Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Ashley Ross has been chosen America East Conference Defensive Player of the Week in women's lacrosse, as announced on Monday, March 29 by the conference office. Ross earned the weekly award for the second time this season.
     A senior goalkeeper from Lancaster, Pa., Ross made a career-high 12 saves in Sunday's 11-10 victory over Denver. She stopped three free-position shots and came up with a caused turnover and a ground ball with 6:04 remaining as her team clung to a one-goal lead. The Great Danes have won six in a row. In addition, she totaled five of her eight saves on free-position attempts in a 12-7 win against Colgate on March 23, plus added a career-high six ground balls.
     Ross has accounted for double-figure saves three times this season in her first year as a starting lacrosse goalie. She is among the America East leaders in save percentage (.550), goals against average (7.17) and saves per game (8.57).

Paw Prints: UAlbany is off to its best start as a Division I program with a 6-1 record ... the Great Danes start America East Conference play on Wednesday, March 31 at Vermont (3:00 p.m.) ... junior midfielder Nikki Branchini is sixth among the NCAA leaders in both ground balls (3.5 pg) and draw controls (4.5 pg) ... Taylor Frink is the conference's top scorer at 4.14 points per game ... Frink, a junior attacker, has 20 goals and nine assists ... Kayla Best, a senior midfielder, netted three or more goals for the 26th time in her career and extended her goal-scoring streak to 53 consecutive games against Denver ... Best is fourth on the school's career scoring list with 171 points (141 goals, 30 assists) ... UAlbany is second nationally in scoring offense at 15.71 goals per game.