BUFFALO, New York – Marist women's lacrosse attack Allison Gionta was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led five All-MAAC selections for the Red Foxes at the 2016 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Awards Banquet. The ceremony took place May 5 in the Science Hall Building at Canisius College.

Gionta was unanimously voted for the honor by the league's nine head coaches. She earned a spot on the All-MAAC First Team for the third straight season after finishing as the conference's leader in goals (57) and points per game (5.31). She is second in the nation in points per game and fourth in the country with 3.56 goals per game. In 2016 Gionta became Marist's all-time assists and points leader. She had a program high 15 points in a single game against Manhattan on April 13 and currently sits four goals shy of becoming Marist's all-time scoring leader.

Senior Kara McHugh joined Gionta on the First Team. McHugh ended the regular season second in the MAAC averaging 6.67 shots per game. She finished second among her teammates with 41 goals and 53 points while also leading the Red Foxes in ground balls (35) and caused turnovers (20). McHugh is one of three players in program history with 100 points and 100 draw controls in her career. She will reach the century mark in goals with her next score.

The Red Foxes were represented on the All-MAAC Second Team's defense when senior Brittany Tricarico earned a spot. A team captain this year, Tricarico started all 16 games, picked up 19 ground balls and caused 16 turnovers.

A pair of Marist freshman made the All-MAAC Rookie Team as Audrey Cerrone and Hailey Wagner were two of 13 total selections. Cerrone was voted to the squad unanimously after posting double-digit totals in goals (14), ground balls (10) and draw controls (13). Wagner collected 60 draw controls in her first collegiate season, which is currently fourth in the MAAC and the third highest single season total in program history.

Marist had 10 student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team. To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team a student athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale. Senior Anna Petrunich was a member for the third straight year and joined by her classmate McHugh. The other eight selections were juniors Natalie Bonaroti, Madison Calkins, Alyssa Pitonzo, Amanda Sanchez, and Abigail Witczak as well as sophomores Annie Gilligan, Morgan Jaycox and Stefanie Wenz.

The second seeded Red Foxes (9-7, 6-2) will begin postseason play when they take on no. 3 Monmouth in the MAAC semifinal at 4 p.m. in Buffalo, New York. You can purchase tickets for any or all of the three MAAC Tournament games by calling the Canisius Ticket Office at (716) 888-TIXX.

Major Award Winners

Offensive Player of the Year: Allison Gionta, Marist*

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Rebecca VanLaeken, Canisius and Gabriella Di Domizio, Iona

Midfielder of the Year: Erica Evans, Canisius*

Rookie of the Year: Tessa Chad, Canisius

Lids Team Sports MAAC Coach of the Year: Scott Teeter, Canisius     

All-MAAC First Team

Attack

Taylor Giglio, Canisius

Mary Kate McCormick, Iona

Allison Gionta, Marist*

Marial Pierce, Monmouth

Midfield

Erica Evans, Canisius*

Alex Fehmel, Fairfield

Kara McHugh, Marist

Defense

Sami Franco, Canisius

Melissa Laible, Fairfield

Kristina Vangeli, Monmouth*

Elizabeth Benedict, Niagara

Kiera Kelly, Quinnipiac

Goalkeeper

Rebecca VanLaeken, Canisius

Caroline Huelster, Monmouth

All-MAAC Second Team

Attack

Tessa Chad, Canisius

Riley Hellstein, Fairfield

Caroline Crump, Niagara

Sarah Croutier, Siena

Midfield

Erin Pugh, Iona

Dannielle Maio, Niagara

Lauren Smith, Siena

Defense

Gabriella Di Domizio, Iona

Brittany Tricarico, Marist

Alexandra Higgins, Niagara

Emily Conway, Siena

Goalkeeper

Andrea Francisco, Niagara

All-Rookie Team

Tessa Chad, Canisius*

Jourdan Roemer, Canisius

Brenna Shanahan, Canisius

Lily Crager, Fairfield*

Christine Gironda, Iona

Emma Kaishain, Manhattan

Audrey Cerrone, Marist*

Hailey Wagner, Marist

Caroline Crump, Niagara*

Alexis Morales, Niagara

Allison Kuhn, Quinnipiac

Samantha Horton, Siena

Lynnzee Miller, Siena*

All-Academic Team

Name                                Year        Major                                                                     Hometown

Natalie Bonaroti               Jr.           Biomedical Sciences                                          Pittsburgh, PA

Madison Calkins              Jr.           English/Literature                                                Syracuse, NY

Annie Gilligan                  So.          Fashion Merchandising/Fashion Business    Amityville, NY

Morgan Jaycox                So.          Fashion Merchandising/Fashion Business    Amityville, NY

Kara McHugh                   Sr.           Psychology                                                           Madison, CT

Anna Petrunich                Sr.          Fashion Merchandising/Fashion Business    Westborough, MA

Alyssa Pitonzo                 Jr.           Psychology/Special Education                         Syracuse, NY

Amanda Sanchez           Jr.           Accounting                                                             Rocky Point, NY

Stefanie Wenz                 So.          Political Science                                                  Wantagh, NY

Abigail Witczak                Jr.           Sport Communication/Journalism                     Mendham, NJ

*Unanimous selection