrosse players Laura Barnes (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) and Rebecca Copeland (Webster, N.Y./Webster) have been named the Patriot League’s Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week for the week ending April 4, league officials announced Monday.

Barnes captured the award, the first of her career, for her efforts Saturday in a 6-3 win over league foe Villanova. The sophomore led a defensive effort that allowed the second-fewest goals by an opponent in school history with five caused turnovers and two ground balls. Barnes also added two caused turnovers and two ground balls in a heartbreaking, 13-12 loss to UMBC last week. On the season, Barnes has caused 18 turnovers, second most on the squad, and picked up 24 ground balls.

Junior attacker Rebecca Copeland earned the PL Offensive Player of the Week award for her seven goals last week.

Meanwhile, Copeland, the team’s leading scorer with 30 goals and three assists, chipped in seven goals last week. The 5-9 junior found the net four times in the loss to UMBC, and followed that effort up with three goals, including the game-winner, versus Villanova. In that game, Copeland tallied the game’s first two goals. Copeland also chipped in four ground balls in the two games.

With the win at Villanova Saturday, AU became the first team in the seven-team league to capture a spot in the four-team league tournament to be held May 1-2 at the highest seed’s home field.

The Eagles return to action today when they travel to Richmond to square off against the Spiders. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.