WINTHROP, Mass. - Fresh off a dominant regular season finale and a thrilling postseason victory, Norwich University women's lacrosse freshman Sophia Albright (East Dummerston, Vt.) has been named Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Week for the first time in her career, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

Sophomore attacker Vivian Buntin (Middlebury, Conn.) and senior goalkeeper Bailey Ingala (West Hartford, Conn.) also earned spots on the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll.

Albright becomes Norwich's first GNAC Rookie of the Week honoree since Caitlyn Fielder (East Calais, Vt.) earned the award on Mar. 18, 2024.  Her recognition comes after a standout 2-0 week in which she totaled seven points on five goals and two assists while helping the Cadets close the regular season with a decisive win and advance to the GNAC Semifinals.

The freshman opened the week with one of the most productive performances of her young career, erupting for six points on four goals and two assists in Wednesday's 21-2 road victory at Mitchell College.  Albright helped fuel a dominant first half for Norwich, as the Cadets built a 16-0 halftime lead and finished the regular season at 13-3 overall and 10-3 in conference play.

She then delivered the biggest moment of the week in Saturday's GNAC Quarterfinal against sixth-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), scoring the sudden-victory overtime winner just 34 seconds into the extra session to lift third-seeded Norwich to a 13-12 postseason victory on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.

Across the two-game stretch, Albright shot 71.4 percent from the field and placed five of her seven attempts on goal.

Buntin paced Norwich offensively during the week, totaling eight points on seven goals and one assist.  She posted five points in the win at Mitchell, scoring four times and adding an assist as the Cadets controlled the contest from the opening draw.

The sophomore followed with a hat trick in Saturday's quarterfinal win over Saint Joseph, adding four draw controls in the postseason victory.  For the week, Buntin shot 77.8 percent, put seven of her nine shots on goal, and added six draw controls, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers.

Ingala rounded out the Cadets' weekly honorees after coming through with another clutch postseason performance in goal.  The senior played all 61:34 in Saturday's overtime win, making 11 saves as Norwich withstood repeated Saint Joseph pushes throughout the second half and late in regulation.

Her poise in the crease and timely stops helped the Cadets preserve a one-goal playoff battle and advance to the GNAC Semifinals for the second straight season.

Norwich will continue its postseason run on Tuesday, Apr. 28, traveling to second-seeded Emmanuel College for a 7:00 p.m. GNAC Semifinal matchup in Boston, Mass.