Photo by: Greg Vasil
WLAX Honored By NEC in All-Conference
5/3/2023 2:14:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Werlau selected OPOY; Korutz and staff named CSOY
SOMERSET, N.J.— The Sacred Heart University women's lacrosse team was honored by the Northeast Conference which announced its awards on Wednesday.
Leading the way is graduate student Lydia Werlau who was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. The Brewster, N.Y., native is the scoring leader for the Pioneers with 60 points on 47 goals and 13 assists. This season, Werlau broke the program's Division I record in goals (175) and points (221). She reached the 200th career point milestone at CCSU on Mar. 29. Werlau also earned back-to-back NEC Offensive Player of the Week on Mar. 13 and 27.
Coaching Staff of the Year went to head coach Laura Korutz and assistants Dana Spires and Danielle Pannone. Together, the staff guided SHU to its first undefeated record in conference play since 2010, which was also the same year they last won the NEC tournament title. Korutz earns Coaching Staff of the Year for the fourth time in her career.
In addition, eight Pioneers were selected for All-Conference. Werlau joins fellow graduate student teammates Claire McElhenny and Grace Reinold on First Team All-NEC. McElhenny has been an all-around player on the defensive end this season, leading SHU with 54 draw controls, 45 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers. The Davidsonville, Md., native is currently the school's all-time DI program leader in draw controls which she achieved the previous season. On Apr. 29, McElhenny won a career-high 11 draw controls against Merrimack, which put her at the 200th mark in her career. On Apr. 27, she earned the first NEC Defensive Player of the Week of her career.
Reinold, SHU's third-leading scorer, recorded 41 points on 34 goals and seven assists while notching six caused turnovers and eight ground balls. The Braintree, Mass., native scored her 100th career point at Quinnipiac (Feb. 15) and 100th career goal against Wagner (Apr. 12).
Senior Emma Kittredge along with juniors Ellie Holt and Kelly Nolan earned a spot on Second Team All-NEC. Kittredge, who earns the accolade for the second year in a row, is the second-leading scorer for the Pioneers and has tallied 42 points on 32 goals and 10 assists. The Baldwin Place, N.Y., native eclipsed the 100th point of her career against Merrimack on Apr. 29. Kittredge was selected Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Feb. 13.
Holt is second for the Pioneers in draw controls with 50. The Cumberland Center, Maine, native won a career-high six draw controls at Saint Francis on Mar. 25. Holt also picked up 24 ground balls and caused 15 turnovers.
Nolan increased her stat numbers to double-digits this season, tallying 28 points on 16 goals and 12 assists while picking up 16 ground balls. The Cross River, N.Y., native picked up a career-high six ground balls at Manhattan on Feb. 11. Nolan earned her first NEC Defensive Player of the Year nod on Feb. 13.
SHU completes All-Conference honors with Maggie Araneo and Ellie Edwards on the All-Rookie Team. Araneo scored 14 points on 12 goals and two assists while collecting four ground balls. The Merrick, N.Y., native notched her first career hat trick at CCSU on Mar. 29.
Edwards has posted two goals, two assists, five caused turnovers, six draw controls and nine ground balls in the first season of her collegiate career. The South Kingstown, R.I., native notched back-to-back goals against Howard (Apr. 1) and at Stonehill (Apr. 8).
"I am excited and thrilled for our women's lacrosse athletes to be honored and recognized by the NEC," said Korutz. "These awards are a fitting testament to the high standards that each of these players held themselves and their teammates to throughout the year. I am beyond proud to be their coach."
The No. 1 seed Pioneers play in its first NEC Tournament since 2016 on Thursday as they take on No. 4 Saint Francis in the semifinals at Campus Field. The game is set for a 1 p.m. start.
Leading the way is graduate student Lydia Werlau who was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. The Brewster, N.Y., native is the scoring leader for the Pioneers with 60 points on 47 goals and 13 assists. This season, Werlau broke the program's Division I record in goals (175) and points (221). She reached the 200th career point milestone at CCSU on Mar. 29. Werlau also earned back-to-back NEC Offensive Player of the Week on Mar. 13 and 27.
Coaching Staff of the Year went to head coach Laura Korutz and assistants Dana Spires and Danielle Pannone. Together, the staff guided SHU to its first undefeated record in conference play since 2010, which was also the same year they last won the NEC tournament title. Korutz earns Coaching Staff of the Year for the fourth time in her career.
In addition, eight Pioneers were selected for All-Conference. Werlau joins fellow graduate student teammates Claire McElhenny and Grace Reinold on First Team All-NEC. McElhenny has been an all-around player on the defensive end this season, leading SHU with 54 draw controls, 45 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers. The Davidsonville, Md., native is currently the school's all-time DI program leader in draw controls which she achieved the previous season. On Apr. 29, McElhenny won a career-high 11 draw controls against Merrimack, which put her at the 200th mark in her career. On Apr. 27, she earned the first NEC Defensive Player of the Week of her career.
Reinold, SHU's third-leading scorer, recorded 41 points on 34 goals and seven assists while notching six caused turnovers and eight ground balls. The Braintree, Mass., native scored her 100th career point at Quinnipiac (Feb. 15) and 100th career goal against Wagner (Apr. 12).
Senior Emma Kittredge along with juniors Ellie Holt and Kelly Nolan earned a spot on Second Team All-NEC. Kittredge, who earns the accolade for the second year in a row, is the second-leading scorer for the Pioneers and has tallied 42 points on 32 goals and 10 assists. The Baldwin Place, N.Y., native eclipsed the 100th point of her career against Merrimack on Apr. 29. Kittredge was selected Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Feb. 13.
Holt is second for the Pioneers in draw controls with 50. The Cumberland Center, Maine, native won a career-high six draw controls at Saint Francis on Mar. 25. Holt also picked up 24 ground balls and caused 15 turnovers.
Nolan increased her stat numbers to double-digits this season, tallying 28 points on 16 goals and 12 assists while picking up 16 ground balls. The Cross River, N.Y., native picked up a career-high six ground balls at Manhattan on Feb. 11. Nolan earned her first NEC Defensive Player of the Year nod on Feb. 13.
SHU completes All-Conference honors with Maggie Araneo and Ellie Edwards on the All-Rookie Team. Araneo scored 14 points on 12 goals and two assists while collecting four ground balls. The Merrick, N.Y., native notched her first career hat trick at CCSU on Mar. 29.
Edwards has posted two goals, two assists, five caused turnovers, six draw controls and nine ground balls in the first season of her collegiate career. The South Kingstown, R.I., native notched back-to-back goals against Howard (Apr. 1) and at Stonehill (Apr. 8).
"I am excited and thrilled for our women's lacrosse athletes to be honored and recognized by the NEC," said Korutz. "These awards are a fitting testament to the high standards that each of these players held themselves and their teammates to throughout the year. I am beyond proud to be their coach."
The No. 1 seed Pioneers play in its first NEC Tournament since 2016 on Thursday as they take on No. 4 Saint Francis in the semifinals at Campus Field. The game is set for a 1 p.m. start.
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