NU may have top soccer rookie again

The former Whitman-Hanson Regional star was named the CAA Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, picking up Student-Athlete of the Week honors as well. Petta had seven points (three goals, one assist) in two games last week, including the fastest hat trick in Northeastern history.

The hat trick came in a 4-1 win over Drexel University. The game was tied 1-1 in the 83d minute when Petta ripped off three goals, including the winner, in 4:04. Twenty-six seconds separated the first (82:58) and second (83:24) goals, which were the fastest two goals scored by an individual Huskies player.

“Devin was playing at a high level of competition even before she got to Northeastern,’’ said NU coach Ed Matz. “With her speed, composure, and strength, she has all the attributes to be a good soccer player for years to come.’’

Petta’s quick start has been especially important because Napoli, whose 29 points in 2008 rank second all-time at Northeastern for points in a season, has been recovering from a right knee injury she suffered against Boston College in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year. Napoli missed the first two games of the season and has been working her way back into the lineup. Through nine games, Petta was leading the Huskies (6-2-1) in points (7-3-17), shots (26), shots on goal (16), and game-winning goals (3). She is third in the CAA in points and second in goals.

“Devin has taken the pressure off of [Napoli] while she gets back up to speed,’’ said Matz. “Her play has certainly helped us get off to a good start.’’

Petta’s conditioning allows Matz to play her for all but five minutes of every game. He takes her out five minutes before the end of the first half to give her an extended breather. Matz said she came into camp in great shape and has been leading by example ever since.

“She can still better understand the tactical side of the game,’’ said Matz. “She has 10 other good players around her who can feed her the ball. She doesn’t always have to create everything herself. She’s scoring a ton of goals, which is great. But if she gets in better position, she’ll add to that goal total even more. She hasn’t reached her potential yet.’’

Asack, a sophomore field hockey player, was honored for the second time this season after she scored four goals and added one assist as the Lyons went 2-0 and won their NEWMAC opener. Asack had one goal and one assist in a 3-2 win over Mount Holyoke College and recorded a hat trick in an 8-0 win against Rivier College. In Wheaton’s 9-1 start, Asack led the Lyons with nine goals and five assists. The 23 points through 10 games ties her for ninth in school history for most points in a single season.

McManus, a senior soccer player, led the 13th-ranked Lyons (9-1) to a 2-1 week with three goals and three assists. McManus moved from back to forward for the week. While she has played on defense most of the season, she has contributed on eight of Wheaton’s 27 goals and is second on the team with three goals and five assists and third in points with 11.

This is the second time McManus received the weekly conference honor in her career.

She assisted on the game-winner and scored an insurance goal during a 2-0 win over Mount Holyoke College in the NEWMAC opener.

McManus then added two goals and two assists in a 5-0 win over Husson University.

The Lakeville native tied for 13th place (78-77-155) at the season-opening Duke Nelson Invitational at the Ralph Myhre Golf Course in Middlebury, Vt. UMass-Dartmouth shot a team score of 643 and finished 12th in the 21-team field.

Steve Crowe can be reached at crowe.steven@yahoo.com