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JU Women: Hiron, Barton Garner Preseason All-ASUN Honors; Hiron Named Preseason POY

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , , , .
  via JU press release  
LAKEPOINT, Ga. – A pair of women’s lacrosse players from reigning ASUN Conference Champion Jacksonville University garnered Preseason All-ASUN Conference awards, as announced by the league Thursday afternoon. Ashtyn Hiron took home the league’s Preseason Player of the Year and Facebook Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year honors, while she and Emily Barton were unanimous selections to the Preseason All-ASUN Team. With 32 and 29 caused turnovers, respectively, Hiron and Barton led the Dolphins to their 15th NCAA Statistical Championship with 14.20 caused turnovers per game – tops in the nation. The Dolphins also led the nation in caused turnovers in 2013 with 13.32. A two-time First Team All-ASUN selection, Hiron heads into the season fresh off a stellar summer playing on the international stage with the Australian Women’s Lacrosse National Team. Between the 2017 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Women’s World Cup and the 2017 World Games in which she helped the Aussies to a bronze medal, Hiron totaled 20 goals, five assists, 22 ground balls, 23 draw controls, and 10 caused turnovers. Last season, the senior midfielder helped the Dolphins to their fourth ASUN Tournament title in five years as three goals, four ground balls, four draws, and three caused turnovers were crucial to JU’s 11-10 victory over Coastal Carolina in the tournament championship. Additionally, Hiron finished the season ranked second in the league in draws won with 77 – a mark that ranks third in league in a single season. She also tied for second in caused turnovers (32), finished second in free-position goals per game (0.526), fourth in DC/game (4.05), and fifth in CT/game (1.72). Named ASUN Player of the Week for Feb. 21, 2017, Hiron is the 2016 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time ASUN All-Tournament Team selection (2015, 2016). A staple of the Dolphins’ nationally-ranked defense – which finished sixth in the nation allowing just 8.55 goals per game – Barton started all 20 games and was a 2017 ASUN All-Tournament Team selection. The senior from Annapolis, Md. totaled 39 ground balls and won nine draws, while her 29 caused turnovers were tied for sixth in the league. Barton recorded a ground ball in 17 of 20 games and caused a turnover in 15 of 20 games. With 79 career ground balls entering the 2018 season, Barton will need just 21 to reach the 100 GB plateau – a mark just nine other Dolphins have reached in her career. Jacksonville was chosen second in the league with 30 points and one first place vote, just behind last year’s tournament runner-up Coastal Carolina (34 points, four first-place votes). Rounding out the league are Old Dominion (26, one first place vote), Kennesaw State (16), Stetson (14), and ASUN newcomer Howard (6). Hiron, Barton, and the rest of the Dolphins open the 2018 season Sunday, Feb. 11 when Michigan visits D.B. Milne Field for a noon contest. For the full release from the ASUN, click here.
  2018 ASUN Conference Preseason Team Preseason Player of the Year: Ashtyn Hiron, Jacksonville Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Harley Barrett, Coasta Carolina Facebook Fan Voted Player of the Year: Ashtyn Hiron, Jacksonville Facebook Fan-Voted Defensive Player of the Year: Maura Palandro, Kennesaw State  
NAME POSITION SCHOOL
Connor Zophy Attack Kennesaw State
Haley Alexander Attack Coastal Carolina
*Haley Swift Attack Kennesaw State
Sophie Crowther Midfield Coastal Carolina
*Courtney Genovese Midfield Coastal Carolina
Cydney Tutchton Midfield Old Dominion
*Ashtyn Hiron Midfield Jacksonville
Megan Kilpatrick Defense Coastal Carolina
Emily D’Orasaneo Defense Coastal Carolina
Karris Caruso Defense Old Dominion
*Emily Barton Defense Jacksonville
*Harley Barrett Goalkeeper Coastal Carolina
*denotes unanimous selection   2018 ASUN Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
PLACE TEAM VOTES (FIRST PLACE VOTES)
1 Coastal Carolina 34 (4)
2 Jacksonville 30 (1)
3 Old Dominion 26 (1)
4 Kennesaw State 16
5 Stetson 14
6 Howard 6

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