Elon WLAX: Asher Named Rookie of the Year; Four Others Earn CAA Honors

RICHMOND, Va. – The Colonial Athletic Association released its 2015 All-CAA Women’s Lacrosse Teams today, April 30, with five Elon players – Stephanie Asher, Rachel Ramirez, Abby Godfrey, Alexis Zadjura and Kelli Stack – earning all-conference honors for their play this season.

Asher was named the CAA Rookie of the Year, making it the second straight year a Phoenix has earned conference Rookie of the Year honors, and was also named to the All-CAA Second Team and the CAA All-Rookie Team. The Glenelg, Md., native was the only freshman to be named to the first or second team. Asher led the team and league in goals per game with 2.75 and shots per game with 6.06, scoring a team-and-program-high 44 goals on the season. She also tallied 10 assists to finish the season with 54 points that ranks sixth nationally and led the team with 34 draw controls this year. Asher recorded five goals in her first collegiate game against Kennesaw State before setting another career-high with six goals at Stetson. Asher earns Rookie of the Year honors after being named the CAA Rookie of the Week three times this season.

Joining Asher on the second team is sophomore goalie Rachel Ramirez, who earns all-conference honors for the second time in as many years. Ramirez is the only goalkeeper on the 12-member second team. The Lindenhurst, N.Y., native leads the CAA and ranks 12th in the nation in saves per game with 8.94, ranks sixth nationally with 3.31 ground balls per game and ranks second in the league with 143 saves on the year.

Elon was one of two programs to land a league-high three players on the All-Rookie Team with Abby Godfrey and Alexis Zadjura earning all-rookie accolades, along with Asher.

Godfrey and Zadjura both played and started every game for the Phoenix this season. Godfrey, a midfielder from Denver, finished third on the team with 17 goals and also claimed 22 draw controls and 27 ground balls this year. Zadjura, a defender from Woodstock, Md., was second on the team with 27 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers and won 21 draws on the season.

For the second straight season, Stack earns academic all-conference honors with her selection to the CAA All-Academic Team. Stack, a junior and team captain from Lower Gwynedd, Pa., is a marketing and entrepreneurship double major and scored two goals and two assists on the season.

2015 All-CAA Women’s Lacrosse Teams

First Team
Brittain Altomare, Hofstra, Sr., A, Wolfsville, Md.
Stephanie Finley, James Madison, Sr., A, Media, Pa.
Andi Raymond, Towson, R-Sr., A, Ada, Mich.
Casey Lyons, Delaware, Jr., A, Georgetown, Ontario
Alison Curwin, James Madison, Sr., M, Pittsford, N.Y.
Jaci Gordon, James Madison, Jr., M, Groton, Mass.
Caitlin McCartney, Delaware, Sr., M. Doylestown, Pa.
Lexi Cross, James Madison, Sr., D, Marriotsville, Md.
Michelle Dufault, Towson, Sr., D, Fairport, N.Y.
April Iannetta, Hofstra, Sr., D, Wantagh, N.Y.
Erin Wein, Delaware, Jr., D, Middletown, Md.
Kelsea Donnelly, Towson, Sr., GK, Edgewater, Md.

Second Team
Betsy Angel, James Madison, R-So., A, Baltimore, Md.
Tiana Parrella, Hofstra, So., A, Miller Place, N.Y.
Jamie Schwartz, Delaware, So., A, Ellicott City, Md.
Ellen Shaffery, William & Mary, Sr., A, Charlottesville, Va.
Lindsey Alfano, Hofstra, Jr., M, Hauppauge, N.Y.
Stephanie Asher, Elon, Fr., M, Glenelg, Md.
Taylor Gress, James Madison, Jr., M, Westminster, Md.
Abby Junior, William & Mary, So., D, Wayne, Pa.
Shelby Milne, Hofstra, Jr., D, Camillus, N.Y.
Jocelyn Quaile, Drexel, Sr., D, Mullica Hill, N.J.
Emily Roth, Towson, Jr., D, Millersville, Md.
Rachel Ramirez, Elon, So., GK, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

All-Rookie Team
Stephanie Asher, Elon, M, Glenelg, Md.
Audrey Byrd, Hofstra, D, Jarrestville, Md.
Erika Cavallo, Towson, A, Hillsborough, N.J.
Abby Corkum, William & Mary, A, Baltimore, Md.
Emily Gillingham, Towson, M, Kitchner, Ohio
Abby Godfrey, Elon, D, Denver, Colo.
Becky Gohsler, Delaware, M, Mendham, N.J.
Kaitlyn Montalbano, Towson, M, West Islip, N.Y.
Nadia Pelham-Lacey, Drexel, A, Maplewood, N.J.
Haley Warden, James Madison, M, Glen Mills, Pa.
Alexis Zadjura, Elon, D, Woodstock, Md.

2015 CAA Player of the Year: Brittain Altomare, Hofstra
2015 CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Michelle Dufault, Towson
2015 CAA Rookie of the Year: Stephanie Asher, Elon
2015 CAA Coach of the Year: Shannon Smith, Hofstra

All-Academic Team
Elyse Andrews, Delaware, R-So., M, Wilmington, Del.
Kaitlin Ayres, Hofstra, Sr., A, Glenmont, N.Y.
Alison Curwin, James Madison, Sr., M, Pittsford, N.Y.
Delaney Fisher, Towson, Sr., M, Cypress, Texas
Joelle Hartke, Drexel, Sr., M, Clarence Center, N.Y.
Ellen Shaffrey, William & Mary, Sr., A, Charlottesville, Va.
Kelli Stack, Elon, Jr., M, Lower Gwynedd, Pa.