By Melissa Maitland

GNAC Sports Information Specialist

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Maeghan Ross, Emerson, Jr., Wrentham, Mass.

Ross has earned GNAC Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row following an impressive conference leading 79 points.  At the end of the regular season, Ross was ranked 3rd in Division III in points per game (7.3), 4th in goals per game (5.5), 15th in goals and 17th in points.  Ross is ranked 1st in the GNAC in points per game and caused turnovers per game, 2nd in goals per game, assists per game, and shots per game, and is tied for 2nd in the conference in game-winning goals.  Ross earned GNAC Player of the Week honors three weeks in a row this season.  The junior midfielder was honored April 4, April 12, and April 19.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ally Allen, Norwich, Sr., Chelsea, V.T.

Allen’s defensive tenacity earned her this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award.  Allen is among her team’s leaders in ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls this season.  Allen’s play this season helped earn the Cadets the 2010 GNAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Ashley Slattery, Lasell, Fr., Weymouth, Mass.

Slattery led the Lasers in assists, ground balls, draw controls, and caused turnovers, and was 3rd on her team in goals and points.  The freshman also broke Lasell program records for draw controls in a game (11), ground balls in a season (69), and draw controls in a season (72).  At the end of the regular season, Slattery was ranked 15th in Division III in draw controls per game.  Slattery is ranked 2nd in the GNAC in draw controls per game, and is ranked 5th in caused turnovers per game and free-position goals per game.  Slattery took home GNAC Rookie of the Week honors twice this season.  She was honored two weeks in a row back on March 22 and March 29.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Gail Decker-Wittman, Emerson, Baltimore, M.D.

Decker-Wittman had another impressive season at the helm of the Emerson Women’s Lacrosse program.  In Decker-Wittman’s 2nd season as head coach, the Lions went 7-1 in the GNAC this season, with an overall record of 8-6.

FIRST TEAM ALL CONFERENCE

Attacker - Alyssa Marchant, St. Joseph’s (ME), Jr., Wakefield, Mass. 

Marchant led the Monks in goals and groundballs this season and ranked 2nd in points on her team.  Marchant became the first St. Joseph’s Women’s Lacrosse player to score 100 career goals during this season.  She was named the GNAC Player of the Week on March 22.  At the end of the regular season, Marchant was ranked 11th in Division III in ground balls per game (5.15), 22nd in goals, and 25th in goals per game (4.08).  Marchant is ranked 2nd in the GNAC in ground balls per game, 4th in shots per game, 5th in goals per game, and 7th in points per game.

Attacker- Jen Thompson, Mount Ida, So., Easton, M.D.

Thompson was an electric goal scorer for the Mustangs in the team’s inaugural season.  At the end of the regular season, Thompson was the No. 1 player in Division III in goals scored, was ranked 2nd in goals per game (6.23), and was ranked 4th in the country in points.  Thompson is ranked 1st in the GNAC in goals per game and shot per game, and 2nd in points per game and free-position goals per game.  Thompson was named GNAC Player of the Week on March 15.

Attacker - Danielle Chuba, Mount Ida, Jr., Wrightstown, N.J.

Chuba finished the regular season ranked 8th in Division III in goals scored, 13th in goals per game (4.62), 17th in points, and 21st in points per game (5.62).  Chuba is ranked 1st in the GNAC in game-winning goals and free-position goals per game, 4th in goals per game, 5th in points per game and shots per game, and is tied for 6th in the conference in assists per game.

Attacker - Amy Gervis, Emerson, So., Randolph, N.J.

Gervis is tied for 6th in assists per game in the conference, and is ranked 9th in the GNAC in points per game.  Gervis is ranked second on her team in goals and assists.

Attacker - Rachel Wallace, Simmons, Fr., Braintree, Mass.

Wallace was Simmons’ highest scorer this season.  She shot 80% from the field and a team-leading 90% free position shooting on the season.  Wallace also ranked 3rd on her team in assists, draw controls and shots on goal.  Wallace was named GNAC Rookie of the Week on April 19. 

Midfielder - Maeghan Ross, Emerson, Jr., Wrentham, Mass.

Ross has earned GNAC Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row following an impressive conference leading 79 points.  At the end of the regular season, Ross was ranked 3rd in Division III in points per game (7.3), 4th in goals per game (5.5), 15th in goals and 17th in points.  Ross is ranked 1st in the GNAC in points per game and caused turnovers per game, 2nd in goals per game, assists per game, and shots per game, and is tied for 2nd in the conference in game-winning goals.  Ross earned GNAC Player of the Week honors three weeks in a row this season.  The junior midfielder was honored April 4, April 12, and April 19.

Midfielder - Lauren Hagerman, St. Joseph’s (ME), Sr., Scarborough, M.E.

Hagerman led the Monks in points, assists and draw controls this season.  Hagerman earned both GNAC and ECAC Player of the Week honors on March 29, and earned GNAC Player of the Week honors again on April 19.  This season Hagerman became the first player in Monks history to score 200 points and the second player to notch 100 career goals.  At the end of the regular season, Hagerman was ranked 9th in Division III in points, 15th in points per game (6.0), 22nd in assists, 29th in assists per game (2.15), and 30th in goals.  Hagerman is ranked 1st in the GNAC in assists per game, 3rd in points per game, 4th in draw controls per game, is tied for 4th in game-winning goals, and is ranked 6th in goals per game and shots per game.

Midfielder - Kacey Abbriano, Norwich, So., Hicksville, N.Y.

Abbriano was a force for the 2010 GNAC Women’s Lacrosse Champions this season.  At the end of the regular season Abbriano was ranked 20th in Division III in groundballs per game (4.5).  Abbriano is ranked 8th in the GNAC in points per game, and is ranked 9th in goals per game and shots per game.  Abbriano also led the Cadets in goals and points in her sophomore season.  She netted a team-high 3 goals in the championship game of the GNAC Tournament and was named Tournament MVP for her efforts.  Abbriano also earned GNAC Player of the Week honors on April 26. 

Defender - Katie Dodge, Emerson, Jr., West Newbury, Mass.

Dodge is ranked 4th in the GNAC in assists per game, and 8th in shots per game.  Dodge led the Lions in ground balls, came in 2nd in draw controls, and was ranked 3rd on her team in points scored this year.

Defender - Ally Allen, Norwich, Sr., Chelsea, V.T.

Allen’s defensive tenacity earned her this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award.  Allen is among her team’s leaders in ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls this season.  Allen’s play this season helped earn the Cadets the 2010 GNAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

Defender - Becky Tisbert, Mount Ida, Jr., Cambridge, V.T.

Tisbert, a solid 3 sport athlete at Mount Ida, was a terrific addition to the program in its inaugural season.  At the end of the regular season, Tisbert was ranked 29th in Division III with 4.23 groundballs per game.  Tisbert is ranked 2nd in the GNAC in caused turnovers per game, and 4th in ground balls per game.

Goalkeeper - Kelly Pickel, Norwich, Jr., Montpelier, V.T.

Pickel is ranked 1st in the GNAC in save percentage, 4th in goals against average, and 7th in saves per game.  This is the second year in a row that Pickel has been named to the First Team All Conference.  Pickel received the Rookie of the Year award in 2008 after her freshman campaign at Norwich.  Pickel earned GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors on April 26 after leading the Cadets to the 2010 GNAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship.

SECOND TEAM ALL CONFERENCE

Attacker - Suzanne Whitaker, Norwich, So., Chelmsford, Mass.

Attacker - Natalie Stever , Simmons, Jr., Chagrin Falls, O.H.

Attacker - Erika Waterhouse, St. Joseph’s (ME), Fr., South Portland, M.E.

Attacker - Natalie Bonive, Rivier, Jr., Salem, N.H.

Attacker - Danielle Del Dotto, Norwich, So., Andover, Mass.

Midfielder - Ashley Slattery, Lasell, Fr., Weymouth, Mass.

Midfielder - Mollie Fitzpatrick, Norwich, So., Falmouth, M.E.

Midfielder - Justine Beauchamp, Simmons, Fr., Exeter, N.H.

Defender - Caitlin Gallagher, Rivier, Fr., Billerica, Mass.

Defender - Kayla Tirrell, Simmons, Jr., Lincoln, R.I.

Defender - Casey Monoghan, St. Joseph’s (ME), Fr., Portland, M.E.

Goalkeeper- Emily Saeger, Emerson, Fr., Center Valley, P.A.

*  All conference rankings as of April 15.

*  All NCAA rankings as of April 18.