Four ‘Cats Earn A-10 Postseason Honors
4/24/2019 1:46:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Gavin McFarlin - Associate SID
2019 A-10 Lacrosse Award Winners (PDF)
DavidsonPhotos.com
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Atlantic 10 Conference Wednesday released the season-ending major award winners and all-conference teams, and Davidson had four players honored by the league.
Sophomore Natalie Junior was named all-second team on defense, while senior captain Sarah Kopp was named to the A-10 All-Academic Team for the third straight year. Earning spots on the A-10 All-Rookie Team were Braeden Dial and Gianna New, marking the second year in a row the Wildcats have put two on the all-rookie team.
This marks the third time since joining the A-10 in 2014-15 that Davidson (8-9, 2-7 A-10) has had at least four players earning postseason league accolades.
A year after earning all-rookie team honors, Junior had a solid sophomore season as she started all 16 games played in and was one of the Wildcats top defenders. The Wayne, Pa., native finished with 30 groundballs and 11 draw controls, while tying for the team-lead with 19 caused turnovers. In just two seasons, Junior has 48 caused turnovers to put her just outside the top-10 all-time.
Kopp capped off her stellar career with another all-around excellent season in 2019. An all-first team member in 2018 and all-rookie team honoree in 2016, the Victor, N.Y., native finished with 25 goals and 26 points on offense while starting all 16 of her games played in. In addition, Kopp had 29 groundballs and tied Junior with 19 caused turnovers, while hauling in 61 draw controls.
For her career, Kopp ends with 75 goals, nine assists and 84 points in 70 games with 65 starts. She put her name in the record books in draw controls with 173, good for third-most, right behind fellow classmate Sophia Sgroi, who finished this year with a single-season record 110 draw controls and had 192 for her career. Kopp also finished in the top-10 all-time in caused turnovers with 54.
The freshmen duo Dial and New enjoyed first seasons at Davidson in helping lead an offense that scored 216 goals. A four-time A-10 Rookie of the Week this season, Dial paced the team in goals (34), assists (27, fifth-most in single season) and points (61, fifth-most in single season), while taking a team-high 92 shots. She had six games of four goals and twice had season highs of seven points in a game.
A native of New Caanan, Conn., Dial finished with eight multi-goal games and 10 games of two or more assists, including a season-best four vs. George Washington. On the defensive front, she scooped up 20 groundballs and seven caused turnovers.
New finished right behind Dial with 28 goals and added nine assists for 37 points in her 15 games played with three starts. The Fox Lane, N.Y. native recorded 10 games of two or more goals, including five hat tricks on the season. Twice New had five points in a game against Old Dominion and VCU.
The A-10 Offensive Player of the Year was Francesca Donato of Saint Joseph's, while Defender of the Year was Richmond's Julie Ball. Stephanie Croke of UMass was named the league's Midfielder of the Year and Rookie of the Year went to Deanna Balsama of George Mason. Sharing the A-10 Coach of the Year honor were Jessica Morgan from George Mason and Angela McMahon of UMass.
DavidsonPhotos.com
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Atlantic 10 Conference Wednesday released the season-ending major award winners and all-conference teams, and Davidson had four players honored by the league.
Sophomore Natalie Junior was named all-second team on defense, while senior captain Sarah Kopp was named to the A-10 All-Academic Team for the third straight year. Earning spots on the A-10 All-Rookie Team were Braeden Dial and Gianna New, marking the second year in a row the Wildcats have put two on the all-rookie team.
This marks the third time since joining the A-10 in 2014-15 that Davidson (8-9, 2-7 A-10) has had at least four players earning postseason league accolades.
A year after earning all-rookie team honors, Junior had a solid sophomore season as she started all 16 games played in and was one of the Wildcats top defenders. The Wayne, Pa., native finished with 30 groundballs and 11 draw controls, while tying for the team-lead with 19 caused turnovers. In just two seasons, Junior has 48 caused turnovers to put her just outside the top-10 all-time.
Kopp capped off her stellar career with another all-around excellent season in 2019. An all-first team member in 2018 and all-rookie team honoree in 2016, the Victor, N.Y., native finished with 25 goals and 26 points on offense while starting all 16 of her games played in. In addition, Kopp had 29 groundballs and tied Junior with 19 caused turnovers, while hauling in 61 draw controls.
For her career, Kopp ends with 75 goals, nine assists and 84 points in 70 games with 65 starts. She put her name in the record books in draw controls with 173, good for third-most, right behind fellow classmate Sophia Sgroi, who finished this year with a single-season record 110 draw controls and had 192 for her career. Kopp also finished in the top-10 all-time in caused turnovers with 54.
The freshmen duo Dial and New enjoyed first seasons at Davidson in helping lead an offense that scored 216 goals. A four-time A-10 Rookie of the Week this season, Dial paced the team in goals (34), assists (27, fifth-most in single season) and points (61, fifth-most in single season), while taking a team-high 92 shots. She had six games of four goals and twice had season highs of seven points in a game.
A native of New Caanan, Conn., Dial finished with eight multi-goal games and 10 games of two or more assists, including a season-best four vs. George Washington. On the defensive front, she scooped up 20 groundballs and seven caused turnovers.
New finished right behind Dial with 28 goals and added nine assists for 37 points in her 15 games played with three starts. The Fox Lane, N.Y. native recorded 10 games of two or more goals, including five hat tricks on the season. Twice New had five points in a game against Old Dominion and VCU.
The A-10 Offensive Player of the Year was Francesca Donato of Saint Joseph's, while Defender of the Year was Richmond's Julie Ball. Stephanie Croke of UMass was named the league's Midfielder of the Year and Rookie of the Year went to Deanna Balsama of George Mason. Sharing the A-10 Coach of the Year honor were Jessica Morgan from George Mason and Angela McMahon of UMass.
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