The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2022 Women's Lacrosse Award Winners
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate's Leah Knowles was selected as the 2022 South Atlantic Conference Women's Offensive Lacrosse Player of the Year, while Catawba's Aryn Dorr was selected as the Defensive Player of the year. Newberry's Cassell Richardson was selected as this year's Freshman of the Year and for the second time, Wingate's Abby Wiley was named the SAC Coach of the Year, the SAC office announced today.
Knowles, a junior from Hickory, N.C., played in 16 games for the Bulldogs and started in all of them. She is sixth in the conference in points totaling 83 points with 60 goals, scoring at least two goals in each game this season. Knowles is third in the league for caused turnovers with 43 and also shooting percentage at 63.8. She also tallied 23 assists and 14-22 free position goals-shots. Knowles was named South Atlantic Conference AstroTurf Offensive Player of the week once this season.
Dorr, a senior goalie from Chesapeake Beach, Md., played in every game for the Catawba Indians in her senior season. She ended her regular season ranking second in the league for games played (17), saves (212), and save percentage with 54.2. Dorr was an instrumental part in the Catawba Indians success this season and was named the South Atlantic Conference AstroTurf Defensive Player of the Week once this season.
Richardson, an attacker from Forest, Va., was first in the league for games played with 18 and was one of the lead goal scorers for the Wolves with 40. She also 20 tallied assists and 20 ground balls. Richardson is off to an amazing start after completing her first year with Newberry Wolves.
Wiley enters her fourth year with the Bulldogs earning her second Coach of the Year honor after leading the Bulldogs to a 14-2 record overall and an eight-game win streak to wrap the regular season. The No. 2 seed in the SAC Championship ranks in the top-five for multiple categories, most notably goals (281), shooting percentage (49.0), assists (154), goals per game (17.56) and ground balls (352). The Bulldogs are ranked nationally and regionally and will take on the No.6 seed Newberry in tomorrow's SAC Semifinal match-up.
On first team attack is Limestone's Elizabeth Muscella, Lincoln Memorials Ali Van Der Ziel and Queens' Kaitlyn Hardin andRebecca Kinsley. Joining Knowles in the midfield is teammate Becca Ruiz, Limestone's Sarah Dudick and Queens' Kyleigh Masteran. On the defensive line is Grace Guglielmo of Queens, Erin Smith of UVA Wise, Limestone's Bailey Stumpf and Lenoir-Rhyne's Cassie Lafler. Catawba's Aryn Dorr and SAC Defensive Player of the Year captured the first team goalkeeper accolade.
The 2022 South Atlantic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship will take place April 29 and May 1 at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.
All-SAC First Team
A – Rebecca Kinsley, Queens
A – Elizabeth Muscella, Limestone
A – Ali Van Der Ziel, Lincoln Memorial
A – Kaitlyn Hardin, Queens
MF – Leah Knowles, Wingate
MF – Kyleigh Masteran, Queens
MF – Becca Ruiz, Wingate
MF – Sarah Dudick, Limestone
D – Grace Guglielmo, Queens
D – Bailey Stumpf, Limestone
D – Erin Smith, UVA Wise
D – Cassie Lafler, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Aryn Dorr, Catawba
All-SAC Second Team
A – Suzy Smith, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Bella Pellet, Wingate
A – Jolan Morey, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Cassell Richardson, Newberry
MF – Chloe Wood, Newberry
MF – Shannon Kingston, Queens
MF – Sydney Bracken, Queens
MF – Avery Van Der Ziel, Lincoln Memorial
D – Isabelle Dunnam, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Emily Phipps, Wingate
D – Madalyn Messersmith, Newberry
D – Erin Young, Catawba
GK – Megan Biase, Wingate
All-SAC Third Team
A – Carson Giordano, Queens
A – Tia Tuininga, Tusculum
A – Paige Kamer, Wingate
A – Katie Allen, UVA Wise
MF – Shannon Donovan, Queens
MF – Sydney Joyce, Mars Hill
MF – Grace Golatt, UVA Wise
MF – Mallory Trimble, UVA Wise
D – Delaney Duck, Lincoln Memorial
D – Avery McMullin, Queens
D – Maren Lawrence, Limestone
D – Kaylee mia Geist, Queens
GK – Teanna Sieben, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Player of the Year
Leah Knowles, Wingate
Defensive Player of the Year
Aryn Dorr, Catawba
Freshman of the Year
Cassell Richardson, Newberry
Coach of the Year
Abby Wiley, Wingate
Statistical Champions
Team Points per Game – Queens, 33.71
Team Caused Turnovers per Game – UVA Wise, 12.56
Team Ground Balls per Game – Mars Hill, 22.40
Team Scoring Offense – Queens, 21.94
Team Scoring Defense – Queens, 5.06
Team Scoring Margin – Queens, 16.88
Team Draw Controls per Game – Queens, 20.12
Draw Controls per Game – Elizabeth Muscella - Limestone, 7.62
Ground Balls per Game – Gini Joy – Mars Hill, 5.58
Assists per Game – Rebecca Kinsley – Queens, 2.82
Saves per Game – Abby Kellner - Coker, 12.80
Goals-Against Average – Megan Biase - Wingate, 9.43
Save Percentage – Aryn Dorr, Catawba, 0.542
Goals per Game – Kyleigh Masteran - Queens, 4.41
Caused Turnovers per Game – Bailey Stumpf - Limestone, 3.13
Points per Game – Rebecca Kinsley - Queens, 6.24
– #MakeSACyours –