The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced
2015 Women's Lacrosse All-Conference teams as voted on by the conference coaches. In addition, the Player of the Year, Goalie of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year have been selected.
Player of the Year: Erika Wilcox, Stevens
In 16 regular season games, Wilcox tallied 76 points on 58 goals and 18 assists. Her points and goal total led the conference as she guided the Ducks to the third seed in the Empire 8 Tournament. She won 50 draw controls, scooped up 34 ground balls and caused nine turnovers. The midfielder scored 27 goals and tallied nine assists against conference opponents. Wilcox is the second Stevens athlete to earn the Player of the Year honor as Alyssa Pigott was recognized in 2009 and 2010.
Goalie of the Year: Ashley Kirch, Nazareth
Ashley Kirch started all 15 games for the Golden Flyers in the regular season and earned a 12-3 overall record. She amasses 106 saves with a 9.34 goals-against average and .461 save percentage. She had three games in the regular season and one in the post-season in which she produced double-digit save totals, including a season-best of 12 against Utica. This marks the third straight season the Goalie of the Year was a Golden Flyer as Tara Prosak was honored in 2013 and 2014.
Rookie of the Year: Haley DeVona, Nazareth
Haley DeVona led the Nazareth squad with 52 points on 35 goals and 17 assists in the regular season and added three more points in the Empire 8 tournament. She started every game and her season ending 37 goals led the Golden Flyers. DeVona scored four or more goals in a game four times, including five goals against Elmira. On the season she won 20 draw controls and scooped up 19 groundballs. DeVona is the second Nazareth rookie, joining previous winner Lindsay Gotham (2002).
Coaching Staff of the Year: Nazareth College
Traci Lian and her staff have been named the 2015 E8 Women's Lacrosse Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time. The staff guided the Golden Flyers to a 7-1 league record and the top seed in the Empire 8 Tournament. Nazareth finished with a 12-4 overall record and the 12 wins is the most in a single season since 2007 when the team won 13 games.