Runyon, Long Named IWLCA All-Americans
IWLCA Release
GRAND LAKE, Colo. – The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) released its list of All-American honorees on Friday afternoon. The Bombers landed multiple All-Americans for the first time since 2003, as fifth-year senior attacker
Ally Runyon was tabbed a First Team selection, while junior defender was named a Third Team honoree by the association.
Runyon has put together a truly special season in her final year on South Hill, putting together a career year statistically despite coming off an entire season lost to injury in 2016. She enters the weekend with new career highs, posting 80 points and 69 goals. She is the first IC player to hit both milestones in a single-season.
Runyon has re-wrote the program record book in her final season on South Hill. Her 69 goals have already obliterated the previous single-season program record of 61 set by Allison Doyle in 1998. Her 80 points also are tied for the second-most in program history, just four points behind Julie Stone's 84-point campaign in 1993. She continues to extend her lead on the all-time goal scoring list, entering the weekend with 211 goals after her five-score outing against No. 16 Wesleyan in last weekend's NCAA Tournament Second Round win. Runyon's 248 career points are just three shy of tying Tracy Rivas for first on the all-time list.
It is the second time that Runyon has been honored by the IWLCA as an All-American, as she was a Third Team honoree in 2015. Runyon is the first IC women's player to ever be named a First Team All-American by the association. Leslie Murphy was named a USWLA First Team All-American in 1985, she is the only other Bomber to earn a First Team honor by a national outlet in program history. Runyon was named Empire 8 Player of the Year in addition to being a First Team All-Conference and All-Empire Region selection earlier this spring.
Long has had an excellent season leading a stifling Ithaca defensive core in 2017. She ranks second on the squad with 26 caused turnovers and 35 ground-balls on the year. The Ithaca, N.Y., native racked up seven games with multiple caused turnovers, while she swiped five in a game twice during the season. She helped the Bombers become one of the stingiest defenses in the Empire 8 and the region, allowing an average of 7.77 goals-per-game.
Long is the 11
th Ithaca defender to earn All-America honors in the program's history. She is the first defender since Dayna Johnson in 2003; she also was Third Team honoree like Long. The junior defender was named Empire 8 All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive season, while she was also an All-Empire Region selection earlier this spring.
Ithaca will face No. 9 Salisbury in the NCAA Tournament Third Round on Saturday, May 20. Opening draw is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.