Posted: May 08, 2012
FREDONIA - The State University of New York Athletic Conference has announced the Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards for the 2012 women’s lacrosse season in addition to the All-conference teams. The awards are voted on by the conference coaches.
Cortland senior midfielder Lindsay Abbott (South Onondaga, NY/Onondaga) has been selected as the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year for the second straight season. Fredonia's Katie Kleine (Cazenovia, NY/ Cazenovia) has been named the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and head coach Chris Case has been chosen as the league's Coach of the Year in a vote of the league's coaches.
Abbott is a four-time first-team all-conference selection and becomes the fourth player in Cortland and SUNYAC women’s lacrosse history to be voted the Player of the Year twice. The senior led Cortland to its 14th straight conference title and automatic NCAA Div. III playoff berth. Abbott has started all 18 games and leads the team with 112 points on 63 goals and 49 assists. She has also totaled 43 groundballs, 34 draw controls and caused 21 turnovers. Earlier this season Abbott became one of just five players in NCAA Div. III women's lacrosse history to reach the career 400-point mark.
Kleine led Fredonia to a 14-4 mark as the Blue Devils made their second SUNYAC Tournament appearance with a 7-1 conference record. The midfielder has started all 18 games en route to becoming Fredonia’s second SUNYAC Rookie of the Year; Kelsey Lamb earned the honor in 2008. Kleine, a first-team All-Conference selection, leads Fredonia with 82 points on 53 goals and a team high 29 assists. Her points and assists have set a new single-season school record. She has totaled 43 groundballs, 23 draw controls and caused 27 turnovers.
Case earned SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors the second time in his career, previously earning honors in 2008. Case has guided his team to a current 14-4 record, setting a school record for wins in a season. The Blue Devils served as the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament with a 7-1 league record but lost in the semifinals, 16-13 to Buffalo State. Due to the successful season, Fredonia received an at-large selection into the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in program history. Fredonia will host St. John Fisher in a first round game on Wednesday, May 9.
2012 All-Conference Teams
