NEW YORK - For the fourth consecutive season, Villanova women's lacrosse placed at least five players on the All-BIG EAST teams, earning six total selections to the 2026 all-conference squad.
Junior draw specialist Emma Verhoest and redshirt sophomore Mary Moore were unanimous selections to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Juniors Katie Clark and Rose Christie also earned First Team honors.
In addition, Leslie Iorio and Elena Torres were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Verhoest leads the BIG EAST with 9.67 draw controls per game, nearly twice as many as the next closest player. She accounts for seven of the conference's top 10 single-game draw control performances this season and has already set Villanova's career draw control record as a junior. The Newton, Massachusetts native also established a new single-game program record with 19 draw controls at Vermont and earned BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week honors once this year.
Moore turned in a dominant season in the midfield, leading the team with 30 goals and 51 points. She earned BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week honors three times and was named to the weekly honor roll once. The Annapolis, Maryland native recorded six hat tricks on the year, highlighted by a season-high eight-point performance with a career-best six goals and two assists in Villanova's most recent win over Butler.
Clark earned her first All-BIG EAST selection following a strong defensive season. She ranks fifth in the conference with 1.73 caused turnovers per game and leads the Wildcats with 26 on the year, while adding 16 ground balls. Clark was also named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this season.
Christie rounds out the First Team selections, earning her second All-BIG EAST nod after another impactful season in the midfield. She ranks among the team's top five in goals, assists, points, caused turnovers and draw controls, while leading the Wildcats with 24 assists. Christie recorded three hat tricks this season and earned BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week honors once.
Iorio ranks second on the team with 23 goals and 22 draw controls. She scored a career-high five goals in Villanova's win over Xavier and recorded seven games with multiple draw controls along with four games featuring multiple caused turnovers this season.
Torres has been a key member of the Wildcat attack, ranking third on the team with 21 goals and 37 points while adding 16 assists this season. The Tustin, California native has recorded a point in all but one game this year and earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll once. She also reached the 100 point milestone in Villanova's regular season finale at Butler.
2026 BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Awards
Attack Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, Denver, Jr., A*
Midfielder of the Year
Hanna Bodner, Marquette, Gr., M
Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, UConn, Jr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year
Lexi Gwaku, Denver, So., GK
Freshman of the Year
Dani Serrano, Marquette, Fr., A*
Coaching Staff of the Year
Denver
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Abby Beran, UConn, Jr., D*
Rayea Davis, UConn, R-Sr., A
Lexi Gwaku, Denver, So., GK
Caroline Keil, Denver, R-So., A
Megan Klingenberg, Denver, Sr., D*
Landry Grover, Denver, Sr., D
Olivia Ripple, Denver, Jr., A*
Amanda Brille, Georgetown, Jr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, Sr., A
Anne McGovern, Georgetown, Jr., A*
Reagan Ziegler, Georgetown, Jr., M
Hanna Bodner, Marquette, Gr., M*
Tess Osburn, Marquette, Sr., A
Dani Serrano, Marquette, Fr., A*
Katie Clark, Villanova, Jr., D
Rose Christie, Villanova, Jr., M
Mary Moore, Villanova, R-So., M*
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, Jr., DC*
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Elise Latham, Butler, Sr., A
Patricia Lynn, Butler, Sr., D
Barlow Clark-Schoeb, UConn, DC
Megan O'Brien, UConn, So., A
Ryan Dineen, Denver, Sr., A
Carly Frohnapfel, Denver, Sr., D
Eva Thomsen-Marr, Denver, So., A
Molly Davies, Georgetown, Fr., A
Sophia Loschert, Georgetown, So., A
Kendall Steer, Georgetown, Sr., D
Leah Warehime, Georgetown, Gr., GK
Riley Jenkins, Marquette, Jr., M
Sofia Santana, Marquette, Sr., D
Gabby Windesheim, Marquette, Fr., DC
Leslie Iorio, Villanova, So., M
Elena Torres, Villanova, R-Jr., A
Samantha Balara, Xavier, R-Jr., M
Colby Wasson, Xavier, Jr., D
^ Extra players added due to a tie in voting
* Denotes Unanimous Selection
