TROY, N.Y. – The Liberty League has announced its weekly awards in women's and men's lacrosse and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes Allie Arnal and Tyler Hutchinson have been recognized.  Arnal was named the women's Defensive Performer of the Week for the fifth time this season, while Hutchinson was the top Defensive Performer selection on the men's side.
 
A junior out of Lakewood, N.Y., Arnal continued to excel last week, moving to 9-0 overall with a pair of league victories. She stopped 18 shots in 120:00 of action while also scooping up three ground balls. Among the highlights to her weekend included an eight-save effort in a 12-8 win over Clarkson.
 
This was the fifth consecutive weekly honor for the Engineers' goaltender, who also made 10 saves in a 12-10 victory against St. Lawrence on Saturday.
 
Arnal currently boasts a 6.71 goals against average with a .587 save percentage. Playing in 527:55 minutes, she has stopped 84 shots while scooping up 19 ground balls.
 
The former Phillips Exeter Academy standout also ranks among the nation's best in several categories.  She entered last weekend's action ranked third in goals against average and second in save percentage.  Among league opponents, Arnal leads the conference goalies in GAA and save percentage, while ranking is second in in saves per game (9.33).
 
Hutchinson, a senior defender and captain out of New Hartford, N.Y., earned his first weekly honor after playing an instrumental role in RPI's 10-7 victory over then-#4 RIT.  He was the primary defender against the Liberty League's leading scorer, keeping that player off the scoreboard the entire game.
 
The former New Hartford High School standout was also a key component to a defense that kept the Tigers – who entered the game third nationally in man-up scoring – from scoring an extra-attacker goal.
 
Hutchinson has started all 11 games for the Engineers, scooping up 29 ground balls and causing 12 turnovers.  He is third and second on the team, respectively, in each category. 
 
A two-time All-Liberty League First Team selection and 2011 USILA All-America Honorable Mention selection, Hutchinson has played in 58 career games thus far with a goal and three assists to his credit.  He has also posted 123 ground balls with 50 caused turnovers.
 
The women's lacrosse team (9-0; 4-0 LL) hosts Williams on Tuesday (6:30pm) and then welcomes conference-rivals Union and William Smith on Friday (4pm) and Saturday (2pm), respectively.  The #20 men's lacrosse team is back in action on Saturday at #5 Union (7pm).