Aug. 7, 2009
Norfolk, Va. - Old Dominion women's lacrosse captured two major VaSID awards Wednesday as Sue Stahl was named the Coach of the Year and Sarah Geary was selected as the Rookie of the Year. Five Lady Monarchs were named to the VaSID All-State Lacrosse Team, including two first team selections, in a vote of the members of the organization.
Virginia led all schools with six student-athletes named to the two squads, with ODU following closely behind with five honorees. George Mason and William & Mary were both recognized with four student-athletes.
Stahl, the 2009 CAA Coach of the Year, guided the Lady Monarchs to an 11-5 record as they finished in a three-way tie for second in the CAA at 5-2. ODU recorded three victories against nationally ranked opponents, including a 13-10 triumph over No. 9 Virginia. ODU also beat in-state rivals George Mason and James Madison. The season was an enormous turnaround for ODU, after finishing 0-7 in CAA action a year ago and 4-9 overall.
Geary (Springfield, Pa.) was the 2009 CAA Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-CAA selection. An All-South Region Second Team selection by the IWLCA, Geary was named to the WomensLacrosse.com National All-Rookie Team. In her first year between the pipes, Geary started all 16 games and led the league in save percentage and saves per game during the regular season. She also ranked third in ground balls per game (3.19) and led the team in ground balls with 51 while causing 16 turnovers, ranking her fourth on the team. The rookie ranked in the Top 30 nationally in four statistical categories, including eighth in the nation in ground balls per game, tenth in save percentage, 16th in saves per game and 26th in GAA.
Kelly Kimener (Oakton, Va.) joins Geary as a First Team honoree, while Lindsey Belle (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Ashley Kellogg (Downington, Pa.) and Brittany Washko (Dunkirk, Md.) were all named to the second team.
VaSID State Lacrosse Teams
First Team
Rachel Culp, Virginia Tech
Kaitlin Duff, Virginia
Liz Downs, Virginia
Sarah Geary, Old Dominion
Grace Golden, William & Mary
Jenny Hauser, Virginia
Ashley Holofcener, William & Mary
Sarah Jonson, William & Mary
Brittany Kalkstein, Virginia
<="">>Kelly Kimener, Old Dominion="">
Ashley McCulloch, Virginia
Blair Weymouth, Virginia
Second Team
Lindsey Belle, Old Dominion
Maggie Bridges, George Mason
Jaime Dardine, JMU
Mandy Friend, Richmond
Allison Furstenberg, Richmond
Kim Griffin, JMU
Madalyn Jamison, George Mason
Ashley Kellogg, Old Dominion
Sara Longobucco, George Mason
Carlie Nethken, Longwood
Molly Wannen, William & Mary
Brittany Washko, Old Dominion
-ODU-