Ten Landmark Women's Lacrosse Players Claim All-Region Accolades

MADISON, N.J. - After a stellar regular season in which a pair of Landmark teams earned berths in the NCAA Tournament a total of 10 spots on the 2009 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Region Team.

Drew University, which finished atop the Landmark regular season standings placed five players on the Boardwalk All-Region Team, while The Catholic University of America had four honorees who were all named to the first team. Goucher College added one All-Region honoree. The Landmark had eight All-Region selections last season.

For Drew Stacie Brown was a first team choice while Sloane Coles, Rachel Hanley, Cara Jeffries and Lyndsay Rossi all were named to the second team. Catholic's honorees were Lindsay Bitonti, Melissa Brashear, Kate Robinson and Mary Swarthout. Goucher's Marlo Tersigni rounds out the Landmark honorees.

Brown earns her second First Team All-Boardwalk honor in as many years. The sophomore has twice been named to the All-Landmark first team as well as earning ECAC and Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year honors last season. This year, Brown ranks 30th in the NCAA with 67 goals and 49th in goals per game with 3.72. Her 76 points rank her 68th in DIII and her 3.28 Draw Controls per game rank her 66th. Those 67 goals were the 7th most in a single season at Drew and, though just a second year player, Brown already ranks 16th in career goals for the Rangers.

Sloane Coles earned a second team All-Region nod thanks to her all-around play in midfield. She was a first team All-Landmark selection in ‘09 and a second team All-Landmark selection in 2008. The sophomore finished the season with 19 goals and four assists as well as 36 groundballs and 46 draw controls.

Rachel Hanley was tabbed for the second team for her strong play in goal for the Rangers. Hanley ranked in the Top 50 in the NCAA in save percentage and the Top 80 in goals against average, saves and saves per game. She was an All-Landmark first team honoree and was named by womenslacrosse.com as the National Defender of the Week earlier this season.

Attack Cara Jeffries earned her first All-Boardwalk accolade with a terrific offensive season. The sophomore ranked in the Top 100 in the NCAA in points, assists and assists per game. She was the Rangers second leading scorer and a second team All-Landmark honoree for the second time.

Lyndsay Rossi doubled up on honors this week. The first-year midfielder was tabbed for the All-Boardwalk second team. She was also named to the womenslacrosse.com National DIII All-Rookie Team, chosen as one of the top 16 debutants in the country. The midfielder progressed as the season went on to become one of the top players in the region. She led the Rangers in ground balls and caused turnovers while scoring 44 goals.

Bitonti earned All-Conference honors for the second-consecutive season as a leader of the Cardinal defense. She had 44 ground balls on the season and produced 40 caused turnovers. She also contributed a goal and an assist.

Brashear earned All-Conference honors for the first time this season and earns All-Region for the first time as well. She posted a 9.57 goals against average on the year to anchor the Cardinals defense. She recorded 162 saves and had one shutout on the year, with a .458 save percentage. She also produced 28 ground balls.

Robinson earns All-Region accolades for the second time after being named the Landmark Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season. After earning All-America status last season, she led the Landmark in goals, points and assists, finishing with 77 goals, 44 assists and 121 points. She ranked among the NCAA Division III leaders in goals.

Swarthout was named the Landmark Rookie of the Year and earned first-team All-Conference honors as she ranked among the Landmark leaders in several categories. She led Catholic and the conference with 75 ground balls, and was second on the team in goals and points with 48 and 72 respectively.

Tersigni, who earned first-team All-Landmark selection in 2008 and 2009, led the Gophers in assists (21), points (57), draw controls (66) and caused turnovers (41) this season and ranked second in goals (36). Nationally, she ranked seventh in caused turnovers (2.64 per game) and 10th in draw controls (4.71 per game) in Division III.

The IWLCA All-Region Teams consist feature 32 players with a first and second team and has seven regions. All 10 Landmark players were selected to the Boardwalk Region.

Story provided by Catholic, Drew and Goucher Sports Information