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?
Click on any player’s name or the PRO logo () and you’ll head straight to the detailed breakdown on their LacrosseReference PRO page. As opposed to last year, all players appearing in the weekly rundown are unlocked and the information on their page is available to all readers.
Barry’s 2022 season is off to a hot start. And that might be an understatement. Last year, she was an above average player; her individual efficiency rating was 57 out of 100. This year, it’s 98. She is one of just five Division I Women’s lacrosse players with a rating of 87 or higher on both the assist rate metric and the shooting metric.
And she’s really first among equals there; none of the other 4 players can match her 98 efficiency rating.
Boston College won the “Beanpot-for-Lacrosse” over the past week, with blow out victories over both UMass and Boston U by a combined 44 to 11 margin. BU actually did a pretty good job limiting North to just 6 shots although her teammates picked up the slack and put up a 48% efficiency mark.
The UMass game is another story, and that story is one that’s become very familiar: “Charlotte North scores many goals in Eagles victory.” But while the production numbers are somewhat numbing after a while, I think it’s important to note that the efficiency with which she’s doing this is a step above last year.
Nicolai played her past 4 seasons at Penn State, but transferred over to Temple this past off-season, presumably in search of a better fit and perhaps more playing time. Well, I can safely say that she found both. At Penn State, she took 5 shots per game in her 2019 season. And to be fair, her shooting percentage put her in the 33rd percentile that season. The issue is that as her shooting skills improved, her playing time decreased, to the point that she averaged just 1.4 shots per game in 2021 while her shooting put her in the 85th percentile.
I don’t know the back-story, so I’m inclined to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Happy to see that Nicolai is finding success so far in her new environs.
I’m not sure what trophy they have in the battle for Charles Street, but I vote that Livy Rosenzweig gets to carry it back to Loyola’s campus. 6 points on 8 shots, 2 gbs, 2 turnovers and 14 draw controls adds up to a 7.62 EGA mark. The next most productive Greyhound was Georgia Latch who ended up with 1.76 EGA.
As a 5th year player, Harris has been there for every step in the rise of Drexel. In 2018, she had a 3.39 EGA/gm average and the team’s offensive efficiency was 27.9%. Fast forward to last year, and the team’s offensive efficiency was 37.6% and Harris put up a 5.41 EGA/gm average.
Through 3 games, she’s had her highest play share of her career. Against Lafayette, her stat sheet was quite full. But as I’ve mentioned, in 2022, this ranking is based on overall production AND individual player efficiency. The fact that she only turned it over once and that she shot 86% is as important as the overall production numbers.
#6 – Siena Gore (Kennesaw State) – 7.39 goals added
Feb 20 vs Oregon Opp ELO: 1298
Siena Gore makes her 2022 debut on this list after being a mainstay last season. Her game against Oregon was pretty reminiscent of last year, 56% shooting, a few assists, and a few turnovers. Last year, she finished with a 92 rating for individual player efficiency. So far this year, thanks in part to a season-opening drubbing from Florida, that number is just 78 through 2 games.
Usage-adjusted-EGA, which is my metric for individual player efficiency, tends to rise as player get more experienced. It’s a sign of a player’s game evolving, and to an extent, of the coaching staff learning how to take advantage of their skills.
Mastropietro was the other half of the two-headed monster for Temple in their win over SJU. She and Quinn Nicolai combined for 12 of the team’s 15 goals. She was more of a force in the draw control game, winning 7 and helping the team stay close on that front.
She’s a player that’s seen her role increase every year she’s been in Philly and it appears that 2022 isn’t going to break the streak.
Another week, another top EGA performance for Gerow. This time, she “only” shot 67%, but she made up for it with 3 assists. She’s been a big part of an offensive resurgence in Catonsville the past 2 seasons. As of this writing, the UMBC offense, after adjusting for the strength of their opponents, is ranked 25th in the country. Their raw efficiency is 36.7%, up from 32.3% last season.
#9 – Deanna Balsama (San Diego State) – 6.70 goals added
Feb 20 vs UC Davis Opp ELO: 1795
West Coast Lacrosse!
Balsama is a transfer from George Mason who seems to be enjoying her new digs out on San Diego. She’s always been a +40% shooter, but so far in 2022, she’s shot 50% or better in all three games so far this season. 14 goals…0 assists though. If this is going to be the year that SDSU cracks 30% efficiency, it’s probably going to take a less individual-driven offense. So far, they’ve assisted on just 14% of their goals.
Well, the Florida Gators did better than most against the UNC defense. 11 goals matches the best that anyone has done with March of 2020.
That they had such (relative) success is a testament to the game that Pavinelli had. Since the start of last season, here is a full list of players who have taken at least 7 shots and shot at least 54% against the Heels: Danielle Pavinelli, Meaghan Tyrrell, and Abby Hormes. That’s it.
) and you’ll head straight to the detailed breakdown on their LacrosseReference PRO page. As opposed to last year, all players appearing in the weekly rundown are unlocked and the information on their page is available to all readers.
