NEWTON, Mass. (5/10/16) – For the second consecutive season, senior Bridget Munnelly (Bellingham, Mass.) has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year as announced per the conference office on Monday afternoon.
Munnelly, a three-time All-GNAC lacrosse player, had a standout season as a pivotal midfielder for Lasers, and helped the defense yield just 75 goals in nine conference games. Sitting third among GNAC stat leaders, Munnelly scooped up 65 ground balls and a team-best 31 caused turnovers. In the center circle, Munnelly won a career-high 71 draw controls this season, setting the all-time record at Lasell with a grand total of 255.
Joining Munnelly on the first team was sophomore Taylor Yandow (Moretown, Vt.), who propelled the Lasers to their second GNAC title with a team-leading 48 goals and 12 assists for 60 season points. In her most recent seven games played, Yandow recorded six hat tricks, including a double hatty in a 19-9 victory over Simmons College. Yandow additionally worked with Munnelly on the draw control execution and led the Lasers with 78 on the season.
Seniors Bridget Doherty (Franklin, Mass.) and Ashlee Pechulis (Westfield, Mass.) were named to the All-GNAC Second Team, while freshman Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) was placed on the third team.
Doherty combined for 48 points on 26 goals and 22 (team-high) assists this season. During her career as a Laser, Doherty tossed in 130 goals and 40 assists, for a tremendous 179 points overall. Pechulis ranked just under Yandow with 31 total goals on the season, and hit the 100-goal milestone in a 19-2 victory at Saint Joseph's (Conn.). Munnelly, Yandow, and Pechulis were named to the All-Tournament team after knocking out both the #1 and #2 seeds in the GNAC postseason tournament.
McComb had an impressive rookie season as a top attacker Lasers, scoring in all but two contests as Lasell's third top goal scorer. McComb combined for 30 points in her first season in a Lasell uniform with 28 goals and two assists.
First Team
A – Emily Baker, Emmanuel (Mass.)
A – Kristen Tuleja, Emmanuel (Mass.)
A – Alyssa Kelly, Mount Ida
A – Elyse Caiazzo, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
A – Kelsey Dumond, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M – Sarah Higgins, Emmanuel (Mass.)
M – Lydia Knapp, Johnson & Wales (RI)
M – Taylor Yandow, Lasell
D – Savannah Lundwall, Emmanuel (Mass.)
D – Bridget Munnelly, Lasell
D – Meghan Williams, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
GK – Michelle Cunha, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
Second Team
A – Raquel Pederzani, Johnson & Wales (RI)
A – Bridget Doherty, Lasell
A – Amanda Wickens, Rivier
A – Mary Leasure, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
A – Kasey Fries, Simmons
M – Ashlee Pechulis, Lasell
M – Kat Gadbois, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M – Jackie Wilson, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
D – Elizabeth Tonn, Johnson & Wales (RI)
D – Emma Lafrance, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
D – Lauren Williams, Simmons
GK – Lauren White, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Third Team
A – Kayla Smith, Johnson & Wales (RI)
A – Allison Pazienski, Johnson & Wales (RI)
A – Jordan McComb, Lasell
A – Rose St. Hilaire, St. Joseph (Conn.)
A – Elizabeth Elcock, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M – Chapel Guarnieri, Norwich
M – Elena Bragg, Simmons
M – Ashley Sheehan, Simmons
D – Sophia White, Emmanuel (Mass.)
D – Isabella Saluti, Johnson & Wales (RI)
D – Lauren Goodspeed, Rivier
GK – Cristal Benton, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Offensive Player of the Year – Sarah Higgins, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Defensive Player of the Year – Bridget Munnelly, Lasell
Goalkeeper of the Year – Michelle Cunha, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
Rookie of the Year – Alyssa Kelly, Mount Ida
Coach of the Year – Rupert Lewis, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Institutional Sportsmanship Award – Albertus Magnus College
All-Sportsmanship Team
Carla Tapia, Albertus Magnus College
Monica Burdick, Emmanuel College
Sherie Binns , Johnson & Wales
Stef Welch, Lasell College
Briana Barker , Mount Ida College
Kasey Jacobs, Norwich
Taylor Lirakis, Rivier University
Chelsea Longo, USJ
Brianne Maloney, Saint Joseph's College (Me.)
Sara Rademacher, Simmons College