NEW YORK, N.Y. – For the second year in a row, Villanova women's lacrosse placed five players on the All-BIG EAST teams and garnered one of the league's major awards.
First-year midfielder Mary Moore was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in addition to being one of two freshmen named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Junior attacker Sydney Pappas also earned a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the Wildcats in goals and points in 2023.
In addition, Sami Carey, Maddy Stoddard and Emma Verhoest were all selected to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, the first career honors for both Stoddard and Verhoest.
Moore picked up the conference's top rookie honors after a stellar first collegiate season, becoming the second Villanova freshman to ever win league rookie of the year. The Maryland native finished the regular season tied for second on the team and leading all conference freshmen with 21 goals and 12 assists, adding 25 ground balls, eight caused turnovers and 27 draw controls.
Pappas followed up one of the greatest seasons in Villanova history with a unanimous first team selection after pacing the squad with 49 goals on the year. The junior attacker flooded the back of the net this season, converting 52.7% of her shots and scoring nine free position goals for one of the top marks in a VU single season.
Carey earned her second straight All-BIG EAST Second Team after another year as the team's lead initiator, racking up 49 points on 21 goals and a team-high 28 assists. The New York product put forth a career-high 10 points with eight helpers against Marquette to power the 'Cats into a postseason berth.
Stoddard received her first career All-BIG EAST laurel with a second team berth after leading the team in ground balls with 26. The Wildcats' defensive leader, Stoddard caused nine turnovers and served as a critical member of the man-to-man defense and the clear.
Verhoest earned selection as a second team draw specialist in her debut campaign after controlling 98 draws in her 15 games as a Wildcat. The first-year from Massachusetts ranked second in the BIG EAST for draw controls per game, pulling down 16 draw controls twice on the year with three conference Freshman of the Week honors.
Villanova will compete in the BIG EAST Semifinals on Thursday afternoon for the second year in a row, taking on the No. 1 seed Denver Pioneers in Cincinnati.
BIG EAST Attacker of the Year
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Gr., A
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Sr., M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Mary Moore, Villanova, Fr., M
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Denver
All-BIG EAST First Team ^
Leah Rubino, Butler, Sr., M
Abby Beran, Connecticut, Fr., D
Riley Daly, Connecticut, Jr., D*
Rayea Davis, Connecticut, R-So., A*
Madelyn George, Connecticut, Gr., M
Kate Shaffer, Connecticut, Gr., A*
Landyn White, Connecticut, Gr., GK
Lauren Black, Denver, Jr., A
Caroline Colimore, Denver, Jr., M
Julia Gilbert, Denver, Gr., A*
Abby Jenkins, Denver, Sr., DS
Trinity McPherson, Denver, Gr., D*
Anna Palmisano, Denver, Sr., D*
Olivia Penoyer, Denver, Gr., A
Maggie O'Brien, Georgetown, Gr., D
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Jr., A*
Josie Kropp, Marquette, Sr., DS
Leigh Steiner, Marquette, Sr., M*
Mary Moore, Villanova, Fr., M
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, Jr., A*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Luci Selander, Butler, So., A
Abby Charron, Connecticut, Sr., A
Emelia Bohi, Denver, Jr., GK
Bryn McCaughey, Denver, Sr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, So., A
Emma Gebhardt, Georgetown, Jr., A
Tatum Geist, Georgetown, Sr., M
Melissa Massimino, Georgetown, Sr., D
Maley Starr, Georgetown, Jr., M
Leah Warehime, Georgetown, Jr., GK
Kaitlyn Huber, Marquette, Sr., D
Tess Osburn, Marquette, So., A
Sami Carey, Villanova, Jr., A
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova, Jr., D
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, Fr., DS
Lola Mancuso, Xavier, So., M
*denotes unanimous selection
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
