CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Old Dominion lacrosse players Kerri Caruso and Natalie Ledwitz earned Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) second-team all-state honors, as announced by the organization Friday morning.
Caruso and Ledwitz combined for 64 of the team's 184 caused turnovers as they wreaked havoc on opponents' offensive spreads. Both ladies started all 18 games on defense for the Lady Monarchs, helping the team to a 9-9, 5-5 record.
A junior from Port Washington, N.Y., Ledwitz transitioned from a midfielder to playing defense for the Lady Monarchs after off-season injuries plagued the team. In addition to her 32 caused turnovers, Ledwitz was third on the team in ground balls (36), second in draw controls (29) and added four goals on the season.
She was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week (2/21) after scoring two goals, collecting five ground balls, four draws and six caused turnovers in the first two games (at VCU; at Campbell).
Caruso, a sophomore from Downington, Pa., has started every game (38) in her short two-year career. She was named to the ASUN Academic team finishing the year with a 3.62 GPA studying mechanical engineering.
She tied with Ledwitz for the team lead in caused turnovers (32) and added 40 ground balls, second best on the team, as well as six draw controls. Caruso forced career-high five turnovers and scooped up four ground balls in the ASUN quarterfinal game against Mercer (5/4) closing out the 2017 season.
Headlining the all-state first-team is VaSID Player of the Year, Maggie Jackson from UVA. Three fellow Cavaliers join her on the first team, while two more were named to the all-state second-team, including VaSID Rookie of the Year Sammy Mueller.
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2017 VaSID All-State University Division Women's Lacrosse Team
VaSID Player of the Year – Maggie Jackson, Virginia
VaSID Coach of the Year – Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe, James Madison
VaSID Rookie of the Year – Sammy Mueller, Virginia
1st Team
G – Megan Gianforte, Richmond
D – Abby Junior, William & Mary
D – Kaitlin Luzik, Virginia
D – Rebecca Tooker, James Madison
D – Victoria Tickle, Liberty
M – Kasey Behr, Virginia
M – Maggie Jackson, Virginia
M – Haley Warden, James Madison
A – Kim Egizi, Richmond
A – Kristen Gaudian, James Madison
A – Kelly Reese, Virginia
2nd Team
G – Emily Poelma, James Madison
D – Kerri Caruso, Old Dominion
D – Leslie Espenschied, Richmond
D – Natalie Ledwitz, Old Dominion
M – Alexa McGovern, George Mason
M – Sammy Meuller, Virginia
M – Elena Romesburg, James Madison
A – Besser Dyson, Virginia
A – Same Geiersbach, Richmond
A – Sky Hyatt, Virginia Commonwealth
A – Kristine Loscalzo, Virginia Tech