Special on the Florida Gators lacrosse team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 2 University of Florida women’s lacrosse team claimed four major postseason awards and had 10 players named to the 2017 All-BIG EAST Conference teams on Wednesday, a day before the Gators (15-2) take the field against Temple in the BIG EAST Tournament held at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pa.
Senior Mollie Stevens is the Attacker of the Year, senior Caroline Fitzgerald is the Defensive Player of the Year, and sophomore Haley Hicklen is the Goalkeeper of the Year. To top it all off the Gators coaching staff, under the guidance of Amanda O’Leary, was tabbed the 2017 BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year after leading Florida to an undefeated 9-0 mark in conference play en route to UF’s seventh straight conference title, and third in the BIG EAST.
Florida’s 10 All-Conference honorees are the most in program history. Led by seven first teamers and three second-team selections, Fitzgerald, Stevens, and sophomore midfielder Sydney Pirreca were all unanimous selection All-BIG EAST First Team picks. Seniors Taylor Bresnahan and Sammi Burgess each made their third All-Conference team, and second First Team honors, along with sophomore Lindsey Ronbeck. Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Hicklen earned her first All-BIG EAST accolade to round out the First Team for the Gators
Junior attacker Shayna Pirreca was named an All-BIG EAST Second Team performer for the second year in a row. Freshman Brianna Harris and Junior Allie Pavinelli joined Pirreca on the Second Team, as the duo of midfielders picked up their first career all-league honors.
Notable:
* Overall, the Gators’ 10 All-BIG EAST honorees were double the amount of the next closest school (Georgetown, five)
* Florida’s seven First Team honorees were the most by any school, as four other institutions tied for the second-most with two honorees
* Head Coach Amanda O’Leary reeled in Coach of the Year/Staff of the Year honors for the fifth time in her tenure at Florida (2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and for the second time as a member of the BIG EAST
* Caroline Fitzgerald repeated as the BIG EAST’s Defensive Player of the Year, and brings home UF’s third Defensive Player of the Year award in program history
* Mollie Stevens is the Gators’ third Attacker/Offensive Player of the Year in program history; fellow senior attacker Sammi Burgess took home BIG EAST Co-Attacker of the Year honors in 2016
* Haley Hicklen joins Mikey Meagher (2013, ALC) as Florida’s second conference Goalkeeper of the Year
BIG EAST Attacker of the Year
Mollie Stevens, Florida, Sr., A
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Francesca Whitehurst, Georgetown, So., M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, Sr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Haley Hicklen, Florida, So., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Katie Comerford, Villanova, Fr., A
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Florida
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Julie Blaze, Vanderbilt, So., M
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida, Sr., D
Sammi Burgess, Florida, Sr., A
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, Sr., D*
Grace Gabriel, Marquette, So., M*
Morgan Glassford, Temple, Sr., M
Haley Hicklen, Florida, So., GK
Kendra Lanuza, Denver, So., A*
Brenda McDermott, Temple, Sr., A
Grace Nolan, Connecticut, Jr., A
Sydney Pirreca, Florida, So., M*
Lindsey Ronbeck, Florida, So., A
Morgan Ryan, Georgetown, So., A
Julianna Shearer, Marquette, Sr., A
Mollie Stevens, Florida, Sr., A*
Layne Voorhees, Denver, Sr., D*
Francesca Whitehurst, Georgetown, So., M*
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Elizabeth Behrins, Denver, So., A
Monica Borzillo, Cincinnati, Fr., A
Katie Comerford, Villanova, Fr., A
Jill Doherty, Vanderbilt, Sr., A
Amanda Donovan, Cincinnati, So., M
Taylor Gebhardt, Georgetown, So., A
Brianna Harris, Florida, Fr, M
Jacqueline Jordan, Connecticut, Sr., A
Allison Lane, Marquette, Jr., M
Nicole Latgis, Temple, Jr., D
Allie Pavinelli, Florida, Jr., M
Shayna Pirreca, Florida, Jr., A
Sam Scarfogliero, Villanova, Sr., D
Jenny Schwalje, Georgetown, Sr., D
Hannah Seibel, Georgetown, Jr., M
Maddy Stevenson, Denver, Sr., GK
*unanimous selection
^extra players added due to a tie in voting