MILWAUKEE, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) has announced its major awards and all-conference teams for the 2023 women's lacrosse season.
League champion Aurora University came away with the lion's share of the major awards as
Bailey Simpson was named NACC Offensive Player of the Year,
Jalyn Yaukovitz was named NACC Defensive Player of the Year,
Monique Gibson claimed NACC Midfielder of the Year honors and the
Aurora coaching staff was named the NACC Coaching Staff of the Year.
The final NACC major award went to
Katelyn Cardinale of Concordia University Wisconsin, who was named NACC Freshman of the Year.
NACC Offensive Player of the Year --- Bailey Simpson, Aurora University
Simpson, a senior attack from Frankfort, Illinois, has started all 18 games for the Spartans this season. Entering Saturday's NACC Women's Lacrosse Tournament final, she has 94 points on 60 goals and 34 assists while connecting on 51.7 percent of her shots. Simpson also has six free-position goals and four game-winning goals.
Simpson has scored at least two goals in each game this season, topping out with six in a win over Edgewood in mid-April. She also tallied at least one assist in 17 of 18 games played, including a NACC season-high eight as part of a 13-point game against Carroll (Wis.) in early March. She leads all NACC players in game-winning goals and ranks second in the league in both assists and points, and third in goals.
This is the second consecutive year Simpson has been named NACC Offensive Player of the Year.
NACC Defensive Player of the Year --- Jalyn Yaukovitz, Aurora University
Yaukovitz, a senior midfielder from West Des Moines, Iowa, has started all 18 games this season, scooping up 61 ground balls and causing 33 turnovers for the Spartans. She was also credited with 70 draw controls, while posting 71 points on 52 goals and 19 assists.
Yaukovitz recorded at least one ground ball in each contest, reaching five or more on seven occasions. She also had at least caused turnover in 16 of 18 contests, and at least one draw control in 17 of 18 games. In a regular-season contest against league runner-up Concordia Wisconsin, Yaukovitz posted eight draw controls, seven ground balls, four caused turnovers, three goals and an assist.
This is the third consecutive year an Aurora student-athlete has been named NACC Defensive Player of the Year.
NACC Midfielder of the Year --- Monique Gibson, Aurora University
Gibson, a senior from Eugene, Oregon, currently leads the NACC in scoring with 97 points on 23 assists and a league-best 74 goals. She is also one of the best in the NACC on the draw this season, with 117 draw controls in 18 games - second only to Illinois Tech's Kelly Hitchcock (128). Gibson also had three game-winning goals and 17 free-position goals, ranking second in the NACC in both categories.
Gibson has scored at least one goal in 17 of Aurora's 18 games this season, and at least four in 13 of 18. She started the year with a bang, tallying nine goals on 11 shots in a win over Illinois Wesleyan. Gibson also registered at least one draw control in each game, including a season-high 11 in a late-season contest against UW-La Crosse.
This is the third year in a row Gibson has been named NACC Midfielder of the Year. She is the only player to receive the award in the three years the NACC has sponsored women's lacrosse.
NACC Freshman of the Year --- Katelyn Cardinale, Concordia University Wisconsin
Cardinale, an attack player from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, has played in all 16 of CUW's games headed into Saturday's NACC Tournament final against Aurora. She is the Falcons' leading scorer with 51 points on 45 goals and six assists, registering at least one goal in 14 of 16 contests. Cardinale scored three or more goals on 10 occasions, including a six-goal explosion against Marian in mid-April. She has converted on 10 of 19 free-position shots, while scooping up 31 ground balls, controlling 20 draws and causing nine turnovers.
Cardinale's honor is the first NACC major award for Concordia Wisconsin in the sport of women's lacrosse.
NACC Coaching Staff of the Year --- Aurora University (Christina Fried, head coach)
The Spartans, led by ninth-year head coach
Christina Fried, won their third consecutive NACC title with a 6-0 mark and take a 16-2 record into Saturday's league tournament final against Concordia Wisconsin.
Aurora has the NACC's most prolific offense this season, outscoring opposing teams by a 315-116 margin. The Spartans are averaging 17.50 goals per game - a full six goals better than the next-highest ranked NACC program, while conceding just 6.40 goals per game for a +11.10 scoring margin. All are league-best figures. Aurora's 315 goals came on 585 shots - a .538 shot percentage.
Fried is assisted by
Marian Smith and
Kate Kuzmanko.
This is the third consecutive year that Fried or a Fried-directed staff has been recognized by the league's head coaches.
All-Conference Team Announced
Aurora placed a league-high seven individuals on the All-NACC Women's Lacrosse Teams, including five on the first team. Additionally, the Spartans had two players receive honorable mention. Concordia Chicago, Concordia Wisconsin, and Marian each had four all-conference picks, while Beloit and Edgewood had two apiece, and Illinois Tech had one. Joining the five Aurora student-athletes on the first team are three from Concordia Wisconsin, two from Concordia Chicago, and one each from Beloit and Illinois Tech.
| 2023 All-NACC Women's Lacrosse Team |
| Offensive Player of the Year - Bailey Simpson, Aurora |
| Defensive Player of the Year - Jalyn Yaukovitz, Aurora |
| Midfielder of the Year - Monique Gibson, Aurora |
| Freshman of the Year - Katelyn Cardinale, Concordia Wisconsin |
| Coaching Staff of the Year - Aurora University (Christina Fried, head coach) |
| First Team |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Sofia Jeddeloh |
Beloit |
Sr. |
G |
Verona, Wis. |
| Ryan McGee |
Concordia Chicago |
Sr. |
G |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Caitlin Cron |
Aurora |
Jr. |
D |
Loveland, Ohio |
| Sarah Ludwig |
Concordia Chicago |
Gr. |
D |
Roselle, Ill. |
| Brenna Bieniek |
Concordia Wisconsin |
So. |
D |
Shakopee, Minn. |
| Monique Gibson |
Aurora |
Sr. |
M |
Eugene, Ore. |
| Jalyn Yaukovitz |
Aurora |
Sr. |
M |
West Des Moines, Iowa |
| Eliana Fuchs |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
M |
Brookfield, Wis. |
| Kelly Hitchcock |
Illinois Tech |
Jr. |
M |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Danielle Cobbett |
Aurora |
Jr. |
A |
Greenwood, Mo. |
| Bailey Simpson |
Aurora |
Sr. |
A |
Frankfort, Ill. |
| Katelyn Cardinale |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Fr. |
A |
Mount Laurel, N.J. |
| Second Team |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Meghan Ginty |
Aurora |
Fr. |
G |
Wheaton, Ill. |
| Taylor Janssen |
Aurora |
Jr. |
D |
Menomonee Falls, Wis. |
| Anna Gong |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
D |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Emma Church |
Marian |
Fr. |
D |
Billings, Mont. |
| Marie Murphy |
Marian |
Jr. |
D |
East Canton, Ohio |
| Rylee Orenstein |
Concordia Chicago |
Sr. |
M |
Walnut Creek, Calif. |
| Emma Raupp |
Edgewood |
So. |
M |
Schaumburg, Ill. |
| Dallas Kreisa |
Marian |
Jr. |
M |
Plymouth, Wis. |
| Johanna McNair |
Beloit |
So. |
A |
Fishers, Ind. |
| Kelli Pietrowski |
Concordia Chicago |
Gr. |
A |
Wheeling, Ill. |
| Kendra Sanderfoot |
Edgewood |
Gr. |
A |
Sun Prairie, Wis. |
| Emma Heide |
Marian |
So. |
A |
Kenosha, Wis. |
| Honorable Mention |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Lorelie Babich |
Aurora |
So. |
D |
Sussex, Wis. |
| Jessica Boyland |
Aurora |
Sr. |
A |
Madison, Wis. |
| Alexxa Schubert |
Beloit |
So. |
D |
Anchorage, Alaska |
| Mackenzie Fruit |
Edgewood |
Jr. |
D |
Lone Rock, Wis. |
| Rachel Unitan |
Edgewood |
Jr. |
A |
Cottage Grove, Wis. |
| Izzy Newton |
Marian |
So. |
A |
Oregon, Wis. |