ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Women's lacrosse draw control specialist Maura Murphy was named the Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA) Athlete of the Week. Murphy helped Navy defeat UMass (W, 17-16) and Syracuse (W, 11-10 overtime) in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
 
The senior finished with 29 draw victories in two games (14.5 per game), while adding three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. With her 29 draws over the weekend, the Woodbine, Md. native now has 173 draw controls on the season and 203 for her career.
 
Murphy opened the postseason tournament with a career-high 20 draw controls against the Minutewomen. Powered by Murphy's 20 draw wins, the Mids claimed 25 of the 34 draws in the game. It was the second time in program history that a player had 20 or more draws in a game just one shy of the program record (21), set by Alyssa Daley ('25) last season at Lehigh.
 
Against Syracuse, Murphy led the team with nine of Navy's 14 draw controls. The senior helped control possession in the second half, aiding the Midshipmen's come-from-behind victory over the Orange. Additionally, Murphy picked up a career-high two ground balls and caused a career-best two turnovers against Cuse.
 
Navy returns to action this week as the Midshipmen travel to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday, May 14, at SECU Stadium. The game will air on ESPNU at 5:00 p.m.