BIG EAST WLAX Yearly Awards Announced

NEW YORK — The BIG EAST Conference announced its 2023 women's lacrosse yearly awards Thursday morning, a list which includes a record number of Marquette players.

Six Golden Eagles earned All-BIG EAST honors, including four players on the first team and two on the second team, while senior midfielder Lydia Foust was named the league's Midfielder of the Year and head coach Meredith Black and her staff were honored with the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year award.

Marquette's four first-teamers are the most in program history, while Lydia Foust joins Grace Gabriel (2018, 2019) as just the second MU player to ever earn a position player of the year award. This is also the first time that Coach Black and staff have been named coaching staff of the year.

Coaching Staff of the Year

Leading Marquette to a record-breaking regular season and its highest-ever finish in BIG EAST play, the Golden Eagle coaching staff, led by head coach Meredith Black, was named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. MU was picked fourth in the conference preseason poll, then went 15-2 overall with a 5-1 league record to climb into the IWLCA Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history. Along with Black on staff are associate head coach Caitlin Wolf and assistant coach Jill Rizzo.

Lydia Foust | BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, All-BIG EAST First Team

A senior midfielder from Redwood City, California, Foust became just the second player in Marquette history to earn a BIG EAST position player of the year award. She is also a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team, the second MU player to ever make the first team three times. Foust has helped propel Marquette to a historic season, leading the squad in scoring with 54 goals to go along with 12 assists. Her 54 goals lead the BIG EAST and rank 16th in the NCAA, while she also ranks third in the conference in total points with 66.

Mary Schumar | All-BIG EAST First Team

A senior attacker from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Schumar earned her second-consecutive nod to the All-BIG EAST First Team. She has shattered several program records and is having one of the top seasons as a facilitator in NCAA history. Schumar leads the nation with 4.0 assists per game, a mark which ranks fourth in NCAA history, and has shattered Marquette season records in both assists (66) and points (85). She ranks sixth nationally in points per game with 5.12.

Ellie Henry | All-BIG EAST First Team

A senior defender from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Henry was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, earning yearly honors for the second-straight season after being named to the second team in 2022. Henry serves as MU's defensive anchor, and is a crucial piece of one of the nation's top draw teams. She leads the team and ranks third in the BIG EAST with 6.0 draws per game, while as a team the Golden Eagles average 18.24 draw controls per game, 7th in NCAA history. She also leads the team in caused turnovers (22) and ranks second in ground balls (32).

Emma Soccodato | All-BIG EAST First Team

A senior midfielder from Huntington, New York, Soccodato was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, earning yearly honors for the second-straight season after being named to the second team in 2022. Soccodato is a versatile player who plays an important role for the Golden Eagles on offense, defense and the draw. She ranks second on the team in both ground balls (32) and caused turnovers (14), and is third in draw controls (52) for one of the nation's top draw teams. Additionally, she has totaled 27 points on 23 goals and four assists.

Shea Garcia | All-BIG EAST Second Team

A senior attacker from Manhasset, New York, Garcia earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors for the second-straight season. The second-leading scorer on one of the nation's top scoring offenses, Garcia has totaled 45 goals this season, while her 2.81 goals per game rank fourth in the BIG EAST. She also ranks eighth in the conference in points per game with 3.31. Garcia has scored in 15 of the 16 games she's played this season, going for seven hat tricks and scoring a program-record eight goals against Xavier.

Leigh Steiner | All-BIG EAST Second Team

A junior midfielder from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Steiner earned the first all-conference honor of her career with a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Steiner has had a well-rounded season for Marquette, going for 31 points on 19 goals and 12 assists, along with 20 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers and 19 draw controls. She's a consistent offensive threat for MU, recording multiple points in 10 games this year, and a key part of the team's defensive midfield.

BIG EAST Co-Attackers of the Year^
Kate Shaffer, Connecticut, Sr., A
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Sr., A
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, So., A

BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Lydia Foust, Marquette, Sr., M

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Sam Thacker, Denver, Sr., D*

BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Lola Mancuso, Xavier, Fr., A

BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Marquette

All-BIG EAST First Team^
Leah Rubino, Butler, Jr., M
Madelyn George, Connecticut, Sr., M*
Kate Shaffer, Connecticut, Sr., A
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
Emelia Bohi, Denver, So., GK
Ellie Curry, Denver, Sr., M
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Sr., A
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D
Sam Thacker, Denver, Sr., D*
Tatum Geist, Georgetown, Jr., M
Kylie Hazen, Georgetown, Jr., A
Lydia Foust, Marquette, Sr., M*
Ellie Henry, Marquette, Sr., D
Mary Schumar, Marquette, Sr., A
Emma Soccodato, Marquette, Sr., M
Caroline Curnal, Villanova, Gr., DS
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, So., A

All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Kate Kaptrosky, Butler, Fr., M
Grace Coon, Connecticut, Gr., A
Ariana Kline, Connecticut, Sr., D
Lia LaPrise, Connecticut, Gr., A
Lauren Black, Denver, So., A
Ryan Dineen, Denver, Fr., A
Bryn McCaughey, Denver, Jr., D
Abby Jenkins, Denver, Jr., DS
Nicole Massimino, Georgetown, Gr., D
Shea Garcia, Marquette, Sr., A
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Jr., M
Sami Carey, Villanova, So., A
Mary Kate Conniff, Villanova, Jr., D
Olivia Conquest, Villanova, So., GK
Erin Berls, Xavier, Fr., M
Jess Harrison, Xavier, Gr., M
*denotes unanimous selection
^extra players added due to a tie in voting

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Players Mentioned

Lydia Foust

Shea Garcia

Ellie Henry

Mary Schumar

Emma Soccodato

Leigh Steiner

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