IWLCA/US Announces All-American Teams

Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association: 2008 All-American Release

West Hyannisport, Mass. - Four Skyhawks earned a spot on the 2008 IWLCA/US Division II All-American Team announced Thursday.  Three Skyhawks, Liza Gross (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker), Michelle Kelly (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) and Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) earned second team honors while defender Jaclyn Craig (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) claimed a spot on the first team.

Stonehill, who completed their ninth consecutive undefeated Conference schedule earlier this month, finished with their tenth straight Northeast-10 regular season title and ninth tournament championship. 

Today marks the second time Craig, a sophomore, earned her first team honors on the IWLCA/US's prestigious list.   She will serve as the Northeast-10 Conference's lone representative on the All-American First Team.

Craig, a defender, claimed 22 draw controls and controlled 22 ground balls.  She anchored Stonehill's top-ranked defense that allowed only 110 tallies in 17 games. The Skyhawks' 6.48 goals-against average was nearly half of Southern N.H.'s 12.72 second-place mark.

Kelly, a junior and senior Darrell receive All-American honors for the second straight year.  The two combined for 120 of Stonehill's 280 markers. Darrell, a co-captain, finished with 53 goals and 13 assists for 66 total points.  Her five goals against Southern Conn. moved her into first place on the College's all-time leading scoring list.  Darrell graduated as one of only three Skyhawks to register over 300 career points.

Kelly's extraordinary year began with her being named to the prestigious 2008 Warrior Tewaarton Trophy Watch List.  She was named Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year after a career year, which included 62 goals, 29 assists and 91 total points.   She will enter her senior year fourth on Stonehill's all-time scoring list (165), tied for sixth on the all-time assists list (71), and fifth in total points (236).

One week after being named to the 2008 IWLCA Division II North Region First Team, Gross, an attacker, earned her first All-American nod.  She finished fourth on the team with 41 goals and 10 assists for 51 total points.  Gross claimed 61 draw controls (3.59 per game), good for fourth in the Northeast-10.

Stonehill's four All-Americans are the most among Northeast-10 Conference members. Southern N.H. defensemen Julie Kraus earned second team honors for the Penmen, as well.