ECAC Announces DIII Women’s Lacrosse Major Awards and All-ECAC selections

5/17/2018 9:24:30 AM

DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2018 Division III Women’s Lacrosse Major Award recipients and All-ECAC selections.

Maggie Nelson of Saint Vincent College earned Offensive Player of the Year while Cabrini University’s Jackie Neary was named Defensive Player of the Year. Veronica Venezia from Lebanon Valley College takes home Rookie of the Year and Salisbury University head coach Jim Nestor won Coach of the Year.

Nelson set NCAA Division III records this season for single-season goals (141), single-season points (178), points in a single game (19) and career goals (364) on her way to being named Offensive Player of the Year. The midfielder scored double-digit goals in 11 of the 16 games, including a program record 13 goals against Hanover College on April 28th. Nelson was named ECAC South Offensive Player of the Week four times this season.

Neary led the Cavaliers to a 10-7 regular season record in 2018, including a perfect 8-0 in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play, extending the team's conference win streak to 57 games. The Cavaliers defense held conference opponents to just 41 goals over eight league contests. The defender led the CSAC with 62 caused turnovers and also recorded 80 draw controls and 60 ground ball pickups.

Venezia had an impressive freshman season earning Rookie of the Year. In just 12 games in the regular season, she ranked third on the Dutchmen with 35 goals, second in assists with 25, and third in points with 60. The attacker shot at a .750 clip, scooped up 14 ground balls, caused seven turnovers, and recorded 35 draw controls.

Nestor was named Coach of the Year after leading Salisbury University to an 18-1 record, including a perfect season in conference play at 8-0. He led the Sea Gulls to the NCAA tournament for the 16th consecutive season after winning the team's 16th-straight Capital Athletic Conference title.

ECAC Division III Women’s Lacrosse Major Awards and All-ECAC Selections

Offensive Player of the Year
Maggie Nelson– Saint Vincent College, Sr.

Defensive Player of the Year
Jackie Neary – Cabrini University, Sr.

Rookie of the Year
Veronica Venezia – Lebanon Valley College, Fr.

Coach of the Year
Jim Nestor – Salisbury University

All-ECAC First Team
Liz Hoeffner – Cabrini University, Jr.
Kelly Lynch – Widener University, Jr.
Meredith Willard – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Jr.
Kaitlyn Conrad – Neumann University, Jr.
Avery Murphy – Cabrini University, Jr.
Maggie Nelson – Saint Vincent College, Sr.
Caroline Kallos – Washington & Jefferson College, Sr.
Amanda Woods – SUNY Canton, Sr.
Mina Wilt – Juniata College, So.
Brianna Ladner – Misericordia University, Jr.
Andie Stone – Springfield College, Jr.
Gianna Falcone – Salisbury University, Sr.

All-ECAC Second Team*
Krissy Murphy – Salisbury University, Sr.
Shannon Ryan – Arcadia University, So.
Shelby Corsano – Springfield College, Sr.
Gaby Ojeda – Stockton University, Jr.
Jackie Neary – Cabrini University, Sr.
Carly Weiss – Manhattanville College, Sr.
Jessica Reilly – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Jr.
Molly O’Friel – Pfeiffer University, Sr.
Jen Eck – Lebanon Valley College, Jr.
Jamie Bittner – Stevenson University, Sr.
Tamara Torales – Stockton University, Jr.
Rebecca Bessler – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Sr.
Allison Onslow – Washington & Jefferson College, Jr.
Gabby Curry – Neumann University, Sr.
Leah Franklin – Lebanon Valley College, So.
*additional players added due to ties in voting

ABOUT THE ECAC
Established in 1938, the ECAC is the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. The ECAC hosts numerous championships in men's and women's sports across Divisions I, II and III, offering opportunities for thousands of student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.

STAY CONNECTED
Stay updated on the latest news, championships and more by connecting with the ECAC on Facebook (ECACSports), Twitter (@ECACSports) and Instagram (@ECACSports).