SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Central Michigan led the way in the Southern Conference women’s lacrosse all-conference awards with a league-leading eight players selected between the first team, second team and the all-freshman team, as voted on by the league’s six coaches. The Chippewas’ Jocelyne Lemay was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Year. Mercer’s Audrey Robertson was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, Hailey Rhatigan was named SoCon Freshman of the Year and Samantha Eustace claimed SoCon Coach of the Year honors.
Both the first and second teams are made up of 12 players. The all-freshman team consists of six players regardless of position.
Furman and Mercer each totaled seven all-conference selections while Detroit Mercy garnered four and Wofford totaled three.
A senior, Lemay ended the regular season in the top 10 in the league in goals per game (2.20) and draw controls per game (4.00). Overall on the season, the Peterborough, Ontario, native netted 43 goals and six assists and recorded 49 points. She has a career-high .928 shot-on-goal percentage on the season and has recorded at least three goals in nine games. Lemay was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week once this season.
A senior defender, Robertson leads the conference in ground balls (17) and caused turnovers (18) and is currently ranked fourth in the NCAA in caused turnovers per game (2.88). Robertson was named the March Defensive Player of the Month.
Hailing from Holbrook, New York, Rhatigan led the conference in goals (54), points per game (4.38), shots (138) and free position goals per game (0.69). The attacker is currently the only freshman in the top 50 in Division I women’s lacrosse in goals per game (3.38) and she leads the Bears in goals, points (70), shots and shots on goal (102).
Eustace, who is in her fourth year as the Mercer head coach, guided the Bears to an 8-9 overall record, going 4-1 in the conference to clinch a share of the regular-season championship and earn the No. 1 overall seed for the SoCon Championship.
Joining Lemay on the first team is Logan Halvorson (D), giving Central Michigan two players of the first team. The Chippewas have the most members earning second team all-conference honors as Jessica Schuchardt (A), Natalie Karlen (A), Shannon Doyle (M), Brianna Hart (D) and Dominique Hamman (GK) were named All-SoCon second team. Courtney Burke (A) represents the Chippewas on the all-freshman team.
The Bears boast three on the second team in Kelly Hagerty (A), Catie Snee (M) and Michaela Lucas (D). Rhatigan also represents the Bears on the all-freshman team, where she is joined by teammate Hannah Lind (M).
Furman, who earned the No. 3 seed the upcoming championship, tied with the Bears for the second-most representatives over all three all-conference teams with seven. The Paladins boasted the most members of the all-conference first team, where they have five representatives. Grace Pollak (A), Abby Shields (A), Sophie Brennan (M), Morgan Franklin (D) and Courtney Baker (GK) make up the Paladin representatives on the first team. Avery Whitehead collected second-team honors and midfielder Lauren Farber garnered an all-freshman team honor. The Paladins clinched a share of the regular-season title after defeating Wofford in their final game of the regular season and bringing their conference record to 4-1.
Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, Detroit Mercy boasts three on the all-conference first team in Lexie Kinmond (A), Kaitlyn Wandelt (M) and Tegan McManus (D). Midfielder Elise Harder was the sole Titan to be named to the all-freshman team. Detroit Mercy went 8-9 overall and 4-1 in the conference this season to earn a share of the regular-season title.
Wofford midfielder Ally Furnari, defender Alexandra Foulke and goalkeeper Kelsey Thompson were named to the All-SoCon second team. Furnari was also named to the all-freshman squad.
The SoCon Women’s Lacrosse Championship begins Thursday, May 2, in Greenville, South Carolina, with No. 1 Mercer facing off against No. 4 Central Michigan, followed by No. 2 Detroit Mercy against No. 3 Furman. The championship match will be played Saturday, May 4, at noon.
2019 Offensive Player of the Year
Jocelyn Lemay, Sr., M, Central Michigan
2019 Defensive Player of the Year
Audrey Robertson, Sr., D, Mercer
2019 Freshman of the Year
Hailey Rhatigan, A, Mercer
2019 Coach of the Year
Samantha Eustace, Mercer
2019 All-Southern Conference First Team
A – Lexie Kinmond, Sr., Detroit Mercy
A – Abby Shields, Sr., Furman
A – Grace Pollak, Jr., Furman
A – Hailey Rhatigan, Fr., Mercer
M – Jocelyne Lemay, Sr., Central Michigan
M – Kaitlyn Wandelt, R-Jr., Detroit Mercy
M – Sophie Brennan, Sr., Furman
D – Logan Halvorson, Sr., Central Michigan
D – Tegan McManus, Jr., Detroit Mercy
D – Morgan Franklin, Jr., Furman
D – Audrey Robertson, Sr., Mercer
GK – Courtney Baker, Sr., Furman
2019 All-Southern Conference Second Team
A – Jessica Schuchardt, Jr., Central Michigan
A – Natalie Karlen, Jr., Central Michigan
A – Kelly Hagerty, Sr., Mercer
M – Shannon Doyle, Jr., Central Michigan
M – Catie Snee, Jr., Mercer
M – Ally Furnari, Fr., Wofford
D – Brianna Hart, Jr., Central Michigan
D – Avery Whitehead, So., Furman
D – Michaela Lucas, Jr., Mercer
D – Alexandra Foulke, So., Wofford
GK – Dominique Hamman, Sr., Central Michigan
GK – Kelsey Thompson, So., Wofford
2019 Southern Conference All-Freshman team
A - Courtney Burke, Central Michigan
M - Elise Harder, Detroit Mercy
M - Lauren Farber, Furman
M - Hannah Lind, Mercer
M - Hailey Rhatigan, Mercer
M - Ally Furnari, Wofford