GANSEVOORT, N.Y. - The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its 2016-17 Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference selections with 36 student-athletes receiving honors on the first, second and third team. Five individuals were also honored by the NEAC with annual awards that are selected in a vote by the conference coaches.
For the second-straight season, SUNY Polytechnic’s Krysta Beha (Marcy, N.Y.) has been named the NEAC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Wildcats’ offense all season. In 13 games this season, Beha tallied 82 points to rank fourth in the NEAC with 59 points coming against conference opponents. The Wildcats’ senior midfielder is third in the league with 58 goals and 24 assists on 105 shots. Beha also leads the NEAC with 84 ground balls while ranking second in draw controls (103) and caused turnovers (52). Her offensive consistency led to a number of milestones throughout the season as Beha surpassed 150 career goals and 250 career assists in just her third full season of play. Recording at least three goals in every game she played, Beha’s most impressive game of the season came against Wells when she scored 10 points on six goals and four assists. Beha also represented SUNY Polytechnic on the NEAC All-Conference First Team.
Morrisville State College senior Jordan Anderson (West Edmeston, N.Y.) was selected as the NEAC Defensive Player of the Year after for the second consecutive season. Anderson anchored the Mustangs’ defense with a team-high 71 ground balls that ranked second in the NEAC. She also leads the conference and ranks third in Division III with 63 caused turnovers, including 42 that have occurred in league games. Appearing in all 16 games in the regular season, Anderson recorded 46 draw controls while even chipping in on the offensive end with 14 goals and seven assists. Her defensive efforts stood out on numerous occasions throughout the season, earning Anderson NEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors three times. Anderson is also one of three Morrisville State student-athletes to receive a NEAC All-Conference First Team nod.
Hilbert College freshman Emily Gawlak (Buffalo, N.Y.) was honored as the NEAC Rookie of the Year following an outstanding first season for the Hawks. In just 12 games, Gawlak amassed 62 points to rank 10th in the NEAC. She led her squad with 47 goals and 15 assists while also scooping up 28 ground balls. Gawlak has recorded 132 draw controls on the year and leads all Division III players with 11.00 draw controls per game. She was recognized as the NEAC Offensive Player of the Week on Apr. 10 after a week that included an eight-goal game against Lancaster Bible College. Gawlak is the lone Hilbert player on the NEAC All-Conference Team, earning Second Team honors for the Hawks.
With two coaches receiving the same amount of votes, Penn State Abington’s Head Coach Noelle Powell has been named NEAC Co-Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. Powell led the Nittany Lions to a 12-1 overall record, which included an 8-1 mark against conference opponents. In her fifth season at the helm, Powell’s squad earned the NEAC Regular Season Title for the first time in program history and saw five players receive NEAC All-Conference honors.
Morrisville State College’s Head Coach Kelsey Van Alstyne is also receiving NEAC Co-Coach of the Year recognition for the first time in her career. In her third season with the Mustangs, Van Alstyne guided her team to an 8-5 record in league play and an 11-5 overall record. As the No. 2 seed in this year’s tournament, Morrisville State will be in search of its second title under Van Alstyne’s leadership. The Mustangs led all NEAC teams with seven All-Conference selections.
2016-17 NEAC Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference Team
| Position |
Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| All-Conference First Team |
| Attack |
Gianna Branca |
Morrisville State College |
Jr. |
Camillus, N.Y. |
| Attack |
Breana Howe |
Cazenovia College |
Sr. |
Apalachin, N.Y. |
| Attack |
Alyssa Wesner |
Lancaster Bible College |
Sr. |
Danville, Pa. |
| Midfield |
Krysta Beha |
SUNY Polytechnic |
Sr. |
Marcy, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Marah Hayes |
Penn State Abington |
So. |
Warminster, Pa. |
| Midfield |
Amanda Ruszczyk |
Medaille College |
Sr. |
West Seneca, N.Y. |
| Midfield ** |
Courtney Cavellier |
Morrisville State College |
So. |
Rodman, N.Y. |
| Defense |
Jordan Anderson |
Morrisville State College |
Sr. |
West Edmeston, N.Y. |
| Defense |
Lauren Jensen |
Medaille College |
Sr. |
Elma, N.Y. |
| Defense |
Bridget Meade |
Penn State Abington |
Jr. |
WillowGrove, Pa. |
| Defense ** |
Elizabeth Sherman |
Keuka College |
So. |
Auburn, N.Y. |
| Goalkeeper |
Ally Thayer |
Keuka College |
So. |
Rome, N.Y. |
| All-Conference Second Team |
| Attack |
Morgan Bruno |
Keuka College |
Sr. |
Seneca Falls, N.Y. |
| Attack |
Emily Gawlak |
Hilbert College |
Fr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. |
| Attack |
Hannah Bracey |
Bryn Athyn College |
Fr. |
New Park, Pa. |
| Attack ** |
Celia Abbott |
Morrisville State College |
Jr. |
Shortsville, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Mackenzie Maloney |
Wells College |
So. |
Huntington Station, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Sarah Espe |
Medaille College |
Jr. |
Johnson City, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Veronica Baez |
Penn State Abington |
Fr. |
Hatboro, Pa. |
| Defense |
Gianna Ciarccrelli |
Bryn Athyn College |
Fr. |
Howell, N.J. |
| Defense |
Alexandra Welch |
Cazenovia College |
Sr. |
Skaneateles, N.Y. |
| Defense |
Kaylie Bauer |
Medaille College |
Jr. |
Lancaster, N.Y. |
| Goalkeeper |
Abigail Kortz |
Cazenovia College |
Sr. |
Cohoes, N.Y. |
| Goalkeeper ** |
Anna Bozeat |
Wells College |
Fr. |
Memphis, N.Y. |
| All-Conference Third Team |
| Attack |
Mari Ames |
SUNY Polytechnic |
Jr. |
West Carthage, N.Y. |
| Attack |
Alynn Phelan |
Penn State Abington |
Fr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Attack |
Elizabeth Leva |
Morrisville State College |
Sr. |
Hoosick Falls, N.Y. |
| Attack ** |
Molly Wyman |
Penn State Abington |
Sr. |
Abington, Pa. |
| Attack ** |
Kelsey Beres |
Medaille College |
So. |
West Seneca, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Emma Campagna |
Medaille College |
Fr. |
Clarence, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Kayla Prosinski |
SUNY Polytechnic |
Fr. |
Endwell, N.Y. |
| Midfield |
Brianna Delcolle |
Morrisville State College |
Jr. |
Huntington, N.Y. |
| Midfield ** |
Hannah Thompson |
Lancaster Bible College |
So. |
Morgantown, Pa. |
| Defense |
Casandra Campion |
SUNY Polytechnic |
So. |
Ballston Spa, N.Y. |
| Defense |
Danielle Chidsey |
Keuka College |
So. |
Penn Yan, N.Y. |
| Defense |
Miranda Mingen |
Wells College |
Fr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Goalkeeper |
Kallie George |
Morrisville State College |
Jr. |
Tully, N.Y. |
**Denotes at-large selection
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The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has fourteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University – Abington, Pennsylvania State University – Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Morrisville State College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Wells College, and Wilson College. Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M&W Lacrosse, M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse, M Volleyball), Pennsylvania State University – Altoona (M Volleyball), and Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf). The NEAC has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of field hockey and men’s and women’s tennis. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.