MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Conference released the women’s lacrosse all-conference teams today, April 30, with six Elon women’s lacrosse players earning all-conference honors. Sloane Kessler was named the A-Sun Freshman of the Year and head coach Josh Hexter earned the league’s Coach of the Year award.
In the team’s first season of play, Hexter has coached the Phoenix to a 4-1 A-Sun record and 8-8 overall. Elon finished second in the conference during the regular-season and won all five of its home games.
“We are excited to have so many of our players be selected to the all-conference teams in our inaugural year,” said Hexter. “With a team full of 20 freshmen, I think it says a lot about the hard work they have put in throughout the season. We played a very tough schedule and are looking forward to continued improvement next year.”
Kessler earns rookie of the year accolades after leading the team in points (45) with 23 goals and a league-leading 22 assists on the season. The Owings Mill, Md., native owns a 93.0 shot on goal percentage and posted a career-high five goals and six points against St. Francis. She was named the A-Sun Player of the Week on March 3.
Kessler was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun along with goalie Rachel Ramirez. The two joined 10 others on the first team and were the only freshmen on the list. Defenders Rowan Drake and Erin Murnane were two of 13 players to earn league second team honors. Olivia Fernandez and Anna Vitton joined Kessler, Ramirez and Murnane on the Atlantic Sun Freshmen Team as Elon led the way with five players on the 12-member rookie list.
Ramirez has played every minute between the posts for the Phoenix this season, earning A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week four times. The freshman leads the team and conference and ranks third in the nation in ground balls per game (3.75) and is eighth nationally in saves (150). The Lindenhurst, N.Y., native owns a 45.2 save percentage and also leads the team with 24 caused turnovers on the year.
Defenders Drake and Murnane led the Phoenix defense that ranked second in the conference in goals allowed. Drake, a native of Ellicott City, Md., has recorded 11 ground balls and played in every contest this season. Murnane, a native of Arnold, Md., is third on the team with nine caused turnovers and has 20 ground balls on the season, having earned the start in every game.
Both Fernandez and Vitton have started all 16 games for the Phoenix and been a force on the offensive end. Fernandez is third on the team with 27 goals and leads the maroon and gold with 12 free-position goals. The Mountain Lakes, N.J., native has 24 draw controls and picked up 21 ground balls. Vitton netted 31 goals this season to rank second on the team and has tallied 36 points overall after five assists. The Summit, N.J., native scored in 15 of Elon’s 16 games, including a career-high four goals in two games.
No. 2 Elon will play No. 3 Detroit on Friday, May 2, in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Championship at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla. The A-Sun final is set for Sunday, May 4, at 1 p.m.
2014 Atlantic Sun Women’s Lacrosse Awards and Honors
Player of the Year: Morgan Derner, Jacksonville
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittney Orashen, Jacksonville
Freshman of the Year: Sloane Kessler, Elon
Coach of the Year: Josh Hexter, Elon
First Team All-Atlantic Sun
Position – Name – School – Cl. – Hometown – Academic Major
A – Erin Campbell- Detroit – Sr. – Orangeville, Ontatrio – Psychology
A – Sloane Kessler – Elon – Fr. – Owings Mill, Md. – Undeclared
A – Morgan Derner – Jacksonville – Sr. – Lake Mary, Fla. – Biology
A – Taylor McCord – Jacksonville – Jr. – Jacksonville, Fla. – Sociology
A – Danielle Horgan – Stetson – So. – Miami, Fla. – Health Science
M – Kylie Birney – Detroit – So. – Plymouth, Mich. – MBA Program
M – Brittney Orashen – Jacksonville – Sr. – Lebanon, N.J. – Business
M – Kelsey Wiglesworth – Jacksonville – So. – Towson, Md. – Nursing
D – Kaylee Quint – Jacksonville – Sr. – Lake Mary, Fla. – Nursing
D – Amanda Parker – Stetson – So. – Perkasie, Pa. – Family Enterprise
D – Chelsea Watts – Jacksonville – Sr. – West Long Beach, N.J. – Psychology
G – Rachel Ramirez – Elon – Fr. – Lindenhurst, N.Y. – Undeclared
Second Team All-Atlantic Sun
Position – Name – School – Cl. – Hometown – Academic Major
A – Cynithia Smalls – Howard – Sr. – Far Rockaway, N.Y. – English
A – Ali Hoffman – Jacksonville – Sr. – Gambrills, Md. – Marketing
A – Olivia Hokanson – Kennesaw State – Fr. – Crofton, Md. – Business Management
A – Mary Kate O’Sullivan – Stetson – So. – Naples, Fla. – Discovery
M – Sydney Farwick – Kennesaw State – Fr. – Columbus, Ohio – Nursing
M – Kelsi Pritchard – Detroit – Fr. – Orillia, Ontario – Education
M – Jess Worcester – Jacksonville – Jr. – LaPlata, Md. – Biology
M – Maylis Broderick – Stetson – So. – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – Discovery
D – Amanda Guthrie – Detroit – Jr. – Winter Springs, Fla. – Digital Media
D – Morgan Lear – Detroit – Jr. – San Ramon, Calif. – Political Science
D – Rowan Drake – Elon – Fr. – Ellicott City, Md. – Undeclared
D – Erin Murnane – Elon – Fr. – Arnold, Md. – Undeclared
G – Lexie McCormick – Detroit – Jr. – Peterborough, Ontario – Nursing
+ – A tie in voting led to a 13-person second team
Atlantic Sun Freshmen Team
Position – Name – School – Cl. – Hometown – Academic Major
A – Sloane Kessler – Elon – Fr. – Owings Mill, Md. – Undeclared
M – Kelsi Pritchard – Detroit – Fr. – Orillia, Ontario – Education*
M – Lauren Sharkey – Detroit – Fr. – Clarkton, Md. – Communications
M – Olivia Fernandez – Elon – Fr. – Mountain Lakes, N.J. – Undeclared
D – Erin Murnane – Elon – Fr. – Arnold, Md. – Undeclared
G – Rachel Ramirez – Elon – Fr. – Lindenhurst, N.Y. – Undeclared
A – Anna Vitton – Elon – Fr. – Summit, N.J. – Undeclared
A – Danielle Della Rocca – Jacksonville – Fr. – Mt. Sinai, N.Y. – Undeclared
D – Kristin Ridenour – Jacksonville – Fr. – Alpharetta, Ga. – Biology
M – Sydney Farwick – Kennesaw State – Fr. – Columbus, Ohio – Nursing
A – Olivia Hokanson – Kennesaw State – Fr. – Crofton, Md. – Business Management
M – Lindsay Summers – Stetson – Fr. – Fallston, Md. – Undeclared
*- Unanimous Choice