NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Atlantic 10 Conference has named Massachusetts sophomore Jess Beech its Offensive Player of the Week, while Saint Joseph's sophomore Robin Bleekemolen was named Defensive Player of the Week. Hawks' teammate, freshman Celeste Smits earned Rookie of the Week accolades. The awards, announced Tuesday and presented by Biosteel, are for games played March 8-14.

Beech scored twice over the course of another two-win weekend for the Minutewomen, this one including a pair of 2-1 victories over Maine and UMass Lowell. The midfielder from Marlow, England, converted her first collegiate penalty stroke attempt in the game against Maine when she equalized the score at 1-all in the 36th minute. She then had the eventual game-winning goal against UMass Lowell in the 43rd minute, scoring on a penalty corner redirect in front of the cage when she tipped Emily Crawford’s attempt into the back of the cage for her team-leading third goal of the year.

Bleekemolen earned her first career win and shutout on Thursday as the Hawks beat La Salle to open conference play. She then backstopped the Hawks to a 3-2 overtime victory at Delaware on Sunday. The Amsterdam, Netherlands, native, made a key save in the extra frame that kept things level and allowed the Hawks to eventually score the winner, and collected five saves overall on the weekend, allowing just two goals.

Smits tallied four points as the Hawks went 2-0 last week. On Sunday, the Capelle aan den Ijssel, Netherlands, native assisted on the game-tying goal as the Hawks twice came back from a goal down to force overtime at Delaware. In the extra frame, her reverse from the top of the circle found the back of the cage and gave the Hawks the come-from-behind victory. She also notched an assist for her first collegiate point in the win at La Salle. The midfielder's four points and two assists are both tied for the team lead.