Photo by: © GWU Photo Team
Lacrosse to Honor Seniors before Saturday's Game Against Longwood
April 22, 2022 | Women's Lacrosse
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb will honor nine seniors on the women's lacrosse team prior to the team's Big South game against Longwood on Saturday at Spangler Stadium at 1:00 p.m. The seniors will be honored at noon prior to the team's warm-ups with festivities including free Pelican's snowballs for GWU students.
The veteran core has helped the Runnin' Bulldogs collect a total of 27 wins during their time in Boiling Springs, playing a major role in launching the program's recent ascension towards success that includes three of the top four seasons in team history over the last four years.
The 2022 season recently became the winningest season ever for the program, as the 'Dogs have already set new records in both overall victories (8) and Big South victories (4) coming into today's game.
Danielle Burke (Concord, N.C.) joined the program in the fall of 2020, transferring in from Longwood University. After redshirting the 2021 season, Burke has been the starter in cage for the 'Dogs in all 15 games this season while totaling 314 saves during her career. In 2022, she has collected 132 stops with a .439 save percentage and a 12.58 goals per game average, each of which rank as a top-four mark among conference starters. Burke was named Big South Player of the Week on March 7 after her performance at George Washington where she tied the school record with 18 saves.
Talen Francis (Kennesaw, Ga.) has played in 67 games during her time in Boiling Springs, becoming one of the top players in school history with 154 goals scored and 194 points overall. Francis ranks first in goals, fourth in assists, first in points, second in groundballs, second in caused turnovers, and second in draw controls. She was named to the All-Big South Second Team in 2018 and 2019, and became the first player to earn first team honors for GWU with her selection to the squad in 2021. Francis has been selected as Offensive Player of the Week for the conference three times during her career and earned three Freshman of the Week nods in 2018.
Heather Lobas (Huntingtown, Md.) has become of the top defenders in the Big South during her time at Gardner-Webb, earning All-Conference selections to the 2021 team and 2022 preseason list. In 2022, she has already set career-highs in groundballs and caused turnovers while also scoring her first career goal and notching her first-career assists. Currently, Lobas ranks at the top of the Big South and in the top 50 in the NCAA in both groundballs per game and caused turnovers per game. She ranks third in career caused turnovers (61) and 10th in career groundballs (76) in GWU history.
Jada Preston (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) has been the most prolific passer in school history, currently holding school records in single-game assists (8 vs Delaware State in 2019), single-season assists (23 in 2019), and career assists (70). This season, she is expected to eclipse the current marks for single season goals and points. She has totaled 40 goals and 60 points so far in 2022. Preston is fourth in career goals (107), first in career assists (70), and second in career points (177).
Maddie Martin (Warrenton, Va.) is the most accomplished player in school history in draw controls holding the most in a career (240) and has the top three single-season marks. She had 63 in 2018, 74 in 2021, and has 93 coming into today's game. Martin transitioned from midfield to full-time defender and set new career-highs in single-season groundballs (46) and caused turnovers (19). She ranks third in the Big South in groundballs per game and second in draw controls per game this season. Also, she has earned the conference's Defender of the Week award twice this year, the first on February 22 and the second on March 22. Martin is also fourth in career groundballs (99) and fourth in career caused turnovers (47).
Eilish Gately (Baltimore, Md.) will be making her 70th career start in Saturday's game against Longwood, the most in school history. Gately ranks fourth in career goals (112), sixth in career assists (29), and fourth in career points (141). In 2022, she has already set career-highs in these statistics in addition to draw controls. She has provided a 47.3% shot percentage while putting 74.3% of her shots on cage during her time in Boiling Springs. She has collected four game-winning scores in her career, including this year's win over Wofford where she set a new single-high of five goals.
Ciarra Ashworth (Richmond, Va.) has played in 42 games during her four-year career at Gardner-Webb. Ashworth has been able to contribute 20 goals in her role with the team, adding four assists. This season, she has registered double-digit goals for the first time in her career for a new single-season high. She has been responsible for two game-winning goals in her career, in 2020 against Wofford and Howard in 2022.
Lauren Deaver (Falls Church, Va.) will start a game for the 50th time in her career in the game against Longwood on Saturday. This season has statistically been the most successful offensively for Deaver as she has already broken her previous records in single-season goals and assists. Currently, she has recorded 21 goals and 22 assists and is on pace to break the school record for assists in a season. She sits at sixth in career goals (57), second in career assists (51), and sixth in career points (108). Deaver has collected 74 groundballs, caused 21 turnovers, and had 54 draw controls.
Jessica Vetter (Ellicott City, Md.) has been a consistent presence in midfield for the Runnin' Bulldogs during her four years, playing in 51 games and starting in 39. Vetter is the only midfielder in school history to be in the top 10 for career goals and assists. She has tallied 39 career goals and dished 14 assists. She has scooped 60 groundballs, caused 25 turnovers, and won 32 draw controls.
The veteran core has helped the Runnin' Bulldogs collect a total of 27 wins during their time in Boiling Springs, playing a major role in launching the program's recent ascension towards success that includes three of the top four seasons in team history over the last four years.
The 2022 season recently became the winningest season ever for the program, as the 'Dogs have already set new records in both overall victories (8) and Big South victories (4) coming into today's game.
Danielle Burke (Concord, N.C.) joined the program in the fall of 2020, transferring in from Longwood University. After redshirting the 2021 season, Burke has been the starter in cage for the 'Dogs in all 15 games this season while totaling 314 saves during her career. In 2022, she has collected 132 stops with a .439 save percentage and a 12.58 goals per game average, each of which rank as a top-four mark among conference starters. Burke was named Big South Player of the Week on March 7 after her performance at George Washington where she tied the school record with 18 saves.
Talen Francis (Kennesaw, Ga.) has played in 67 games during her time in Boiling Springs, becoming one of the top players in school history with 154 goals scored and 194 points overall. Francis ranks first in goals, fourth in assists, first in points, second in groundballs, second in caused turnovers, and second in draw controls. She was named to the All-Big South Second Team in 2018 and 2019, and became the first player to earn first team honors for GWU with her selection to the squad in 2021. Francis has been selected as Offensive Player of the Week for the conference three times during her career and earned three Freshman of the Week nods in 2018.
Heather Lobas (Huntingtown, Md.) has become of the top defenders in the Big South during her time at Gardner-Webb, earning All-Conference selections to the 2021 team and 2022 preseason list. In 2022, she has already set career-highs in groundballs and caused turnovers while also scoring her first career goal and notching her first-career assists. Currently, Lobas ranks at the top of the Big South and in the top 50 in the NCAA in both groundballs per game and caused turnovers per game. She ranks third in career caused turnovers (61) and 10th in career groundballs (76) in GWU history.
Jada Preston (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) has been the most prolific passer in school history, currently holding school records in single-game assists (8 vs Delaware State in 2019), single-season assists (23 in 2019), and career assists (70). This season, she is expected to eclipse the current marks for single season goals and points. She has totaled 40 goals and 60 points so far in 2022. Preston is fourth in career goals (107), first in career assists (70), and second in career points (177).
Maddie Martin (Warrenton, Va.) is the most accomplished player in school history in draw controls holding the most in a career (240) and has the top three single-season marks. She had 63 in 2018, 74 in 2021, and has 93 coming into today's game. Martin transitioned from midfield to full-time defender and set new career-highs in single-season groundballs (46) and caused turnovers (19). She ranks third in the Big South in groundballs per game and second in draw controls per game this season. Also, she has earned the conference's Defender of the Week award twice this year, the first on February 22 and the second on March 22. Martin is also fourth in career groundballs (99) and fourth in career caused turnovers (47).
Eilish Gately (Baltimore, Md.) will be making her 70th career start in Saturday's game against Longwood, the most in school history. Gately ranks fourth in career goals (112), sixth in career assists (29), and fourth in career points (141). In 2022, she has already set career-highs in these statistics in addition to draw controls. She has provided a 47.3% shot percentage while putting 74.3% of her shots on cage during her time in Boiling Springs. She has collected four game-winning scores in her career, including this year's win over Wofford where she set a new single-high of five goals.
Ciarra Ashworth (Richmond, Va.) has played in 42 games during her four-year career at Gardner-Webb. Ashworth has been able to contribute 20 goals in her role with the team, adding four assists. This season, she has registered double-digit goals for the first time in her career for a new single-season high. She has been responsible for two game-winning goals in her career, in 2020 against Wofford and Howard in 2022.
Lauren Deaver (Falls Church, Va.) will start a game for the 50th time in her career in the game against Longwood on Saturday. This season has statistically been the most successful offensively for Deaver as she has already broken her previous records in single-season goals and assists. Currently, she has recorded 21 goals and 22 assists and is on pace to break the school record for assists in a season. She sits at sixth in career goals (57), second in career assists (51), and sixth in career points (108). Deaver has collected 74 groundballs, caused 21 turnovers, and had 54 draw controls.
Jessica Vetter (Ellicott City, Md.) has been a consistent presence in midfield for the Runnin' Bulldogs during her four years, playing in 51 games and starting in 39. Vetter is the only midfielder in school history to be in the top 10 for career goals and assists. She has tallied 39 career goals and dished 14 assists. She has scooped 60 groundballs, caused 25 turnovers, and won 32 draw controls.
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
MF
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
MF
/ Women's Lacrosse No videos available.
