Women's Lacrosse | 12/7/2021 11:49:00 AM
With the start of the lacrosse season in view, two members of the nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team were named to 2022
USA Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason All-America Team.
Attacker Sydney DeGirolamo was named a First-Team Preseason All-American following a standout junior campaign that saw her earn a slew of honors including being named a First-Team All-American by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
The 2021 Empire 8 Player of the Year, DeGirolamo, who became the program's first-ever First-Team All-America selection, led the team in several statistical categories in 2021. A First-Team All-Region honoree, DeGirolamo accounted for a team-leading 78 points including 37 goals. The Manlius native finished the 2021 season with 41 assists, which was tied for the 10th-most in Division III.
Over 20 starts last season, DeGirolamo led the country and set a new single-season program record with 155 draw controls. She authored nine games with at least five points and accounted for five game-winning goals on the season. DeGirolamo ranked fifth on the team with 26 ground balls and contributed eight caused turnovers on the defensive end of the field.
An All-American selection at the conclusion of her sophomore season, DeGirolamo played a significant role in helping to guide Fisher to a regional championship in 2021 after netting the game-winning goal in the Cardinals' 10-9 triumph over No. 16 William Smith in the Sweet 16. With DeGirolamo on the field, Fisher entered its first-ever Final Four having won 13 games in a row.
Midfielder Brittany Halpin was also tabbed by USA Lacrosse Magazine as a Third-Team Preseason All-American after the Syracuse native was named Second-Team All-Conference for the first time in her career last year.
The senior ranked second on the team with 67 total points including 49 goals and 18 assists over 20 games. Halpin, who finished her junior year with four game-winning goals, had at least three points in a game 12 times last year including career-best seven points in a win over Russell Sage in early April.
The Cardinals, who ranked third overall in the final IWLCA poll, posted an 18-2 overall record which included seven wins in Empire 8 play. The team defeated three nationally-ranked programs in the NCAA Championship en route to a Regional title and an appearance in the national semi-final. In all, the team boasted 10 All-Conference honorees including the Player and Rookie of the Year, three All-Region selections, a pair of All-Americans, the NCAA Elite 90 Award winner and the IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year in
Linda Michele.