Orrell Tabbed Corvias ECAC DIII New England Player of the Week

Orrell Tabbed Corvias ECAC DIII New England Player of the Week
Apr 26, 2016

BENNINGTON, Vt. — A day after being named the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Player of the Week, Southern Vermont College junior captain Mel Orrell (Gloucester, Mass.) was selected as the Corvias Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Women's Lacrosse Player of the Week for the period ending April 24, 2016 the organization on Tuesday.

Orrell had a career week, helping the Mountaineers go 2-2 overall and 2-1 in NECC action. That helped the team lock up its second straight playoff berth and earn the No. 3 seed which carried with it the right to host the program's first-ever home postseason match.

The junior captain amassed 20 goals across the four contests, adding 28 draw controls, 18 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers, and an assist. Her ECAC honor is the first in program history.

"Mel is a player who takes pride in her game," commented SVC second-year head coach Thomas L. Otero. "She takes time out of her personal day to work on all of her skills, and it shows. She is a committed team player, and is more concerned about the team's outcome than her individual accomplishments. She is a leader on the field and a leader by example."

The junior netted seven goals and 10 draw controls in a Wednesday win at Bay Path University before notching a season-best eight scores in a hard-fought 20-18 SVC triumph over Elms College on Saturday. She also recorded her 100th career goal against the Blazers on Saturday while her eighth tally of the day saw her finish the regular season as the NECC's leading scorer with 59 on the year. Additionally, the attacker broke her Southern Vermont program goals record of 43 earlier in the week.

"This last week's performance for Mel was tremendous," Otero continued. "Everyone knows that the game of lacrosse can be won by at the draw. And her controls absolutely put us in a position to win those games by giving us an advantage over our opponent."

Tuesday's announcement came as Orrell and the Mountaineers prepared to welcome Elms back to Everett Field for the 5 p.m. first-round playoff showdown.