WOODLAND, Calif. – The San Diego State lacrosse team swept all three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week awards on Monday, as Harlowe Steele garnered offensive honors, Katy Sharretts received defensive recognition, while Caitlin Jones was named top rookie.
The Aztec trio played key roles in the team's home victories over Central Michigan, Vanderbilt and Lehigh, helping the Scarlet and Black improve to 6-1 on the season, which equals the best start in program history.
Steele's weekly conference honor is the fifth of her career and fourth as an offensive player, while Sharretts picked up her fourth certificate and second this season on defense. In addition, Jones merited rookie distinction for the second time this year as well.
A native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, Steele led the Aztecs with 10 points on seven goals and three assists last week while combining for 13 draw controls, five ground balls and two caused turnovers. The SDSU senior opened the week with two goals in a 16-10 conquest of Central Michigan on March 5, tying for team-high honors with three ground balls. Both of her goals occurred during a 5-1 run in the second half, which gave the Aztecs a 13-7 cushion by the 7:21 mark after the Chippewas narrowed the gap to 8-6 earlier in the period.
Three days later on March 8, Steele scored the golden goal with 33 seconds elapsed in the second overtime of SDSU's wild 15-14 victory over previously unbeaten Vanderbilt. The Aztec midfielder racked up five points on two goals and a career-high three assists vs. the Commodores to go with a personal-best nine draw controls, which ranks second on the program's single-game charts. Her first goal of the night came earlier in the second half on a free position shot that kept SDSU within striking distance at 9-8.
Steele then recorded her third hat trick of the season in a 13-6 win over Lehigh on March 10, helping the Aztecs extend their winning streak to four straight games. Her final goal came during an 8-0 closing run after SDSU trailed 6-5 early in the second half. She also tied for team-high honors with four draw controls while contributing one ground ball and causing a turnover. With her effort, Steele has scored at least three goals in 11 different games during her career.
Sharretts, meanwhile, combined for 29 saves in the Aztecs' three wins last week, finishing with a .492 save percentage and a 9.65 goals against average at goalkeeper. The redshirt junior also posted a team-high nine ground balls and tied for the squad's lead with four caused turnovers.
Against CMU, Sharretts totaled eight saves and tied for team-high honors with three ground balls to go with one caused turnover in SDSU's triumph, limiting the Chippewas to just three goals in the first half while making five stops.
The Bel Air, Md., native later came through with 12 saves vs. Vanderbilt and scooped up three more ground balls to go with a pair of caused turnovers. She made a crucial stop and collected the subsequent ground ball with 28 seconds left in the first overtime, allowing the Aztecs to prevail in the second extra session. With her effort vs. the Commodores, Sharretts surpassed double digits in saves for the 13th time in her career.
She capped the weekend with another stellar effort vs. Lehigh on Sunday, compiling the nine saves, three ground balls and one caused turnover, holding the Mountain Hawks scoreless for the final 27:05 of the contest, as the Aztecs closed with eight unanswered goals to pull away for the victory.
For the season, Sharretts finds herself among the nation's leaders, ranking seventh in saves (78), 10th in save percentage (.517) and 12th in saves per game (11.14).
Jones continued her impressive freshman campaign with four goals, five draw controls and three ground balls in the Aztecs' unblemished week. She led the Scarlet and Black with a personal-best five draw controls and two ground balls in SDSU's win over Central Michigan. Jones' strike came during an important 7-3 closing run for the Aztecs after the Chippewas closed to within 9-7 at the 13-minute mark of the second half
Against Vanderbilt, Jones made her first career start a memorable one, with all three of her shots finding the back of the net. Additionally, all three tallies occurred during the first half, including one at the 14:23 mark, which put the brakes on a 4-0 Commodores run and tied the score at 6-6. The Carlsbad, Calif., product also picked up a ground ball in the Aztecs' victory over Lehigh on Sunday.
San Diego State continues its homestand on Wednesday, March 13, when it plays host to Bucknell at 7 p.m.