By: By Joseph Feldman
All-Conference Team
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After finishing with the best ASUN record in program history, Kennesaw State earned eight post-season awards at the ASUN banquet on Wednesday, May 2.
After a historical freshman season in an Owls uniform,
Siena Gore was named ASUN Freshman of the Year and became the second player in Kennesaw State history to be named ASUN First Team All-Conference.
"Siena has had an outstanding freshman season," head coach
Laura Maness said. "Day in and day out since her arrival on campus she has worked tremendously hard to become a team leader on the field and off of the field. She is so deserving of the honors she received tonight, and I can't wait to see how she continues to perform and grow during the rest of her collegiate career. I am extremely proud of her."
S. Gore set ASUN single-season records in goals (67), draw controls (113), goals per game (3.9) and draw controls per game (6.64). She was named ASUN Player of the Week two times and ASUN Defensive Player of the Week once. S. Gore not only led the ASUN in a bunch of statistical categories, but also is top 10 nationally in goals per game (3.9), draw controls per game (6.6) and free-position goals per game(1.9). The freshman midfielder has been an offensive force all season scoring at least four goals in 11 games this season and had at least five draw controls in 16 of the 17 games this season.
Overall, the Owls were very well represented across the ASUN All-Conference teams. Sophomore defender
Maura Palandro joined Gore on the ASUN All-Conference First Team,
Connor Zophy,
Haley Swift and
Laura Jordan were all named ASUN Second Team All-Conference.
Marissa Gore was unanimously voted onto the ASUN All-Freshmen Team along with her twin Siena and
Emily Hallberg was named to the ASUN All-Academic Team.
"This is a historic year for the amount of All-Conference Awards we have received," Maness said. "I think this is very telling to the direction the program is moving in. We are playing a better brand of lacrosse than ever before and our athletes are playing for each other, supporting each other, and pushing each other to new competitive heights each day. These individuals recognized represent the whole team and a willingness to play selfless lacrosse and put the team first to reach our goals."
Palandro started every game on the defensive side of the ball and was a big part to the unit only allowing 13 goals per game. She leads the team in ground balls and is one of five players on the team with double-digit caused turnovers with 13. Her and S. Gore both are the first Kennesaw State players to be named ASUN First Team All-Conference since the team's first season in 2013.
This is Jordan's second time being named ASUN Second Team All-Conference. She started every game this season and was leader of a group that had the best goals against average in program history. She is second on the team in caused turnovers and was third on the team in ground balls.
Zophy has had another great season offensively and has been a force through conference play. She is second on the team in goals and points with 28 goals and 33 points. Her season high for goals came in her final game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium as she scored five goals against Old Dominion. Zophy had at least one goal in 15 games this season. It is the first time that Zophy has made an ASUN All-Conference team.
Swift was the third member of the team named ASUN Second Team All-Conference. She finished third on the team in points with 33, scoring 15 goals and leading the team with 17 assists. Swift became the fifth player in program history to reach the 100-career point mark this season.
M. Gore played in 14 games this season. She totaled 22 points with 13 goals and nine assists. M. Gore also picked up 22 ground balls and won 11 draw controls. She scored a goal in 11 games this season. She was voted onto the All-Freshman Team unanimously.
This is Hallberg's first time on the ASUN All-Academic Team. She has a 3.68 as a Nursing major. Hallberg switched to defense this season and started in 16 of 17 games. She Won 13 draw controls and picked up 12 ground balls. Hallberg caused eight turnovers this season.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State lacrosse news follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsLax or by liking Kennesaw State University on
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Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
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