ASun Preview: Jacksonville Selected to Repeat as @ASUNWLax Champions; Gore & Martinetto Earn Superlative Honors
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in College, Featured Posts, Florida Lacrosse News, Jacksonville Women, Stetson Women.
via the ASun website
2020 ASUN Conference Lacrosse Preseason Honors and Awards PDF
ATLANTA, Ga. – The defending ASUN Champion Jacksonville Dolphins were chosen as the 2020 ASUN Women’s Lacrosse preseason favorites in this year’s coaches poll. Kennesaw State’s Siena Gore garnered Preseason Player of the Year recognition, while Jacksonville’s Dayna Martinetto earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Jacksonville, who has won the past three league titles, received six first-place votes and 62 total points to edge out last season’s Championship runner-up, Liberty, who also garnered a first-place vote, and a total of 55 points. The Dolphins and Flames met in the ASUN Championship Final last season with JAX winning by a score of 20-18. Coastal Carolina came in third with 46 points and also claimed a first-place vote in the preseason rankings. Gore was selected as the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year after being named Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference in 2019. She led the league in goals with 70, which also ranked 12th nationally, and was ranked third with 78 points for the year. She also set a KSU program record for total goals and points in a season and led the Owls to the Semifinals of the ASUN Championship.
Dayna Martinetto of Jacksonville earned the honor of ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after being tabbed Freshman of Year a season ago. She was a key part of the defense for a Dolphins squad that led the conference in GAA (8.86) and captured their sixth league championship. JAX advanced to the NCAA Tournament and won its first game in program history with a 22-7 victory over the visiting Mercer Bears in the Opening Round.
Gore was one-of-two unanimous selections to this year’s Preseason All-Conference Team alongside Liberty’s Carly White. Jacksonville led the way with five selections named to the squad with Coastal Carolina and Kennesaw State earning three apiece. Liberty was represented by two players while Stetson had one player named to the team.
ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team: Dayna Martinetto, Jacksonville, So., GK The reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year, Martinetto made an immediate impact helping the Dolphins to their sixth conference title. After leading the league in GAA (9.35) and ranking third in save percentage (.427) she was named to the ASUN All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team. Emily D’Orsaneo, Coastal Carolina, Sr., D D’Orsaneo was named to the 2019 ASUN All-Conference First Team after starting in all 18 games on defense for Coastal. She scooped 40 ground balls last season, which ranked eighth in the conference and forced 16 turnovers. Megan Kilpatrick, Coastal Carolina, Sr., D Coastal’s Kilpatrick, who started all 18 games for the Chanticleers, ranked ninth in the league after causing 20 turnovers during the season. She was named to the 2019 ASUN All-Conference First Team as well as the All-Academic and All-Tournament Teams. Maddie Sturgell, Jacksonville, So., D As a freshman, Sturgell caused the second-most turnovers on the team and helped JAX lead the conference in scoring defense and clearing percentage. She earned a spot on both the All-ASUN All-Conference First Team and the All-Freshman Team. Maura Palandro, Kennesaw State, Sr., D A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Palandro enters her senior season at KSU after finishing 2019 as one of three Owls to record over 20 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers with 29 and 12. She is one of three Owls in program history to record over 100 career ground balls. Sarah Steenson, Liberty, Sr., D An ASUN All-Conference Second Team selection, Steenson set career-highs in caused turnovers (33) and ground balls (32) for a Liberty squad which led the nation in caused turnovers per game (15.79) for a second straight year. She finished 31st in the nation in caused turnovers per game (1.74) *Siena Gore, Kennesaw State, Jr., M Gore, the 2019 ASUN Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection, led the league and ranked 12th in the NCAA with 68 goals last season. Her 3.78 goals per game average ranked 10th in the nation and she set the KSU single-season record for both total goals and points. *Carly White, Liberty, Sr., M In 2019, White became the first player in Liberty’s program history to earn an All-Conference distinction in each of her first three seasons. She finished ninth in the nation in free-position percentage (.650, 13-of-20) and 10th in ground balls per game (3.26). Molly Brock, Jacksonville, So., M Brock, a member of the 2019 ASUN All-Freshman Team, saw action in all 21 games for the Dolphins and accumulated 74 draw controls on the year. Behind her efforts in the circle, JAX the league in draw control percentage (.572) and draw controls per game (15.81) during the regular season. McKenna Rushford, Jacksonville, Sr., M Rushford led the team with 83 draw controls and recorded her 100th career draw during the 2019 season. The Buffalo, N.Y., native totaled 30 points on the year (24 goals, 6 assists), along with 20 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers. Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina, Sr., A The 2019 ASUN All-conference First Team selection finished second on the team in goals (39), assists (25) and points (64) last season. Courtemanche had 13 multiple-goal games with seven hat tricks and ranked fifth in the ASUN in assists (25) and assists per game (1.39). Sarah Elms, Jacksonville, Jr., A Jacksonville’s Elms was a unanimous First Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team selection while also being named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team. She matched the league record for goals in an NCAA Tournament game with four against Colorado (May 11) and finished the season second on the team and second in the ASUN with 80 points. Abby Squires, Kennesaw State, Sr., A Earning Second Team All-Conference honors in 2019, Squires finished the year ranked sixth in the league with 41 goals. Her .554 shot percentage ranked 22nd in the NCAA as she tallied 49 draw controls, 11 turnovers, seven ground balls and four assists throughout the 2019 campaign. Riley Reagan, Stetson, Jr., A Reagan was selected to the ASUN All-Conference First Team after ranking first in the ASUN in assists (40), which tied a Stetson the program record. She also ranked fifth in the league in points (63) which were the most in history for a Hatter.
ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team: Dayna Martinetto, Jacksonville, So., GK The reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year, Martinetto made an immediate impact helping the Dolphins to their sixth conference title. After leading the league in GAA (9.35) and ranking third in save percentage (.427) she was named to the ASUN All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team. Emily D’Orsaneo, Coastal Carolina, Sr., D D’Orsaneo was named to the 2019 ASUN All-Conference First Team after starting in all 18 games on defense for Coastal. She scooped 40 ground balls last season, which ranked eighth in the conference and forced 16 turnovers. Megan Kilpatrick, Coastal Carolina, Sr., D Coastal’s Kilpatrick, who started all 18 games for the Chanticleers, ranked ninth in the league after causing 20 turnovers during the season. She was named to the 2019 ASUN All-Conference First Team as well as the All-Academic and All-Tournament Teams. Maddie Sturgell, Jacksonville, So., D As a freshman, Sturgell caused the second-most turnovers on the team and helped JAX lead the conference in scoring defense and clearing percentage. She earned a spot on both the All-ASUN All-Conference First Team and the All-Freshman Team. Maura Palandro, Kennesaw State, Sr., D A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Palandro enters her senior season at KSU after finishing 2019 as one of three Owls to record over 20 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers with 29 and 12. She is one of three Owls in program history to record over 100 career ground balls. Sarah Steenson, Liberty, Sr., D An ASUN All-Conference Second Team selection, Steenson set career-highs in caused turnovers (33) and ground balls (32) for a Liberty squad which led the nation in caused turnovers per game (15.79) for a second straight year. She finished 31st in the nation in caused turnovers per game (1.74) *Siena Gore, Kennesaw State, Jr., M Gore, the 2019 ASUN Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection, led the league and ranked 12th in the NCAA with 68 goals last season. Her 3.78 goals per game average ranked 10th in the nation and she set the KSU single-season record for both total goals and points. *Carly White, Liberty, Sr., M In 2019, White became the first player in Liberty’s program history to earn an All-Conference distinction in each of her first three seasons. She finished ninth in the nation in free-position percentage (.650, 13-of-20) and 10th in ground balls per game (3.26). Molly Brock, Jacksonville, So., M Brock, a member of the 2019 ASUN All-Freshman Team, saw action in all 21 games for the Dolphins and accumulated 74 draw controls on the year. Behind her efforts in the circle, JAX the league in draw control percentage (.572) and draw controls per game (15.81) during the regular season. McKenna Rushford, Jacksonville, Sr., M Rushford led the team with 83 draw controls and recorded her 100th career draw during the 2019 season. The Buffalo, N.Y., native totaled 30 points on the year (24 goals, 6 assists), along with 20 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers. Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina, Sr., A The 2019 ASUN All-conference First Team selection finished second on the team in goals (39), assists (25) and points (64) last season. Courtemanche had 13 multiple-goal games with seven hat tricks and ranked fifth in the ASUN in assists (25) and assists per game (1.39). Sarah Elms, Jacksonville, Jr., A Jacksonville’s Elms was a unanimous First Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team selection while also being named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team. She matched the league record for goals in an NCAA Tournament game with four against Colorado (May 11) and finished the season second on the team and second in the ASUN with 80 points. Abby Squires, Kennesaw State, Sr., A Earning Second Team All-Conference honors in 2019, Squires finished the year ranked sixth in the league with 41 goals. Her .554 shot percentage ranked 22nd in the NCAA as she tallied 49 draw controls, 11 turnovers, seven ground balls and four assists throughout the 2019 campaign. Riley Reagan, Stetson, Jr., A Reagan was selected to the ASUN All-Conference First Team after ranking first in the ASUN in assists (40), which tied a Stetson the program record. She also ranked fifth in the league in points (63) which were the most in history for a Hatter.
* – denotes unanimous selection to the preseason team
For the eighth-straight year, the ASUN took to social media to poll the fans for the conference preseason superlative awards. 1,449 votes were cast on Facebook for student-athletes across the league. Carly White was named the Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year with 209 votes while Dayna Martinetto earned the Fan-Voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor with a total of 227 votes.
Preseason Player of the Year: Siena Gore, Kennesaw State Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Dayna Martinetto, Jacksonville
Preseason Player of the Year: Siena Gore, Kennesaw State Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Dayna Martinetto, Jacksonville
ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team Dayna Martinetto, Jacksonville, So., GK Emily D’Orsaneo, Coastal Carolina, Sr., D Megan Kilpatrick, Coastal Carolina, Sr., D Maddie Sturgell, Jacksonville, So., D Maura Palandro, Kennesaw State, Sr., D Sarah Steenson, Liberty, Sr., D *Siena Gore, Kennesaw State, Jr., M *Carly White, Liberty, Sr., M Molly Brock, Jacksonville, So., M McKenna Rushford, Jacksonville, Sr., M Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina, Sr., A Sarah Elms, Jacksonville, Jr., A Abby Squires, Kennesaw State, Sr., A Riley Reagan, Stetson, Jr., A
* – denotes unanimous selection to the preseason team
| 2020 ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll | ||
| Place | Team (1st-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Jacksonville (6) | 62 |
| 2. | Liberty (1) | 55 |
| 3. | Coastal Carolina (1) | 47 |
| 4. | Kennesaw State | 42 |
| 5. | Stetson | 32 |
| 6. | Kent State | 25 |
| 7. | Akron | 16 |
| 8. | Howard | 9 |
ABOUT THE ASUN
The ASUN Conference is an NCAA Division I league with nine member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The ASUN meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement through a true balance between student and athlete. Six ASUN schools reside in Nielsen Top 50 national media markets, and all nine are in top 80 markets. The ASUN includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Liberty University, Lipscomb University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of North Alabama, University of North Florida and Stetson University. Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., joins the ASUN for the 2020-21 academic year.
