After just the second game of her collegiate career, Aquinas women's lacrosse goalie Azariah Wells was named the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the national office on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 16). Wells had a standout performance in net for the Saints in AQ's 16-12 win over Madonna last Saturday (Mar. 13).
 
Wells faced 29 shots in the four-goal victory over the Crusaders and recorded a terrific 17 saves, giving her an outstanding .586 save percentage in the win. Aquinas led 6-5 at halftime and pulled away with 10 second-half goals, as Wells' work in goal helped clinch the victory.
 
She also totaled five groundballs and a caused turnover in the win. In her first two collegiate games, Wells has stopped 51.9 percent of her opponents shots, which ranks seventh in the NAIA. Her 14.0 saves per game is second-best in the country during the early part of the season.
 
Wells is believed to be the first Aquinas women's lacrosse player to earn NAIA National Player of the Week honors in school history. During the 2013-14 season, former Saint Hannah Crosby was named the NWLL National Offensive Player of the Week, though that award came from a different organization. 
 
AQ is back in action this Saturday (Mar. 20), when the Saints host Bethel in a WHAC contest starting at noon at the AQ Athletic Field.