McKinley named national Defender of the Year by IWLCA

GRAND LAKE, Colo. – It is said that defense wins championships. In 2010, the Salisbury University women's lacrosse team allowed its opponents to score just 7.50 goals per game, one of the best marks in all of Division III women's lacrosse.

Senior Sarah McKinley (Timonium, Md.) was one of the leaders on the Sea Gull defense and Saturday night was named the National Defender of the Year in Division III by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA). It is the second season in a row that McKinley has earned the award and the third time a Salisbury player has earned the award with Kelly Phillips claiming the honor following the 2007 season.

McKinley played in all 22 games for the Sea Gulls, finishing second on the team in caused turnovers (25) and fifth on the team in both draw controls (21) and ground balls (24). For her career McKinley forced 43 turnovers and scooped up 53 groundballs.

The honor marks the fifth national individual award for a Salisbury player. Along with the three Defender of the Year awards, Sonja Stuart (2009) was named the Goalkeeper of the Year and Kate Scott (2006) was named the Attack Player of the Year.