ATLANTA, Ga. – CCU juniors
Kayla Downey and
Avery McIlwaine were named ASUN Player of the Year and ASUN Midfielder of the Year, respectively, the ASUN conference office announced on Wednesday. McIlwaine also was named the ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Coastal Carolina women's lacrosse team fared well in the 2023 ASUN All-Conference voting as three Chanticleers earned first-team honors, two more named to the all-freshman team, and three student-athletes earning a spot on the all-academic team.
Downey is just the second Chant in program history to be named the ASUN Player of the Year, while McIlwaine's Midfielder of the Year honor is a program first. The ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year is the first for McIlwaine.
On the season, Downey tallied a program best 88 points on 51 goals and 37 assists to lead the Chants, while finishing in the top five in the same categories in ASUN action. Against Marist, Downey set a program record with 10 points. The Babylon, N.Y., native found the back of the net five times and aided on five goals by her teammates. Downey was named ASUN Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks during the season for her play versus Boston, Iona, Harvard, and Marist.
McIlwaine picked up the program's first-ever ASUN Midfielder of the Year honor. For the season, the Alpharetta, Ga., native finished with 35 goals and 17 assists for 52 points while also winning 42 draw controls. McIlwaine also caused seven turnovers and scooped up 17 groundballs to help the offense get possession back to the offense.
Joining Downey and McIlwaine on the 2023 ASUN All-Conference first-team is
Jordan Gertz, who led the defense with 12 caused turnovers while scooping up 14 groundballs. Gertz tallied her first career goal in the regular-season finale win versus Queens. Downey was one of three unanimous selections to the first team.
Coastal newcomers Lily Wallace and Alyson Mascolo were selected to the 2023 ASUN All-Freshman team. Wallace, a defender, appeared in 16 games on the year causing nine turnovers and scooped up seven groundballs. The Wilmette, Ill., native tallied her first career goal in the double-digit win versus Campbell. Mascolo totaled 24 points on 20 goals and four assists, while scoring multiple goals in five games, including posting three hat tricks. The Marlton, N.J., native tallied the game-winning goal versus Delaware State.
McIlwaine, with a 4.00 GPA in recreation & sport management, and Downey, a physical education with a 3.56 GPA, join
Monica Manley, a biology major with a 3.92 GPA, on the 2023 ASUN Conference All-Academic team. Manley is a two-time honoree, while the honor is the first for Downey and McIlwaine.
2023 ASUN CONFERENCE WOMEN'S LACROSSE HONORS & AWARDS
Player of the Year: Kayla Downey - Coastal Carolina
Midfielder of the Year: Avery McIlwaine - Coastal Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year: Grace Loughery - Liberty
Freshman of the Year: Shannon Harrington - Kennesaw State
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Avery McIlwaine - Coastal Carolina
Coach of the Year: Tara Singleton - Jacksonville
ASUN WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School
GK Taylor Gallarello Liberty
D
Jordan Gertz Coastal Carolina
D Maddie Sturgell Jacksonville
D Bailey Wilson Kennesaw State
D *Grace Loughery Liberty
MF
Avery McIlwaine Coastal Carolina
MF Molly Brock Jacksonville
MF Lauren Ellis Jacksonville
MF Mackenzie Lehaman Liberty
A *
Kayla Downey Coastal Carolina
A *Sarah Elms Jacksonville
A Lizzy Ferguson Liberty
*- Denotes unanimous selection
ASUN WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
GK Addy Tysdal Jacksonville
GK Sydney Heimann Stetson
D Kaila Stasulli Jacksonville
D Hailey Blachly Jacksonville
D Mikayla Coghill Liberty
D Grace Guglielmo Queens
D Mia Judd Stetson
MF Tori Banks Liberty
MF Lexy Biller Lindenwood
MF Shannon Donovan Queens
MF Shannon Kingston Queens
A Hannah Davis Kennesaw State
A Cami Merkel Liberty
A Logann Eldredge Lindenwood
A Grace Hobson Jacksonville
A Kayleen Favreau Queens
A Kaitlin Pani Stetson
- Tie in voting resulted in 17-member All-Conference second team
ASUN WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
GK Elizabeth Goth Lindenwood
D
Lily Wallace Coastal Carolina
MF *Abby Moran Jacksonville
MF *Lauren Dobbs Kennesaw State
MF *Jenna Burrow Liberty
MF *Katie Colavito Liberty
MF Josie Young Stetson
A *
Alyson Mascolo Coastal Carolina
A *Kayleen Favreau Queens
A *Zahra Smith Delaware State
A Ainsley Scruggs Jacksonville
A Shannon Harrington Kennesaw State
*- Denotes unanimous selection
ASUN WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Avery McIlwaine Coastal Carolina
Kayla Downey Coastal Carolina
#
Monica Manley Coastal Carolina
Lauren Craft Jacksonville
Sarah Elms Jacksonville
Addy Tysdal Jacksonville
Caroline Farley Kennesaw State
Julia Weiss Kennesaw State
Tori Banks Liberty
%Andrea Colavito Liberty
Cami Merkel Liberty
Logann Eldredge Lindenwood
# - Denotes two-time selection
% - Denotes three-time selection
For complete coverage of CCU women's lacrosse, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWLax (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.