Top Individual Performances (Week 1 WLAX)
| Each week, we will look back at the games that were to see which players had the largest individual performances. I say largest because the contributions that we can measure (from play by play) tend to be things that are easy to count. This includes, goals, shots, assists, turnovers, penalties, etc. We can’t measure a defender who shuts down an opposing player so completely that she doesn’t even touch the ball. Still, it is interesting to be able to identify the players that really filled it up each weekend and give them a shout out here. | |
| For a bit of background, in order to rank single game performances, we needed a way to condense box score stats to a single number for each player. In order to do this, we relied on our expected goal values methodology, which assigns a goal value to each type of play depending on how often it leads to a goal in the next 60 seconds. By adding up all the expected goals added for each player, we can get to that single number and these rankings. | |
| We have also tagged each performance with the opponent’s ELO rating. The higher the number, the stronger the opponent. This should help to give some context for each performance. Did the player feast on the dregs of D1 or did they put up these numbers against a quality opponent? | |
Top Single Game Scores of the week |
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#1 – Izzy Scane (Northwestern) – 9.29 goals added
Feb 14 vs Ohio State Opp ELO: 1489
I know that women’s lacrosse has more teams, and talent tends to be concentrated a bit more than in men’s lacrosse. But it is still shocking to see one Big Ten team up 18-0 against another Big Ten team. Yet that was the situation in the opener for Northwestern.
Izzy Scane’s 12 points certainly played a role in that. As a result, her 9.29 EGA (expected-goals-added) topped the list of D1 WLAX accomplishments this week. It’s hard to draw too many conclusions from one mismatch, but the Wildcats offense has been trending up in recent years. Last year, before the season was cancelled, their offense was scoring on 42% of their possessions. That is the best mark for them since I have been tracking that metric. Time will tell whether we get more games like this from them. Goals
Assists
Shots
9
3
11
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
2
0
9
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
2
0
0
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#2 – Monica Borzillo (Cincinnati) – 8.33 goals added
Feb 14 vs Marquette Opp ELO: 1597
Borzillo’s line is a model of efficiency. 5 goals on 7 shots (all of which were on goal). 6 assists meant she was a huge part of keeping the offense humming. Add in a GB and it was a well-rounded performance. One for the personal record books too: 11 points was a career high.
Having just the one turnover was huge too. That has been an area of her game that has improved the past few years. In 2019, she had 4.3 turnovers per game. Last year, it was just 2.7. If that number ends up going lower this year, while her assist rate jumps, the Bearcats will have found their offensive engine. Goals
Assists
Shots
5
6
7
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
1
2
7
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
3
1
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#3 – Megan Menzuber (Marquette) – 7.01 goals added
Feb 14 vs Cincinnati Opp ELO: 1457
The mirror image of Borzillo’s game for Cincy as Megan Menzuber’s performance for the Golden Eagles. One note specific to her: in both 2019 and 2020, she accounted for 7.6% of Marquette’s contributions (her play-share). In this game, that number was 11%. It’s always a huge challenge to increase one’s role while maintaining efficiency; after one game, so far so good.
Goals
Assists
Shots
6
3
8
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
0
0
6
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
2
0
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#4 – Lauren Gilbert (Northwestern) – 6.33 goals added
Feb 14 vs Ohio State Opp ELO: 1489
When you score 23 goals, I guess it’s not a surprise to see several of your players put up big EGA numbers. And so it is with Northwestern’s second appearance on this list coming in the form of Lauren Gilbert’s 6-goal performance.
Her career has been a story of steady improvement in the shooting discipline. By year, she’s gone: ’18: 23.1% Every offense needs their sharpshooter, and the evolution of Gilbert into that role has been steady. Goals
Assists
Shots
6
0
8
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
0
3
7
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
1
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#5 – Gianna New (Davidson) – 6.20 goals added
Feb 14 vs Furman Opp ELO: 1358
This was a day to take advantage of the defense, and she delivered with 5 goals against Furman in a game that Davidson won 14 – 10. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 1 ground ball and 12 draw controls.
Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Furman was one of the weakest opponents on this list. Factor that in. Goals
Assists
Shots
5
0
8
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
1
12
8
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
5
1
2
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#6 – Ashley Britton (High Point) – 6.08 goals added
Feb 12 vs Jacksonville Opp ELO: 1873
If the defense doesn’t stop you, just keep shooting, right? She gladly obliged, racking up 4 goals against Jacksonville in a game that High Point lost 14 – 13. She also threw in 3 ground balls for good measure.
Plus, when you factor in that Jacksonville was one of the strongest opponents on this list, these stats look even better. Goals
Assists
Shots
4
0
11
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
3
0
8
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
4
0
3
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#7 – Cassidy Spilis (Rutgers) – 6.03 goals added
Feb 14 vs Penn State Opp ELO: 1718
She paced the team with 5 total points (4 goals; 1 assist) against Penn State, in a game that Rutgers lost 20 – 11. She also threw in 4 ground balls and 2 draw controls for good measure.
Plus, when you factor in that Penn State was one of the strongest opponents on this list, these stats look even better. Goals
Assists
Shots
4
1
5
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
4
2
5
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
5
2
4
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#8 – Sophia Donovan (USC) – 5.81 goals added
Feb 13 vs San Diego State Opp ELO: 1576
She paced the team with 7 total points (4 goals; 3 assists) against San Diego State, in a game that USC won 20 – 6. Add in 1 ground ball and you’ve got a pretty full stat sheet. No trillion-club here.
Goals
Assists
Shots
4
3
6
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
1
0
5
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
1
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#9 – Kristin O’Neill (Penn State) – 5.80 goals added
Feb 14 vs Rutgers Opp ELO: 1362
She paced the team with 6 total points (4 goals; 2 assists) in a game that Penn State won 20 – 11 over Rutgers. It was a somewhat one-dimensional day with no GBs or draw controls, but come on: 6 total points.
Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Rutgers was one of the weakest opponents on this list. Factor that in. Goals
Assists
Shots
4
2
7
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
0
3
7
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
5
1
3
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#10 – Lydia Foust (Marquette) – 5.61 goals added
Feb 14 vs Cincinnati Opp ELO: 1457
In this one, she scored 3 goals and added 2 assists against Cincinnati, in a game that Marquette lost 20 – 19. Granted, there wasn’t a lot there besides the scoring, but it’s good enough to land a spot on the list since, hey, you win by scoring. And zero turnovers! Coach has to love that.
Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1457, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater. Goals
Assists
Shots
3
2
11
GBs
Draw Controls
SOG
0
3
9
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
0
0
0
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