Loughery Earns ASUN DPOW Honor, Liberty’s 4th Straight Award

Liberty senior Grace Loughery has been tabbed the ASUN Conference Women’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week.

Loughery, who is in her first season with the team after transferring from Navy, earns her first career weekly honor in her time with Liberty. Her selection gives Liberty four straight ASUN Defensive Player of the Week accolades after Taylor Gallarello earned the award last week and Lizzy Ferguson garnered the distinction the two weeks prior.

Loughery, a team captain, paced Liberty in caused turnovers with six and added five ground balls in a pair of ASUN road wins at Coastal Carolina and Queens over the weekend. In last Thursday’s win over the Chanticleers, the senior paced the team with four caused turnovers and matched team-high honors with four ground balls. Loughery also tallied her second assist in a Liberty uniform in that game, a 17-14 Lady Flames triumph.

On Saturday at Queens, Loughery tallied two caused turnovers and helped the Lady Flames defense hold the Royals to a season-low five goals. Liberty won the game 14-5, taking sole possession of first place in the ASUN with an unblemished 3-0 league mark. Loughery and the Liberty defense held Queens to two goals in the first 54:42 of the game.

In 12 games this season, Loughery leads the squad in ground balls (30) and caused turnovers (19). She ranks 42nd nationally and second in the ASUN in ground balls per game (2.50).

The Lady Flames have received 20 all-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Week awards in five seasons in the league.

Loughery and Liberty (7-5) will meet No. 9 Florida (9-3) in a non-conference contest, Wednesday afternoon at the Liberty Lacrosse Field. First draw is noon and can also be seen on ESPN+.

Liberty’s ASUN Conference Women’s Lacrosse 2023 Weekly Award Winners

Feb. 28 – Attacker Lizzy Ferguson – ASUN Player of the Week

March 21 – Attacker Lizzy Ferguson – ASUN Defensive Player of the Week

March 28 – Attacker Lizzy Ferguson – ASUN Defensive Player of the Week

April 4 – Goalkeeper Taylor Gallarello – ASUN Defensive Player of the Week

April 11 – Defender Grace Loughery – ASUN Defensive Player of the Week

Main Photo at Top of Story: No. 11 Grace Loughery