Marquette University Athletics
Leigh Steiner Named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
5/1/2024 8:30:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Five Golden Eagles earn all-conference honors
NEW YORK – Marquette University women's lacrosse senior Leigh Steiner has been named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection, the conference office announced Wednesday morning.
Steiner, who was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week three times this season, started in all 17 games and totalled 45 goals and 16 assists. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native finished the season with the sixth-most goals (45) and fourth-most shots (121) in a season in program history.
Steiner is the fourth player in program history to be named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, joining Lydia Foust (2023) and Grace Gabriel (2018, 2019).
Meg Bireley earned unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team honors after leading the league with 69 goals, top five in the NCAA and the most in a single season in program history. Bireley led the BIG EAST in goals per game (4.06), points per game (4.47), and shots per game (8.94).
The junior from Glenville, Illinois was tabbed BIG EAST Attacker of the Week three times and ended the season with 76 points, the third-most in a single season in program history.
Josie Kropp was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the conference with 136 draw controls that ranked top 10 in the nation.
Kropp broke the single season record for draw controls in 15 games and had a program single game record tying 17 draw controls at Detroit Mercy in February. The Prior Lake, Minnesota native had 5-or-more draw controls in 13-of-17 games.
Tess Osburn earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors after a 39-point season with 32 goals and seven assists. The sophomore attacker had double-digit scoring performances in 11-of-17 games this season, including four goals in the season-opening win over Cincinnati.
Kaitlyn Huber was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after leading the team in caused turnovers with 20. The senior defender collected two weekly honors during the season and was named BIG EAST Defender of the Week on April 22 after MU led up just four goals on the road at Xavier.
BIG EAST Attacker of the Year
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Gr., A
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Sr., M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Mary Moore, Villanova, Fr., M
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Denver
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Leah Rubino, Butler, Sr., M
Abby Beran, Connecticut, Fr., D
Riley Daly, Connecticut, Jr., D*
Rayea Davis, Connecticut, R-So., A*
Madelyn George, Connecticut, Gr., M
Kate Shaffer, Connecticut, Gr., A*
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
Lauren Black, Denver, Jr., A
Caroline Colimore, Denver, Jr., M
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Gr., A*
Abby Jenkins, Denver, Sr., DS
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D*
Anna Palmisano, Denver, Sr., D*
Olivia Penoyer, Denver, Gr., A
Maggie O'Brien, Georgetown, Gr., D
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Jr., A*
Josie Kropp, Marquette, Sr., DS
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Sr., M*
Mary Moore, Villanova, Fr., M
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, Jr., A*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Luci Selander, Butler, So., A
Abby Charron, Connecticut, Sr., A
Emelia Bohi, Denver, Jr., GK
Bryn McCaughey, Denver, Sr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, So., A
Emma Gebhardt, Georgetown, Jr., A
Tatum Geist, Georgetown, Sr., M
Melissa Massimino, Georgetown, Sr., D
Maley Starr, Georgetown, Jr., M
Leah Warehime, Georgetown, Jr., GK
Kaitlyn Huber, Marquette, Sr., D
Tess Osburn, Marquette, So., A
Sami Carey, Villanova, Jr., A
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova, Jr., D
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, Fr., DS
Lola Mancuso, Xavier, So., M
*denotes unanimous selection
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
Steiner, who was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week three times this season, started in all 17 games and totalled 45 goals and 16 assists. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native finished the season with the sixth-most goals (45) and fourth-most shots (121) in a season in program history.
Steiner is the fourth player in program history to be named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, joining Lydia Foust (2023) and Grace Gabriel (2018, 2019).
Meg Bireley earned unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team honors after leading the league with 69 goals, top five in the NCAA and the most in a single season in program history. Bireley led the BIG EAST in goals per game (4.06), points per game (4.47), and shots per game (8.94).
The junior from Glenville, Illinois was tabbed BIG EAST Attacker of the Week three times and ended the season with 76 points, the third-most in a single season in program history.
Josie Kropp was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the conference with 136 draw controls that ranked top 10 in the nation.
Kropp broke the single season record for draw controls in 15 games and had a program single game record tying 17 draw controls at Detroit Mercy in February. The Prior Lake, Minnesota native had 5-or-more draw controls in 13-of-17 games.
Tess Osburn earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors after a 39-point season with 32 goals and seven assists. The sophomore attacker had double-digit scoring performances in 11-of-17 games this season, including four goals in the season-opening win over Cincinnati.
Kaitlyn Huber was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after leading the team in caused turnovers with 20. The senior defender collected two weekly honors during the season and was named BIG EAST Defender of the Week on April 22 after MU led up just four goals on the road at Xavier.
BIG EAST Attacker of the Year
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Gr., A
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Sr., M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Mary Moore, Villanova, Fr., M
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Denver
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Leah Rubino, Butler, Sr., M
Abby Beran, Connecticut, Fr., D
Riley Daly, Connecticut, Jr., D*
Rayea Davis, Connecticut, R-So., A*
Madelyn George, Connecticut, Gr., M
Kate Shaffer, Connecticut, Gr., A*
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
Lauren Black, Denver, Jr., A
Caroline Colimore, Denver, Jr., M
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Gr., A*
Abby Jenkins, Denver, Sr., DS
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D*
Anna Palmisano, Denver, Sr., D*
Olivia Penoyer, Denver, Gr., A
Maggie O'Brien, Georgetown, Gr., D
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Jr., A*
Josie Kropp, Marquette, Sr., DS
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Sr., M*
Mary Moore, Villanova, Fr., M
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, Jr., A*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Luci Selander, Butler, So., A
Abby Charron, Connecticut, Sr., A
Emelia Bohi, Denver, Jr., GK
Bryn McCaughey, Denver, Sr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, So., A
Emma Gebhardt, Georgetown, Jr., A
Tatum Geist, Georgetown, Sr., M
Melissa Massimino, Georgetown, Sr., D
Maley Starr, Georgetown, Jr., M
Leah Warehime, Georgetown, Jr., GK
Kaitlyn Huber, Marquette, Sr., D
Tess Osburn, Marquette, So., A
Sami Carey, Villanova, Jr., A
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova, Jr., D
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, Fr., DS
Lola Mancuso, Xavier, So., M
*denotes unanimous selection
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
Players Mentioned
Attack
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Women's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfield
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