Empire 8 Announces 2008 Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Team
April 24, 2008
ROCHESTER, NY – The Empire 8 announced its 2008 Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference team with St. John Fisher College senior midfielder Laurie Quackenbush chosen as the Player of the Year and junior Kelsey Evans of Rochester Institute of Technology being named Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive year.
Quackenbush, a four-time first-team all-conference selection in addition to her two Player of the Year awards, enters the Empire 8 tournament leading the team in goals (43), ground balls (64), draw controls (47), and caused turnovers (37). She is the school’s all-time leader in all of those categories as well as assists and points.
Junior defender Andrea Gunsalus and sophomore midfielder Lauren Glavin joined Quackenbush on the all-conference first team for the defending Empire 8 champion Cardinals. Gunsalus has recorded 40 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Glavin, who was named Rookie of the Year last season, paces the Cardinals with 56 points on 35 goals and 21 assists.
Evans is the only player to be honored as conference Goalkeeper of the Year with last season marking the first time of the award. She has made 143 saves with a .548 save percentage, while posting a 9.81 goals against average in 13 games. Junior teammate Jerica Young was also selected to the all-conference first team and is tied for the team lead with 46 ground balls.
Tammy Kohanski of Utica College was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and was also named to the first team. She leads the conference with 72 points on 58 goals and 14 assists.
Three Stevens Institute of Technology players earned first-team all-conference honors in their first season in the Empire 8. Sophomore Alyssa Pigott leads the Ducks with 50 goals, 66 points, and 41 draw controls. First-year midfielder Christine Smith is second on the team in ground balls (40), draw controls (38), and caused turnovers (20). First-year defender Kate Cox leads the team in ground balls with 41 and caused turnovers with 21.
Senior attack Kim Medla of Ithaca College earned first-team honors for the second straight year. She leads the Bombers with 45 goals and 50 points.
Senior defender Kaity Richardson of Nazareth College, the top seed in the conference tournament, was selected to the all-conference first team. She has recorded 35 ground balls and 34 draw controls. Sophomore midfielder Perry Markell of Elmira College, a second-team choice a year ago, was named the first team and leads the Soaring Eagles in goals (48), points (53), ground balls (62), draw controls (95), and caused turnovers (25).
Nazareth College Head Coach Sue Behme was selected as Coach of the Year for leading the Golden Flyers to their fourth consecutive regular season title as they extended their regular season conference winning streak to 28 games.
2008 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Awards
Player of the Year: Laurie Quackenbush, St. John Fisher College
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kelsey Evans, Rochester Institute of Technology
Rookie of the Year: Tammy Kohanski, Utica College
Coach of the Year: Sue Behme, Nazareth College