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This season, USA Lacrosse will celebrate the accomplishments of players across Divisions I, II and III each Tuesday with Player of the Week recognition.
Players of the Week are selected by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors based on a variety of factors, including individual performance and impact on team success.
This week, Divisions I and II are recognized before the Division III schedule ramps up this weekend.
Maddie Epke, James Madison
James Madison needed everything it could possibly get to down North Carolina 19-18 in overtime, and sophomore Maddie Epke delivered. She had seven goals and one assist, and equally as important were her 10 draw controls to help tilt the field.
She had a hand in every single fourth quarter goal for the Dukes, assisting Savannah Derey to tie it at 15 before scoring the next three goals herself. She also won the overtime draw control that set up the game-winner off the stick of Katelyn Morgan.
Leah Knowles, Wingate
Leah Knowles, a USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American, had five goals, one assist, nine draw controls, two caused turnovers, two ground balls and the game-winning goal with 1:20 remaining in a season-opening 15-14 win over Lander. A little bit of everything from the graduate student midfielder.
Maddie Epke lifted James Madison to its first win over North Carolina since 2018 with seven goals, one assist and 10 draw controls — including the key draw win in OT.
What didn't Leah Knowles do in her season debut? She had five goals, one assist, nine draw controls, two caused turnovers, two ground balls and the game-winning goal.
Kenny DeJohn has been the Digital Content Editor at USA Lacrosse since 2019. First introduced to lacrosse in 2016 as a Newsday Sports reporter on Long Island (yes, ON Long Island), DeJohn specializes in women's game coverage. His search for New York quality pizza in Baltimore is ongoing.