COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Bates sophomore goalie Ava Donohue is the NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week for NCAA Division III, as announced Wednesday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Donohue (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) is the first Bobcat in the history of the Bates field hockey program to earn this prestigious award. The back-to-back NESCAC Player of the Week has taken her game to a whole new level during the post-season, most recently making a season-high 11 saves in the NESCAC semifinals Saturday against seven-time defending national champion Middlebury. Not only did Donohue shut out the Panthers, she also stopped four out of five shots in the shootout as Bates prevailed to move on to the championship game for the second straight season.

On Sunday, Donohue matched her performance from the day before, once again making 11 saves. This time, no shootout was needed, as the Bobcats defeated Wesleyan 2-0 to clinch the program's first NESCAC championship.

Donohue's save percentage on the season is at .816, tied for the best mark in the NESCAC. Her five shutouts are also tops in the conference as Bates became the first team in the 26-year history of the NESCAC tournament to record three shutouts on their way to the title. 

The No. 4 nationally ranked Bobcats host NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games this Saturday and Sunday at Campus Ave. Field. Bates takes on either Amherst or Stevens this Saturday at 11 a.m. Tickets for NCAA tournament games can be purchased on-site on game day and cost $5 for adults and $3 for students/seniors. The first 100 students with a Bates I.D. get in for free.