SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announces its 2021 women's lacrosse top awards including Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coaching Staff of the Year and All-Conference teams as voted on by the conference coaches.
Offensive Player of the Year - Heather Conklin, Brockport
Conklin totaled 47 points during conference play with 38 goals and nine assists. Against her West division opponents she also totaled 39 draw controls, 13 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. Overall she leads the conference in goals (55) and points (67) and had 63 draw controls and 16 caused turnovers this season.
Defensive Player of the Year - Caitlyn Merkel, Geneseo
Merkel played a key role in anchoring the Knights' defense in 2021. She totaled 24 draw controls against conference opponents, had 11 caused turnovers and picked up 15 ground balls. She is tied for third in the conference with 20 overall caused turnovers. Merkel helped hold her opponents to single digit goals in five out of nine games.
Rookie of the Year - Logan Hibbard, Brockport
In her first season as a Golden Eagle, midfielder Hibbard tallied 20 points in conference competition. In divisional conference play she also had 17 draw controls, 14 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Overall Hibbard totaled 33 points with 22 goals and 11 assists.
Coaching Staff of the Year - Cortland
This season interim head coach Carissa Medeiros and assistant coach Sydney Teeter led the Red Dragons to their 22nd overall SUNYAC championship crown. Cortland went 8-0 in conference divisional play to earn the first seed in the East and the right to host the semifinal game last week. The Red Dragons defeated Geneseo to advance to the final where they defeated Brockport, 15-13, at home on Sunday. Cortland is currently 12-1 overall and will travel to Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. to face Transylvania (Ky.) in the NCAA first round Saturday, May 8 at 5 p.m. Eastern time. Sixth-year head coach Kelly Orr is on maternity leave this season.
2021 Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams (PDF)
First Team
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
Hometown / High School |
|
Heather Conklin |
Brockport |
Attacker |
Gr. |
Penn Yan, NY /Penn Yan Academy |
|
Natalie Strough |
Brockport |
Attacker |
So. |
Lorraine, NY / South Jefferson Central |
|
Hannah Lorenzen |
Cortland |
Attacker |
Sr. |
Stony Brook, NY / Ward Melville |
|
Hannah Marafioti |
Geneseo |
Attacker |
Sr. |
Fairport, NY / Fairport |
|
Courtney Cunningham |
Brockport |
Midfielder |
So. |
Poughquag, NY / Arlington |
|
Logan Hibbard |
Brockport |
Midfielder |
Fr. |
Hilton, NY / Hilton |
|
Kiki Meager |
Cortland |
Midfielder |
So. |
Syracuse, NY / West Genesee |
|
Megan Henderson |
Geneseo |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
Cazenovia, NY / Cazenovia |
|
Margaret Smith |
Brockport |
Defender |
Gr. |
Liverpool, NY / Cicero North Syracuse |
|
Kayla Petre |
Cortland |
Defender |
Sr. |
Hauppauge, NY / Hauppauge |
|
Caitlyn Merkel |
Geneseo |
Defender |
Sr. |
Irondequoit, NY / Irondequoit |
|
Morgan Elmer |
Brockport |
Goalie |
Jr. |
Syracuse, NY / Westhill |
Second Team
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
Hometown / High School |
|
Cassidy Burnash |
Brockport |
Attacker |
So. |
Roman, NY/ South Jefferson Central |
|
Allison Jennings |
Brockport |
Attacker |
Jr. |
Memphis, NY/ Jordan-Eldridge |
|
Amy Hofer |
New Paltz |
Attacker |
Sr. |
Newfield, NY / Newfield |
|
Sophia Calabrese |
Oneonta |
Attacker |
Sr. |
Bethlehem, NY / Bethlehem Central |
|
Hannah Keech |
Cortland |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
Penn Yan, NY/ Penn Yan Academy |
|
Maddie Gillis |
New Paltz |
Midfielder |
So. |
Levittown, NY / Division Avenue |
|
Rachel Morris |
Oneonta |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
East Greenbush, NY / Columbia |
|
Sela Wiley |
Oswego |
Midfielder |
So. |
Cheshire, CT / Cheshire Academy |
|
Lyndsie Pratt |
Brockport |
Defender |
Sr. |
Littleton, CO/ Columbine |
|
Haley Vermette |
Oneonta |
Defender |
Sr. |
Brewster, NY / North Salem |
|
Julia Quirk |
Oswego |
Defender |
Fr. |
Syracuse, NY / West Genesee |
|
Paige Potter |
Cortland |
Goalie |
Sr. |
Cortland, NY/ Cortland |
Third Team
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
Hometown / High School |
|
Toni Cashman |
Cortland |
Attacker |
Fr. |
East Moriches, NY/ Westhampton Beach |
|
Cecilia Procopio |
Cortland |
Attacker |
Sr. |
Syracuse, NY/ West Genesee |
|
Jacqui Thorsen |
Geneseo |
Attacker |
Sr. |
East Hampton, NY/ East Hampton |
|
Tara Bovich |
New Paltz |
Attacker |
Sr. |
West Islip, NY / West Islip |
|
Shelby Meduski |
Cortland |
Midfielder |
Jr. |
East Quogue, NY/ Westhampton Beach |
|
Laura Skrzypczyk |
Geneseo |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
West Seneca, NY/ West Seneca East |
|
Keydy Espinoza |
New Paltz |
Midfielder |
Sr. |
Brentwood, NY / Brentwood |
|
Shae McConnell |
Oswego |
Midfielder |
Fr. |
Seneca Falls, NY / Mynderse Academy |
|
Lindsay Guzzetta |
Plattsburgh |
Midfielder |
So. |
East Islip, NY / East Islip |
|
Catie Fleming |
Cortland |
Defender |
Sr. |
Massapequa, NY/ Farmingdale |
|
Isabelle Sarle |
Geneseo |
Defender |
Jr. |
West Islip, NY/ West Islip |
|
Alexandria Galvez |
New Paltz |
Defender |
Sr. |
Brentwood, NY / Brentwood |
|
Margaret Rosaschi |
Geneseo |
Goalie |
Jr. |
Highland Mills, NY/ Monroe Woodbury |
