@GWULacrosse Nets Record Four Big South Postseason Awards
April 28, 2016 | Women's Lacrosse
CHARLOTTE — Gardner-Webb raked in a program-record four Big South Conference postseason awards, including an all-conference second team nod for sophomore midfielder Amanda Steinmuller (Ellicott, Md.), announced league officials Thursday with the release of the annual Big South Conference Women's Lacrosse Postseason Awards.
Steinmuller paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with her first career postseason honor from the Big South, while sophomores Alex Fusco (Marietta, Ga.) and Monique Martin (Tyngsborough, Mass.) both earned their second straight all-conference nod with a pair of honorable mention selections. Sophomore goalie Cassidy McDowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) became the first player in program history to be named to the All-Academic team.
Steinmuller put together an outstanding regular season for the Runnin' Bulldogs - particularly in Big South play - as the sophomore midfielder scored 20 of her 28 goals against league opponents. The Ellicott, Maryland native totaled 28 goals, four assists and 32 points during the regular season to rank second on the team. She enters the Big South Tournament having scored at least one goal in nine straight games - including a season- and career-high six goals at Liberty on April 16.
Fusco has paced Gardner-Webb with 36 goals, six assists and 42 points this season, scoring 19 goals in Big South play while putting 87.8 percent of her shot attempts on frame. The sophomore attack scored a season- and career-high seven goals - including the game-winner - last Wednesday in a 12-11 overtime win at Presbyterian to lead Gardner-Webb to its first road win in program history. She tallied at least five goals in three games this season, and currently sits atop the school's all-time scoring list with 48 goals, 13 assists and 61 points.
Martin made a seamless transition from midfield to defense this season, equaling her career-high with a team-best 54 ground balls to rank tied for second in the Big South. The 5-foot-5 defender was particularly effective during conference play, as she forced 20 turnovers and scooped up 25 ground balls to rank among the league leaders in both categories. Martin currently ranks first in program history in draw controls (61), ground balls (108) and caused turnovers (60).
McDowell performed well beyond expectations in her first-ever season as a goalie, entering the Big South Tournament ranked second in the nation in total saves (182) and third in saves per game (11.83). The Cincinnati, Ohio native recorded at least 10 saves in nine games, including a season-high 17 stops against William and Mary, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Presbyterian. McDowell has excelled in the classroom as well, carrying a cumulative grade point average of 3.54 in business administration to earn the program's first-ever All-Academic team nod.
Gardner-Webb begins its postseason run in the Big South Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, as the seventh-seeded Runnin' Bulldogs travel to High Point, North Carolina to take on second-seeded High Point in the quarterfinal round at 3:00 pm.
2016 Big South Conference Women's Lacrosse Postseason Awards
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT-Loren Day, Sr., Campbell
ATT-Allie Foard, Sr., High Point
ATT-Emily Meier, Sr., High Point
MF-Shannon Gallagher, Sr., Winthrop
MF-Sarah Butler, Sr., Longwood
MF-Erica Perrotta, Soph., High Point
MF-Katherine Judge, Soph., Winthrop
MF-Kristina Renner, Sr., High Point
D-Shiloh McKenzie, Sr., Longwood
D-Christina Del Sesto, Jr., High Point
D-Colleen Ekert, Sr., Liberty
GK-Alaina Girani, Soph., Winthrop
AL-Charlotte O'Leary, Sr., MF, Coastal Carolina
AL-Callie Francis, Sr., MF, Liberty
AL-Paige Jenkins, Jr., D, Winthrop
SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT-Katie Clark, Soph., Winthrop
ATT-Kayla Foster, Fr., Liberty
ATT-Katie McHugh, Sr., Longwood
MF-Amanda Steinmuller, Soph., Gardner-Webb
MF-Kallie Britton, Sr., Liberty
MF-Melissa Placek, Fr., Campbell
MF-Brianna McCaffrey, Fr., Liberty
MF-Leah Pace, Sr., High Point
D-Erin O'Hara, Jr., Campbell
D-Nyra Constant, Sr., Coastal Carolina
D-Maura Talvacchia, Jr., Presbyterian College
GK-Molly Andrews, Fr., High Point
AL-Erica Hitch, Sr., ATT, Campbell
AL-Sara Nolan, Sr., ATT, Coastal Carolina
AL-Hayley Krause, Sr., D, Winthrop
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE
ATT-Alex Fusco, Soph., Gardner-Webb
ATT-Kristen Shriver, Soph., Winthrop
MF-Sophie Crowther, Soph., Coastal Carolina
D-Monique Martin, Soph., Gardner-Webb
D-Melanie Via, R-Jr., Liberty
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Erica Hitch, Sr., ATT, Campbell
Gabby Vujanic, Soph., MF, Coastal Carolina
Cassidy McDowell, Soph., GK, Gardner-Webb
Samantha Brown, Jr., ATT, High Point
Kelly Belue, Sr., MF, Liberty
Sarah Butler, Sr., MF, Longwood
Katy Richardson, Sr., ATT, Presbyterian College
Emily Hoke, Sr., D, Radford
Logan McCarthy, Sr., MF, Winthrop
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Loren Day, Sr., ATT, Campbell
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shiloh McKenzie, Sr., D, Longwood
Alaina Girani, Soph., GK, Winthrop
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Kayla Foster, Fr., ATT, Liberty
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
John Sung, Winthrop
Lyndsey Boswell, High Point
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Erica Hitch, Sr., ATT, Campbell
