McKinley and Stuart win National Player of the Year Position Awards
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. - Two Salisbury University women's lacrosse players received the highest possible honor over the weekend as they were presented by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) with 2009 National Player of the Year position awards. Senior defender Sarah McKinley and senior goalie Sonja Stuart were named the Division III National Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively.
This marks the second time in the last three years that a SU defender has won National Defender of the Year as Kelly Phillips won the award in 2007. Stuart becomes the first goalie at SU to ever win the C. Markland Kelley Goalkeeper of the Year award. The program has now earned four national player of the year position awards under the tutelage of SU coach Jim Nestor. Kate Scott was named the 2006 National Attacker of the Year.
McKinley was named a first-team All-American by the IWLCA as she was a key contributor on defense for the second-ranked Sea Gulls (20-2) as they were the sixth best scoring defense in the nation. The Timonium, Md., native scored two goals, had one assist, scooped up 29 ground balls, won 20 draw controls and caused 18 turnovers. McKinley was also named the 2009 WomensLacrosse.com Division III National Defender of the Year earlier this month.
Stuart garnered first-team All-American honors from the IWLCA for the first time in her four year career at SU. The senior goalie was a major factor why the Sea Gulls played in their second national championship game in three years. The Rockville, Md., native played and started in 21 contests between the pipes where she logged 1,163 minutes and finished with a 19-2 record. The senior made 141 saves, scooped up a team-high 48 ground balls and finished with a goals against average of 7.94 per game (ranked seventh in the nation).
Top-ranked Franklin & Marshall College, who beat Salisbury in overtime to win the national title, earned the two other national awards. Jen Pritchard and Shannon Summers were named the National Attacker and Midfielder of the Year, respectively.
2009 IWLCA Division III Positional Players of the
Year:
Attack: Jen Pritchard, Franklin & Marshall
Midfield: Shannon Summers, Franklin & Marshall
Defense: Sarah McKinley, Salisbury
Goalie: Sonja Stuart, Salisbury
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