HADDONFIELD, N.J. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference teams and major awards on Thursday. The All-Conference teams are voted on by the league's head coaches.
The now four time First Team All-Conference selection, Avery Meighan, was named the 2026 women’s lacrosse Player of the Year. Meighan led the conference with 64 goals this year, averaging 3.56 per game, second best in the conference. Her average of 4.67 ground balls per game was a conference best, landing second in the conference for caused turnovers per game (2.61) and draw controls per game (6.94). This season, she recorded eight points in three different games, highlighted by a nine point performance against Lycoming in February. She totaled 105 points, 15th best in the nation, from 64 goals and 41 assists. Additionally, the Floral Park, N.Y. native scooped up 84 ground balls, caused 47 turnovers, and won 125 draw controls.
Ava Vautour, a sophomore goalie from Marymount, took home Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with an average of 8.29 saves per game totaling 141 saves through the season. Her save percentage of .493 was a conference second best, placing her 23rd in the nation, while sitting third in the conference with a 9.38 goals against average. She had five double-digit save games on the season.
Marywood’s Danica Kelly was tabbed Rookie of the Year following an impressive freshman campaign in which she started all 18 games for the Pacers. She scored 36 goals, averaging two per game. Kelly dished out 10 assists to bump her total points up to 46 this spring, an average of 2.56 points per game. The Binghamton, N.Y. native scooped up 32 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers, helping Marywood secure the second seed for postseason play.
Kenna Sanders, a sophomore from Neumann, took home the Atlantic East Elite Scholar Athlete Award. This honor is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing at the finals site at each of the Atlantic East’s championships. Sanders is majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science, holding a 3.822 GPA. Full criteria can be found here.
2026 Atlantic East Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Avery Meighan, Marywood
Defensive Player of the Year: Ava Vautour, Marymount
Rookie of the Year: Danica Kelly, Marywood
Elite Scholar Athlete Award: Kenna Sanders, Neumann
Coaching Staff of the Year: Neumann
First Team
Attack
Alena Catka, Neumann, Jr.
Mackenzie Morrissette, Marymount, So.
Tess Valentino, Marymount, Sr.
Natalie Yilanjian, Marywood, Sr.
Midfield
Elizabeth Mahmud, Immaculata, Jr.
Avery Meighan, Marywood, Sr.
Kaitlyn Smith, Marywood, Sr.
Defense
Brighid Brady, Neumann, So.
Nora Brady, Neumann, So.
Anna Geiger, Marymount, Sr.
Felicia Pescatore, Marywood, Jr.
Goalie
Ava Vautour, Marymount, So.
Second Team
Attack
Alivia Backes, Marywood, Fr.
Keira Benoit, Immaculata, Fr.
Danica Kelly, Marywood, Fr.
Rachel Roane, Neumann, Fr.
Midfield
Krista Geibler, Neumann, Sr.
Kaylee Heath, Marymount, Sr.
Maggie Miller, Neumann, Sr.
Defense
Deshe Dunlap, Gwynedd Mercy, So.
Alexandra Mayo, Marymount, Jr.
Teagan O'Neil, Gywnedd Mercy, Jr.
Kenna Sanders, Neumann, So.
Goalie
Jenna Scala, Marywood, Jr.
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising eight institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary and Saint Elizabeth Universities in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
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