Pair of Lacrosse Players Claim All-Region Accolades

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (May 21, 2010) – Senior midfielder Peggy Wefald and junior defender Bianca Young have been named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Region Second Team after leading Mount Holyoke College to its most wins in over 15 years.

The IWLCA honored 224 Division III players from around the nation. Thirty-two recipients were selected to represent the Berkshire Region. Both players are now eligible for inclusion on the IWLCA/United States Lacrosse All-American teams, which will be announced on May 25.

Arguably the top offensive player in program history, Wefald was once again dominant for the Lyons during her senior campaign. In addition to establishing a new program record for goals in a season with 76, she also dished out 16 assists and pulled in 71 draw controls. Five of her tallies went down as game winners. The most memorable came in Mount Holyoke’s 12-11 double overtime triumph over Springfield College (4/13). After knotting things up at 11-11 in the waning seconds of the first extra session, she found the back of the net for what proved to be the winner 2:40 into the second overtime.

Wefald netted three goals or more in 14 of her 18 games this year. She exploded for a career best eight tallies in the Lyons 19-10 triumph over Wellesley College (4/10). Her nine points in that contest matched her career high. She was nearly unstoppable in Mount Holyoke’s 15-6 victory over Wheaton College in the Quarterfinal Round of the NEWMAC Tournament, when she amassed seven goals and a helper (4/28).

The midfielder became the first player in program history to reach 200 career goals this season. In 58 games played, she found the back of the net 230 times and dished out 42 assists. Wefald was held scoreless just three times in her career. She registered three goals or more 44 times and five goals or more on 25 occasions. In addition, she came up with seven game winning goals. Her 248 career draw controls are good for tops in school history.

Wefald was selected to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team this spring after earning Second Team accolades in each of her first three seasons in a Mount Holyoke uniform. The captain was named NEWMAC Player of the Week on two occasions this year (4/12, 4/19) and once during her sophomore season (4/14/08). She also picked up ECAC New England Offensive Player of the Week honors once (4/12).

Young emerged as the Lyons top defender during her junior season. In 18 games played, she recorded 21 ground balls, 17 caused turnovers and four draw controls. In addition to being Mount Holyoke’s quickest defender, she was also its strongest. She displayed great vision and was usually the Lyons first player to double team in an isolation situation.

Over the course of her career, Young appeared in and started 49 contests. Her lone goal came in an 18-3 triumph over Anna Maria College last spring (4/24/09). She contributed an assist at Smith College in 2008 (4/15/08). Young has totaled 73 ground balls, 54 caused turnovers and 15 draw controls in her career.

Mount Holyoke closed out its memorable season with an overall record of 11-7. The Lyons advanced to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament Championship, where they suffered a heartbreaking 18-17 setback to Keene State College. Their 11 wins this spring were their most since 1994, when they recorded a program record 13 under the direction of longtime head coach Mike Hyer.

Third year head coach Miriam Esber’s squad currently leads the nation in draw controls per game with 19.17. Their 338 points, 265 goals and 345 draw controls this year were all program single season highs. Over the course of the year, they strung together three consecutive victories on two occasions.

2010 IWLCA All-Region Teams (Berkshire Region)

First Team
Trisha Babson, Babson, A, So
Quinn Brueggeman, Williams, D, Sr
Liz Bruno, Trinity, M, So
Jess Chukwu, Wesleyan, M, Jr
Anna Collins, Babson, M, Sr
Annie Cook, Trinity, D, Sr
Alyssa Hood, Babson, A, Jr
Caite Irvine, Trinity, A, Jr
Meredith LaRose, Amherst, D, So
Kaitlyn Pettengill, Babson, M, Sr
Rachel Romanowsky, Trinity, A, Jr
Kathleen Scheld, Amherst, M, Sr
Julia Schreiber, Williams, GK, Jr
Whitney Thayer, Williams, A, Sr
Samantha Weinstein, Williams, M, Fy
Loretta White, Wellesley, M, Sr

Second Team
Hope Barone, Connecticut, M, So
Hailey Colburn, Wheaton, A, So
Kaitlin Ellis, Williams, M, So
Marguerite Fulton, Williams, A, So
Nicole Labbee, Wellesley, D, Jr
Sarah Macary, Babson, GK, Jr
Taylor MacDonald, Eastern Connecticut, M, Sr
Shannon Manning, Bridgewater State, M, Sr
Molly Morrow, Wellesley, A, Sr
Nicole Poli, Western New England, D, Jr
Sarah Remes, Trinity, M, Sr
Katie Saylor, Wellesley, D, Sr
Kelley Trapp, Amherst, A, Jr
Hannah Walker, Amherst, M, Sr
Peggy Wefald, Mount Holyoke, M, Sr
Bianca Young, Mount Holyoke, D, Jr