Florida had six players honored with 2016 IWLCA All-South Region accolades.
Six Gators Garner IWLCA All-South Region Accolades
Saturday, May 14, 2016 | Lacrosse
Florida's six All-Region players tie for the most in school history.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the midst of NCAA Tournament action, six Gators were named to the 2016 IWLCA All-South Region Teams and will now be eligible for IWLCA All-America honors. Florida junior defenders Taylor Bresnahan and Caroline Fitzgerald, redshirt senior middie Nicole Graziano and junior attack Sammi Burgess were tabbed All-South Region First Team selections, while a pair of attackers in freshman Lindsey Ronbeck and sophomore Shayna Pirreca represent the Orange and Blue on the IWLCA All-South Region Second Team.
UF's six All-Region selections tie for the most in Florida history; the Gators also had six players honored in 2012, 2013 & 2014.
As Florida (18-1) puts together arguably its best season in program history, Bresnahan and Fitzgerald are All-Region picks for the third-consecutive year, while Burgess was named an All-Region pick for the second time in her Gator career. The trio of Graziano, Pirreca and Ronbeck were honored by the IWLCA for the first time donning the Orange and Blue.
Fitzgerald, the BIG EAST Defender of the Year, is UF's lone returning All-American from last year's squad after picking up 2015 IWLCA All-America Third Team honors.
The Gators have been reeling in the awards as the 2016 campaign quickly approaches the heart of the NCAA postseason. The top five finalists for The Tewaaraton Award are scheduled to be announced Sunday evening on ESPNU, while the 2016 IWLCA All-Americans are slated to be released May 18.
UF's six All-Region selections tie for the most in Florida history; the Gators also had six players honored in 2012, 2013 & 2014.
As Florida (18-1) puts together arguably its best season in program history, Bresnahan and Fitzgerald are All-Region picks for the third-consecutive year, while Burgess was named an All-Region pick for the second time in her Gator career. The trio of Graziano, Pirreca and Ronbeck were honored by the IWLCA for the first time donning the Orange and Blue.
Fitzgerald, the BIG EAST Defender of the Year, is UF's lone returning All-American from last year's squad after picking up 2015 IWLCA All-America Third Team honors.
The Gators have been reeling in the awards as the 2016 campaign quickly approaches the heart of the NCAA postseason. The top five finalists for The Tewaaraton Award are scheduled to be announced Sunday evening on ESPNU, while the 2016 IWLCA All-Americans are slated to be released May 18.
- Gators Sweep BIG EAST Awards, Seven Named All-Conference
- Fitzgerald, Graziano Among The Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Nominees
The IWLCA will honor its All-America selections at the IWLCA All-America banquet Saturday June 4, 2016, at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pa.
A LOOK AT UF'S ALL-REGION ATHLETES
Taylor Bresnahan | JR | Defense
- 2016 IWLCA All-South First Team
- 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team
- Notable Marks: Kayla Treanor (Syracuse), Molly Hendrick (UNC)
- Has a team-best and career-high 25 caused turnovers, ranks second with 32 draw controls
- Ranks No. 77 in NCAA in caused turnovers per game (1.32)
- Has four goals on the 2016 season -- half of UF's eight goals by defenders
Sammi Burgess | JR | Attack
- 2016 IWLCA All-South First Team
- 2016 BIG EAST Co-Attacker of the Year
- 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team -- unanimous selection
- BIG EAST All-Tournament Team
- Has a hat trick in five of Florida's last seven games, has scored a point in 23 straight games and has a goal in 17 of the Gators' 19 games this season
- Eclipsed 100 career goals in the BIG EAST Championship Game
- Ranks No. 75 in NCAA in goals (39)
- Ranks second for UF in goals (39) and points (52)
Caroline Fitzgerald | JR | Defense
- 2016 Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Nominee
- 2016 IWLCA All-South First Team
- 2016 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (Florida's second-ever Defender of Year in program history)
- 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team -- unanimous selection
- Notable Marks: Riley Donahue (Syracuse), Alyssa Guido (Stony Brook), Kara Magley (Boston College), Jackie Froccaro (Villanova)
- Has three scores this season to contribute to UF's eight goals by defenders
- Leads UF with 44 ground balls, ranks third with 20 draw controls and has 17 caused turnovers
- Ranks No. 59 in NCAA in ground balls per game (2.32)
Nicole Graziano | R-SR | Midfield
- 2016 Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Nominee
- 2016 IWLCA All-South First Team
- 2016 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
- 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team -- unanimous selection
- MOP and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team (5G, 7PTS, 3GB, 6DC, 3CT, 3-4 FPG)
- 2016 Team Captain
- Notable Marks: Taylor Cummings (Maryland), Erica Bodt (Syracuse)
- Eclipsed 100 career goals on Senior Day vs. UConn
- Has a goal in 18 straight games, a draw control in eight straight and a caused turnover in five straight entering NCAA play
- Has led UF against ranked opponents this season in goals (14), points (20), ground balls (12), draw controls (18) and caused turnovers (12)
- Ranks 44th in NCAA in goals (42), 61st in points (58), 66th in FPG/game (0.58), 75th in goals/ game (2.21) & 85th in points/game (3.05); tied single-game UF record w/five CT vs Towson
Shayna Pirreca | SO | Attack
- 2016 IWLCA All-South Second Team
- 2016 All-BIG EAST Second Team
- Leads the Gators with 17 assists on the season
- Ranks No. 98 in NCAA in free-position percentage (.368)
- Has eight multiple-goal games in 2016, six multiple-assist games and has at least one point in 16 of 19 games entering NCAA play
- Posted a career-high four goals against Michigan, including three in a span of just over a minute, in the comeback win. Also dished out the game-winning assist against UM
Lindsey Ronbeck | FR | Attack
- 2016 IWLCA All-South Second Team
- 2016 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
- 2016 All-BIG EAST First Team -- unanimous selection
- Has a goal in 12 straight games entering NCAA play
- Led Florida through conference play with 18 goals, nine assists and 27 points
- Led the BIG EAST in conference play in points per game (3.86), game-winning goals (3), and goals per game (2.57)
- Her seven points against Marquette were the most for a Gator in a game this season
- April 19 Inside Lacrosse National Rookie of the Week & four-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
IWLCA SOUTH REGION HONOREES | Complete IWLCA All-Region Teams
First Team
Taylor Bresnahan, University of Florida, Junior, Defense
Sammi Burgess, University of Florida, Junior, Attack
Maddie Crutchfield, Duke University, Sophomore, Midfield
Taylor Cummings, University of Maryland, Senior, Midfield
Kelsey Duryea, Duke University, Senior, Goalkeeper
Caroline Fitzgerald, University of Florida, Junior, Defense
Mallory Frysinger, University of North Carolina, Senior, Defense
Nicole Graziano, University of Florida, Senior, Midfield
Nadine Hadnagy, University of Maryland, Junior, Defense
Molly Hendrick, University of North Carolina, Junior, Attack
Marie McCool, University of North Carolina, Sophomore, Midfield
Alice Mercer, University of Maryland, Senior, Defense
Aly Messinger, University of North Carolina, Senior, Attack
Zoe Stukenberg, University of Maryland, Junior, Midfield
Sammy Jo Tracy, University of North Carolina, Senior, Attack
Megan Whittle, University of Maryland, Sophomore, Attack
Second Team
Maddy Acton, Duke University, Senior, Midfield
Mary Alati, University of Virginia, Senior, Midfield
Betsy Angel, James Madison University, Senior, Attack
Kristen Bandos, Georgetown University, Senior, Midfield
Kasey Behr, University of Virginia, Sophomore, Attack
Jenna Collins, United States Naval Academy, Sophomore, Midfield
Jaci Gordon, James Madison University, Senior, Midfield
Kyra Harney, Duke University, Sophomore, Attack
Shayna Pirreca, University of Florida, Sophomore, Attack
Maggie Preas, University of Virginia, Junior, Defense
Lindsey Ronbeck, University of Florida, Freshman, Attack
Claire Scarrone, Duke University, Senior, Defense
Maura Schwitter, Duke University, Junior, Defense
Megan Taylor, University of Maryland, Freshman, Goalkeeper
Rachel Vander Kolk, University of Virginia, Sophomore, Goalkeeper
Megan Ward, University of North Carolina, Senior, Goalkeeper
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