STANFORD, Calif. — Following a record-setting outing against Arizona State, Stanford sophomore goalkeeper Ella Morton has been named the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National DI Defensive Player of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday.
Morton, who made her first collegiate start, earned her first collegiate win while amassing a career-high 14 saves on 25 shots faced. Morton’s 14 saves is the most-ever by a Stanford goalkeeper in their first collegiate start, besting Lindsey Munoz’s 13 saves in her first collegiate start against Northwestern on February 10, 2012. She also becomes the third Stanford goalkeeper to record 14 saves in a game in program history.
A native of Chevy Chase, Md., Morton tallied 10 of her 14 saves in the second half in the 14-8 win over the Sun Devils on Saturday including holding the visitors scoreless on one free-position attempt. With the start, Morton has already earned a career-high in minutes played in a season with 91:02 after a trio of appearances earlier in 2026. Morton has now tallied a career-high 16 saves in four games played this season while boasting a .516 save percentage.
Morton and No. 2 Stanford are back in action on Thursday, March 26 against No. 17/15 Boston College. Opening draw from Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., is slated for 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET.