PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Natalie Merrick (East Longmeadow, Mass.) was named Little East Conference (LEC) Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Week on Monday, when the league announced its weekly award winners.
 
Merrick recorded double-digit saves in PSU's two games, finishing the week with a 1.80 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage as the Panthers split a pair of LEC matchups.
 
She opened the week with a season-high 15 saves as the Panthers were fell to Vermont State University Castleton, 3-2, in double overtime. After making three saves in the first half, Merrick stopped seven shots in the second half and five more in the first overtime period.
 
Merrick added 11 saves on Saturday as Plymouth State defeated Eastern Connecticut State University, 3-1, allowing just one goal in the conference victory.
 
Merrick's season goals-against average of 1.38 would rank first among LEC goalkeepers, while her .839 save percentage would also lead the conference. However, she has not yet logged enough minutes to qualify among the individual statistical leaders after missing the first nine games of the season.
 
Plymouth State (6-10, 4-1 LEC) visits the University of Southern Maine for a key conference matchup on Tuesday (Oct. 27). The Panthers sit second in the league standings, one game behind the Huskies for first place. A win would give PSU the head-to-head tiebreaker and put the Panthers in position to earn a first-round bye in next week's LEC Tournament.