Six goals + win over Northwestern = National Player of Week honors for UF's Kitty Cullen
Monday, April 18, 2011 | Lacrosse, Men's Swimming & Diving, Scott Carter
As Gators lacrosse coach Amanda O'Leary wrapped up interviews following Thursday night's historic win over Northwestern, a reporter tossed one last question her way about Kitty Cullen.
“Can any team stop Kitty?'' he asked.
“Kitty is great,'' O'Leary replied. “That's all I can say. I'm glad she's on my team and I don't have to stop her.''
Cullen's six-goal performance in UF's 13-11 win over Northwestern didn't go unnoticed. She was named WomensLax.com National Player of the Week on Monday.
Cullen joins Ashley Bruns, who won the award on March 21, as the only Gators in the program's two-year history to win national player of the week. She scored Florida's final three goals with the game on the line as Florida dealt Northwestern its first American Lacrosse Conference loss in seven years.
The Wildcats, who have won five of the last six national titles, had not lost a conference game since May 2004 against Vanderbilt.
Already on the Tewaaraton Watch List as a candidate for national player of the year, Cullen is leading the nation in goals with 67. She has already doubled her goal total (31) from her freshman season.
“Kitty is fantastic,'' Florida goalkeeper Mikey Meagher said. “Her growth from this year to last year is unbelievable. She is a phenomenal player and deserves all the credit in the world.''
The Gators (14-1) conclude the regular season on May 1 at Cornell.
