CACC Announces Women's Lacrosse All-Conference and Major Award Winners
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior midfielder Libby Nichols of Philadelphia University has been tabbed the 2014 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year as voted by the league coaches and announced today by Commissioner Daniel Mara. Rams head coach George Chis-Luca garnered Coach of the Year honors by a vote of the sports information directors. Chestnut Hill College freshman midfielder Alicia Herbert was named Rookie of the Year and Nyack College earned the annual Team Sportsmanship Award.
Nichols, a native of Ellicott City, Md., has controlled the midfield for the Rams this season with 90 draw controls in 15 overall games and is currently second in the CACC with 68 in 10 contests. In conference play, she caused 21 turnovers (5th) and forced nine more in five non-league contests. The dual threat posted 44 goals (3rd) and 12 assists (7th) for 56 points (5th) this season. Nichols success continues to the classroom where she is currently carrying a 3.919 grade point average in Physician Assistant Studies. She was named CACC Player of the Week on April 7, Defensive Player of the Week on March 17 and the CACC Student-Athlete of the Month for March.
Herbert has been a force in free position situations in her rookie Griffin campaign. She leads the CACC with 12 goals on 32 attempts in conference play. For the season, the Little Egg Harbor, N.J. native registered 40 goals (8th) on 76 shots-on-goal (2nd) and added seven assists for 47 points, which was good for 10th in the circuit. Herbert was named CACC Rookie of the Week on March 10th and again on March 31st.
Chis-Luca has led the Rams to the CACC South Division Regular Season Championship and the number one overall seed heading into this weekend's Final Four. Philadelphia is ranked sixth according to the April 16 NCAA Division II North Region Rankings. The 2011 CACC Coach of the Year is in his sixth season as the head coach of PhillyU with a current career overall record of 64-40 and a conference mark of 51-15.
Joining Nichols on the CACC All-Conference First Team are: Brigit Larose of Holy Family University; Allison Smithwick and Christina Brennan of Dominican College; Melissa Williams, Catherine Dee, Emily Gialanella and Stephanie Lehner of Georgian Court University; Rebekah McCurry of Wilmington University; and Liz Mower and Melissa Styer of Philadelphia U.
The CACC All-Conference Second Team members are: Allison Brian and Lauren Hartman of Philadelphia U.; Paige Settar, Kimber Kisselback, Marissa Lawson and Alison Kern of Holy Family; Callie Brown of Georgian Court; Megan Keffer and Corinne Dries of Wilmington; Lauren Lebo of Nyack College; Miranda Polaski of Post University in Waterbury; Gina Sparaco of Dominican; and KarlaAne Klouda of Chestnut Hill College.
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell College, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (NY) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician College, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Nyack College, Philadelphia University, Post University, University of the Sciences and Wilmington University.
2014 CACC Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams
First Team
A - Brigit LaRose, Holy Family |
Sr. |
Lumberton, N.J. |
A - Allison Smithwick, Dominican |
Jr. |
Commack, N.Y. |
A - Melissa Williams, Georgian Court |
So. |
Egg Harbor Twp., N.J. |
M - Christina Brennan, Dominican |
So. |
Washington Twp., N.J. |
M - Catherine Dee, Georgian Court |
Sr. |
Howell, N.J. |
M - Rebekah McCurry, Wilmington |
Jr. |
St. Leonard, Md. |
M - Liz Mower, Philadelphia U. |
So. |
Harleysville, Pa. |
M - Libby Nichols, Philadelphia U. |
Sr. |
Ellicott City, Md. |
D - Olivia Antonopoulos, Dominican |
Sr. |
Baldwin, N.Y. |
D - Emily Gialanella, Georgian Court |
Jr. |
Toms River, N.J. |
D - Melissa Styer, Philadelphia U. |
Sr. |
Severna Park, Md. |
G - Stephanie Lehner, Georgian Court |
So. |
Howell, N.J. |
Second Team
A - Allison Brian, Philadelphia U. |
Jr. |
Lancaster, Pa. |
A - Lauren Hartman, Philadelphia U. |
Jr. |
Sewell, N.J. |
A - Paige Settar, Holy Family |
So. |
Mullica Hill, N.J. |
M - Callie Brown, Georgian Court |
So. |
Toms River, N.J. |
M - Megan Keffer, Wilmington |
Jr. |
Wilmington, Del. |
M - Marissa Lawson, Holy Family |
Sr. |
York, Pa. |
M - Lauren Lebo, Nyack |
So. |
West Simsbury, Conn. |
M - Miranda Polaski, Post |
Jr. |
Agawam, Mass. |
M - Gina Sparaco, Dominican |
Jr. |
Freeport, N.Y. |
D - Alison Kern, Wilmington |
Sr. |
Middletown, Del. |
D - Kimber Kisselback, Holy Family |
Jr. |
Langhorne, Pa. |
D - KarlaAne Klouda, Chestnut Hill |
Sr. |
Belvidere, N.J. |
G - Corinne Dries, Wilmington |
Sr. |
Bear, Del. |
Honorable Mention
A - Kristen Blye, Philadelphia U. |
Fr. |
Chester Springs, Pa. |
A - Brianna Lancetta, Holy Family |
Jr. |
Marlton, N.J. |
M - Lea Sanders, Chestnut Hill |
Fr. |
North Merrick, N.Y. |
D - Melanie Schaefer, Georgian Court |
So. |
Howell, N.J. |
G - Brittany Kiernan, Dominican |
So. |
Clarkstown, N.Y. |
Player of the Year: Libby Nichols, Philadelphia U.
Rookie of the Year: Alicia Herbert, Chestnut Hill (Fr., M, Little Egg Harbor, N.J.)
Coach of the Year: George Chis-Luca, Philadelphia U.
Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack College