St. Mary’s City, Md. – First-year Shelby Newman (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team was selected by the Department of Athletics & Recreation as the Athlete of the Month for the month of April.

Newman garnered the honor after putting forth a solid, well-rounded effort with 23 points, 20 ground balls, 14 draw controls, and four caused turnovers. The Seahawks posted a 3-4 (2-2 CAC) overall record in April, knocking off Marymount (Va.) University twice.  The 5-3 midfielder collected four hat tricks in seven games played.

She started the month with three goals and an assist at The Catholic University of America on April 2 before tallying season-highs of seven goals, two helpers, and nine points at the University of Mary Washington on April 10.

Newman registered back-to-back hat tricks in a pair of victories over Marymount. She netted five points (3g, 2a) in a 19-13 win during the regular season to secure the fourth seed in the 2013 Capital Athletic Conference Tournament. Then she added four points (3g, 1a) in the team’s 17-7 triumph in first round action against the Saints on April 23.

She finished out the month with a season-best six draw controls in the conference semifinals at Salisbury University.

Newman was voted by the CAC coaches as this year’s Rookie of the Year while gaining a spot on the first team as well. She became the ninth Seahawk to earn the rookie award since the award’s inception in 1997.

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH HONOR ROLL

• BASEBALL: ZACH NADOLNY, So., Third Baseman/Designated Hitter (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air)
• MEN’S LACROSSE: DALTON YOHN, Sr., Long-Stick Midfielder (Westminster, Md./South Carroll)
• MEN’S TENNIS: ANDREW GEAR, Jr., No. 1 Singles/No. 1 Doubles (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill)

PAST ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

• SEPTEMBER – Dan Swain, Sr., Men’s Cross Country
• OCTOBER – Mandy Goodspeed, Fy., MB, Volleyball
• NOVEMBER – Kelly Heyde, Sr., IM/Fly/Free, Women’s Swimming
• DECEMBER – Donn Hill, Jr., G, Men’s Basketball
• JANUARY – Devin Spencer, Sr., G, Men’s Basketball
• FEBRUARY – Kelly Heyde, Sr., IM/Fly/Free, Women’s Swimming
• MARCH – Nick LaGuerre, So., G, Men’s Basketball
• APRIL – Shelby Newman, Fy., M, Women’s Lacrosse

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