Flaherty, Honan, Bednarski and Phillips Highlight DIII North Women's Lacrosse Major Awards and All-Star Selections
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2017 Division III North Women’s Lacrosse major award recipients and All-ECAC selections.
Allie Flaherty of William Smith College earned ECAC North Offensive Player of the Year while teammate, Sarah Honan was named Defensive Player of the Year. Kyra Bednarski from Stevens Institute of Technology takes home Rookie of the Year and William Smith head coach Anne Phillips won Coach of the Year.
Flaherty’s award comes on the heels of her Liberty League Player of the Year recognition. The senior led William Smith with a career-high 42 goals this year, placing her on the All-Liberty League First Team. Through 19 games she ranked third on the team with a career-high 48 points, fourth on the team with 36 ground balls and another career-high 22 caused turnovers. Flaherty ranked third on the team with 31 draws and ranks fourth in William Smith history with 102 career draw controls. She sits at number six in William Smith history with 76 career caused turnovers.
Honan garners ECAC Defensive Player of the Year after collecting the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year award, All-Liberty League First Team recognition, Liberty League All-Tournament Team selection and the Liberty League Tournament MVP. The senior holds the top spot in Heron history with 18 wins in a single season. Going into tournament play, Honan ranked third in Division III in goals-against average and fifth in save percentage. Through 19 games she ranks second on the William Smith single season goals-against average (4.47) list. She led the Liberty League in goals-against average and save percentage (0.539). Honan’s 44 career wins rank her third in William Smith history and her 506 career-saves are put her in fourth. Career goals-against average (7.3) currently ranks fifth and the senior’s 60 career caused turnovers are tied for 12th on the William Smith all-time list.
In her first collegiate season, Bednarski started each of Stevens 18 games this season and played a major role in helping the Ducks to the No. 2 seed in the Empire 8 Tournament. The freshman finished the season with 81 points on 51 goals and 30 assists. Her 81 points led the team and ranked fourth in the conference regular-season standings. The rookie registered at least one goal in all 18 games, including a season high six goals on two different occasions. Bednarski also collected 23 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers.
ECAC Coach of the Year, Anne Phillips led the Herons to their second consecutive and fourth overall Liberty League tournament title. Her 18 wins are a program record for wins in a season. William Smith recorded an unblemished Liberty League regular season for the second time ever. Through 19 games, William Smith ranked No. 7 in the IWLCA poll in addition to riding a 15-game win streak and being ranked nationally for eight consecutive weeks. Leading into the conference tournament, the Herons were third in the nation in scoring, defense and win percentages and fourth in save percentage.
Offensive Player of the Year
Allie Flaherty – William Smith College, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year
Sarah Honan – William Smith College, Sr.
Rookie of the Year
Kyra Bednarski – Stevens Institute of Technology, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Anne Phillips – William Smith College
First Team All-ECAC
Gianna Branca – Morrisville State College, Jr.
Kyra Bednarski – Stevens Institute of Technology, Fr.
Kristen Ohberg – SUNY Cortland, Sr.
Shelby Corsano – Springfield College, Jr.
Nicole Lavigne – Colby-Sawyer College, Jr.
Allie Flaherty – William Smith College, Sr.
Melissa Moore – William Smith College, Jr.
Carrie Long – Fitchburg State University, Jr.
Jordan Anderson – Morrisville State College, Sr.
Malorie Knowlton – Curry College, Sr.
Jackie Rogers – William Smith College, Sr.
Sarah Honan – William Smith College, Sr.
Second Team All-ECAC*
Kelly Wall – College at Brockport, Sr.
Alexandra Bird – William Smith College, Sr.
Ali Laferriere – Fitchburg State University, Sr.
Teresa Shattuck – SUNY Oswego, So.
Kimmy Foley – Framingham State University, Jr.
Lexie Meager – SUNY Cortland, Fr.
Anne Mahoney – Springfield College, Jr.
Cassandra Minerd – College at Brockport, Sr.
Andie Stone – Springfield College, So.
Laura Rollins – William Smith College, So.
Maggie Notter – Utica College, Sr.
Hilary O’Neil – SUNY Cortland, Sr.
Lauren Coughlin – Husson University, Sr.
Gabby Anderson – Springfield College, Sr.
*Additional players due to ties.
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