BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Marist women's lacrosse team had 17 players named to All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) teams on Thursday night at the conference's pre-tournament awards banquet. Senior Shannon Haas (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and sophomore Jamie Romano (Kings Park, N.Y.) led the honorees as they were each collected All-MAAC accolades for the second consecutive year. Three MAAC All-Rookie and 10 All-Academic nods combined with Marist's eight All-MAAC Second Team winners gave the Red Foxes 21 total honors on the night.
Haas, a fourth-year midfielder garnered her second straight All-MAAC Second Team honor after posting a strong all-around season. Marist's fourth leading scorer, she registered 22 points in the regular season (16 goals, 6 assists), including nine multi-point games. Outside of scoring, Haas contributed the third-most ground balls (22) and draw controls (21) for Marist this season
Romano is back on an All-MAAC team for the second consecutive year, as she follows up her First Team freshman campaign with a 30 point effort and Second Team nod as a sophomore. The Red Foxes' third leading goal scorer with 27 tallies, she proved herself to be one of the conference's most effective draw control players, as well. In 15 games, Romano controlled 51 draws, for the MAAC's second highest per game average at 3.40.
Other members of the All-MAAC Second Team include the attack duo of senior Ariel Kramer (Syracuse, N.Y.) and junior Ashley Miller (Montville, N.J.), junior goalkeeper Ashley Casiano (South Windsor, Conn.), junior midfielder Amanda Tuck (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and freshmen Emily Leonard (Brookfield, Conn.) and Christine Astarita (Kennett Square, Pa.).
Kramer and Miller finished the regular season one-two for the Red Foxes in scoring with 42 and 31 points, respectively. In both cases, these totals were career highs. Kramer's 42 points (28 goals, 14 assists) placed her ninth in the conference with a 2.62 per game average, while her 14 assists were the fourth-most. The senior attack posted the MAAC's highest scoring goal effort of the year in the final game of the regular season with a program all-time best tying eight goals at Niagara on April 21. Miller finished the regular season with 28 goals and three assists.
Casiano was recognized for her stalwart effort in the cage for the Red Foxes this season. Facing over 300 shots on goal, the junior goalkeeper made 150 saves in the regular season for a .452 save percentage. As of Monday, April 23, that save total was 10th in Division 1.
Midfielders Tuck and Leonard finished the regular season fifth and sixth on the Red Foxes' scoring chart as they totaled 17 and 16 points, respectively. A consistent presence on both sides of the field, Tuck augmented her offensive totals with 20 draw controls, 18 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Leonard also proved herself as a well-rounded midfielder as she also won 20 draw controls. The freshman registered Marist's highest shooting percentage as she scored 14 of her 21 shots taken for a .667 percentage.
Astarita was the final Red Fox named to the second team as she was honored for her solid and dependable work in the defensive zone. Appearing in all 16 games for Marist, she started 15 of the contests during her rookie year. Astarita finished the regular season with 22 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers, the second-most on the team.
The MAAC also announced its inaugural All-Rookie team at the banquet. Leonard and Astarita were joined by fellow freshman Sheri Fauvell (Moorestown, N.J.) on the squad. Fauvell, a defender collected 20 ground balls, caused a team-high 17 turnovers and controlled eight draws as a rookie.
Academically, the Red Foxes ranked second in the conference in MAAC All-Academic selections with 10 as Fairfield led the way with 12 selections. Seniors Jori Procaccini (Long Valley, N.J./Psychology) and Shannon Haas (Psychology) highlighted the group as they earned honors for the third straight year. Two-year honorees included: juniors Jessica Irvine (Hauppauge, N.Y./Biology), Laura Lucchesi (Syracuse, N.Y./Psychology/Special Ed.) and Amanda Tuck (Political Science). Five Marist athletes were recognized for the first time, as well. Senior Lauren Cobb (Jamesville, N.Y./Pyschology) was joined by sophomores Bailey Knapton (Canandaigua, N.Y./Digital Media), Tierney Larson (Fairfield, Conn./Business Admin.), Joanna Sheldon (Camillus, N.Y./Communications & Spanish) and Brooke Wickham (Penn Yan/Political Science).
To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale.
The All-MAAC First Team consisted of Canisius' Carly Quinn, Megan Oosting, Morgan Leonard and, Lindsey Morgan, Fairfield's Courtney Chmil, Melanie Raso, and Katie Keenan, Iona's Stephanie Sumcizik, Kylie Gregory, Casey Scully, and Amber Zimmerlink, and Siena's Amanda Corso, Deirdre McQuillan, and Katie Maguire.
The Second Team featured Canisius' Maria Kota, Tori Quinn, and Gabby Kotas, Fairfield's Chloe Mangan, Jamie Leone, Cassie Penta, Tara Lynch, and Erin Hogan, Iona's Brittany Mabus, Manhattan College's Elizabeth Dugan, Chrissy Gutenberger, and Breana Leonard, Marist College's Ariel Kramer, Ashley Miller, Jamie Romano, Shannon Haas, Emily Leonard, Amanda Tuck, Christine Astarita, and Ashley Casiano, and Siena's Michelle Andreo and Shannon Pfole.
The inaugural All-Rookie team consisted of Canisius' Tori Quinn, Meghan Cuddy, and Kayla Scully, Fairfield's Chmil and Jamie Leone, Iona's Meghan Testoni, Manhattan's Donna Jo DiNorcia, Christina Fiorinelli, and Domenica O'Brey, Marist's Emily Leonard, Christine Astarita, and Sheri Fauvell, Niagara University's Carrie-Jo Farrugia, and Siena's Alyssa Trenor.
#3 Marist will begin play at the 2012 MAAC Championship with a semifinal matchup on Friday, April 27 versus #2 Canisius in an 8 p.m. contest.
