St. John Fisher College’s Melissa Leonhard (Penfield/Penfield), a junior on the women’s lacrosse team, has been named the College’s Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 22, 2012. She has also been chosen as the Empire 8 Conference’s Player of the Week.
The midfielder helped lead Fisher to a 2-0 week, while sweeping Empire 8 Conference foes Stevens Institute of Technology and Alfred University at home. Leonhard totaled 11 goals over the two games, while also scooping up five ground balls and grabbing seven draw controls.
Saturday, Fisher defeated Stevens by an 8-6 score with Leonhard adding half of the Cardinals' goals. After a strong performance against the Ducks, the junior put up career numbers when she netted a personal-best seven goals against Hartwick College in Fisher’s last home game of the year. With the score 3-1, Leonhard helped spark an eight-goal Fisher run when she added five of her seven goals in a 15-minute span that stretched from the first to the second half. Fisher would go on to beat the Hawks 19-5.
Leonhard was also credited with the game-winning goals in both contests. The win on Sunday also locked up a spot for Fisher in the Empire 8 Championship.
Leonhard currently leads Fisher in goals (50), ground balls (51), draw controls (75) and caused turnovers (21). She and the Cardinals (10-4, 5-1 E8) will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday when they travel to face East Avenue and Empire 8 foe Nazareth College.
