2017 SUNYAC women's lacrosse annual awards announced

CORTLAND, NY - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is proud to announce its annual women's lacrosse individual awards, as well as its 2017 All-Conference Team selections. Voted on by conference coaches, the SUNYAC recognizes the Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

Coming off a spectacular senior campaign, Brockport attacker Kelly Wall has been awarded the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year. The Clifton Park, N.Y. native compared to the field was fourth in Points (31), seventh in Goals (21), sixth in Assists (10), and third in Ground Balls (24). Overall, Wall compiled a season total of 36 Goals and 18 Assists. In a regular season matchup against conference foe Cortland, the senior stepped up to the challenge, compiling an astonishing 5 Goals and 2 Assists in the victory; this win ultimately locked up the top-seed for the Golden Eagles heading into the conference tournament. Additionally, Wall now adds another SUNYAC First Team All-Conference to her highly decorated career with the Brockport Golden Eagles. In her four year career, Wall has been named to the First Team All-Conference Team every year as an attacker. Wall collected All-Tournament Team honors at the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Championships. 

Brockport defender Cassandra Minerd is the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year. Hailing from Onondaga, N.Y., Minerd ranked fourth overall (31) and second within conference play (18) in Caused Turnovers and a conference fifth (24) in Draw Controls; she would also lead her team in Draw Controls (38) and Caused Turnovers (31). In the 2017 regular season matchup against Cortland, the senior bested her season stats earning four Caused Turnovers and seven Draw Controls. During the 2017 SUNYAC Championships (vs. Oneonta; vs. Cortland), Minerd would record three ground balls, five Caused Turnovers, five Draw Controls, and earned a spot on the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse All-Tournament Team as the sole defender represented. The senior stand-out is also a 2017 First Team All-Conference Team selection for her efforts with the Golden Eagles this season.

Cortland freshman Lexie Meager is the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Rookie of the Year. The Syracuse, N.Y. native, had a standout inaugural season with the Red Dragons. As a midfielder, Meager would overall rank fourth (25) in Caused Turnovers, third in Draw Controls (48), eighth in Free position goals-shots (9-15), with a combined 45 Points (33g, 12a) on the season. In just her first game of her collegiate career (vs. Clarkson), the freshman recorded a hat-trick, five Draw Controls, and 2 Caused Turnovers. Meager currently ranks third in Points (43), third in Goals (33), a team-high first in Draw Controls (48), and first in Caused Turnovers (25) for the Red Dragons this season. Furthermore, the West Genesee product has also been selected to the 2017 First Team All-Conference Team, marking what should be a very promising career ahead.

Brockport's Steve Wagner is the recipient of the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Coach of the Year award. After being ranked eighth in the nation heading into the 2017 season, Wagner and the Golden Eagles garnered an impressive 2017 campaign, compiling a 15-1 record and going undefeated in conference play (8-0), earning the top-seed in the conference tournament. The 2017 regular season also saw the Golden Eagles hand the Cortland Red Dragons their first conference loss in eight years (W, 16-11), snapping a 63-game conference winning streak. Head Coach Wagner has four 2017 First Team All-Conference players and one Second Team All-Conference selection, including the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year (Kelly Wall) and Defensive Player of the Year (Cassandra Minerd). Although the Golden Eagles came-up short against conference rival Cortland in the SUNYAC Championship game (L, 12-7), Wagner and co. will be heading to Ohio to face Denison University on May 14 to begin their run at a national championship, after earning an at-large bid. This is Head Coach Wagner's second consecutive Coach of the Year award.

2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams (PDF)

First Team

Second Team

Third Team