FOREST, Va. – For her efforts last week in helping the Maroon field hockey team to a 3-1 record, Grace Vernarelli has been named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference field hockey Athlete of the Week.

Grace started the week with an unassisted goal in the Maroons' 2-1-win ODAC opening win at home against Eastern Mennonite. She followed that up with her first hat trick of the season in Roanoke's 6-0 win over Ferrum. She scored the game-winner just 1:23 into the game and followed up with two more goals in the first quarter. In the Maroon's 6-0 win on Saturday over Virginia Wesleyan, Vernarelli assisted on the second goal of the game before scoring her own at 20:25 to put the Maroons ahead 4-0.

She has also been a primary force behind two new program records. From Sept. 3 to Oct. 3, the Maroons won six games in a row by shutout, besting the record of five set in 2000. Overall the Maroons won nine-games in a row, also setting a program record for win streak. During that span, Vernarelli scored 10 goals and added five assists.

Roanoke next plays on Wednesday, October 12 when it travels to Bridgewater for a 7 p.m. ODAC contest.