Franklin, Gill Sweep Landmark AOTW Awards

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher continued its winning ways last week, topping Meredith and Merchant Marine on the road, and both Jojo Franklin (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver School) and Emily Gill (White Hall, Md./North Harford) were honored by the Landmark Conference this afternoon for their part in those victories.

Franklin received Offensive Athlete of the Week recognition for the second time this season, while Gill earned her second career Defensive Athlete of the Week honor. At 7-2, the Gophers are off to their best start since the 2001 team won eight of its first 10 games.

With three goals in each of last week's victories, Franklin now has multiple strikes in seven consecutive games, and Goucher is 6-1 during that stretch. The freshman midfielder added three assists in Saturday's Landmark-opening win over Merchant Marine, giving her a season-high six points in that contest. Franklin also chipped in seven draw controls and four ground balls against the Mariners. She currently ranks third in the conference in goals (20), second in points (28) and first in draws (30).

Gill played a key role in the Gophers' spring break victory at Meredith. She made 11 stops with a .611 save percentage, registering her highest number of saves in a Goucher win during her two years as the team's starting goalkeeper. The 11 saves was her second-most this season overall. Gill also played the opening half of Saturday's game, making one save her 30 minutes of action. Her 8.54 goals-against average for the season is tops among Landmark goalies.

A total of 15 Gopher athletes have now received weekly recognition from the Landmark during the 2014-15 school year, including three from the women's lacrosse program. Goucher returns to Beldon Field this Wednesday for a 4:30 p.m. contest against Marymount (Va.).