April 29, 2015
Big Ten Announces Inaugural Women's Lacrosse Honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. -
T he Big Ten Conference announced its first women's lacrosse all-conference team on Wednesday afternoon and it features five Nittany Lions. Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.), Tatum Coffey (Toms River, N.J.) and Abby Smucker (Bel Air, Md.) each received unanimous selection, while Madison Cyr (Westminster, Md.) and Emi Smith (Denver, Colo.) rounded out Penn State's All-Big Ten roster.
The Nittany Lions made up 25 percent of the inaugural All-Big Ten Team, with No. 1 Maryland taking home eight spots. In addition to the five representatives, McCormick represents Penn State as the team's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
McCormick, a co-captain, is Penn State's offensive catalyst by feeding her potent attacking contingent. The senior is a Tewaaraton Award nominee for a second time by registering 40 assists and 61 points this season. Those marks rank second and third, respectively, in the Big Ten. McCormick is already Penn State's all-time leader in assists (134). McCormick grabs her third career all-conference honor (2013 All-ALC First Team, 2012 All-ALC Second Team).
Coffey has been a standout two-way player for the Nittany Lions by tallying 29 goals and nine assists for 38 points along with her team-leading 19 caused turnovers. Her goals are tops on the team and she has the second most helpers for the Nittany Lions. She also leads the team with a 7-for-9 mark on free-position shots. Coffey's honor is the second all-conference nod for the senior who was an All-ALC Second Team member in 2012.
Smucker transitioned to the defense this year to fill some holes left by graduation and injuries and the sophomore has shined. Her quickness and agility has helped Penn State to second-best marks in the conference in goals-against average (9.00). Smucker has added 10 goals on the ledger and helped with Penn State's clearing game, which has been successful over 87 percent of the time.
Aiding in the success of the defense has been Smith, whose improvement in goal has lifted the Nittany Lions to a No. 7 ranking this season. Smith's career year sees less than nine goals allowed per game and a .466 save percentage. Both marks are second in the conference. Personally, Smith's stats are dramatically improved from her career averages (10.61, .375 entering this year). Smith also pitched Penn State's first shutout in 26 years by downing Duquesne, 16-0.
Cyr earned her second all-conference honor on Wednesday behind her 26-goal campaign. Cyr is fourth on the team in scoring and points (29), while scooping a team-high 25 ground balls and ranking fourth on the team in draw controls (20) and fifth in caused turnovers (12). Last year, Cyr was an All-ALC First Team member.
Individual awards will be presented on Monday following this weekend's Big Ten Tournament, featuring the top coach, attacker, midfielder, defender, goalie and freshman of the season.
Penn State opens the Big Ten Tournament on Friday evening (5:30 p.m.) as the No. 2 seed against either third-seeded Northwestern or No. 6 seed Michigan. The semifinals air on Big Ten Network and BTN2Go, while the final will be on ESPN3.com and ESPNU (at 5:30 p.m.).
ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
BROOKE GRIFFIN, A, Maryland
SELENA LASOTA, A, Northwestern
Maggie McCormick, A, Penn State
TAYLOR CUMMINGS, M, Maryland
Zoe Stukenberg, M, Maryland
Tatum Coffey, M, Penn State
MEGAN DOUTY, D, Maryland
ALICE MERCER, D, Maryland
Abby Smucker, D, Penn State
Alex Fitzpatrick, G, Maryland
Megan Whittle, Maryland
CASEY PEPPERMAN, Maryland
Sheila Nesselbush, Northwestern
Katie Chase, Ohio State
Jackie Cifarelli, Ohio State
Taylor Donahue, Ohio State
Jennifer Porretto, Ohio State
Madison Cyr, Penn State
Emi Smith, Penn State
Lauren Sbrilli, Rutgers
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Casey Pepperman, Sr., Maryland Sophie duPhily, So., Michigan Brooke Jones, Sr., Northwestern Mary Kate Facchina, Sr., Ohio State Maggie McCormick, Sr., Penn State
Melissa Arthur, Sr., Rutgers