Six other Commodores also earned all-conference honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Michelle Allen, a senior attack on the Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team, earned Player of the Year honors from the American Lacrosse Conference, the league office announced after a vote of its coaches Tuesday.
Senior Jess Roguski joined Allen on the All-ALC first team, while five Commodores were named to the league’s second team, including seniors Joanna Mooney, Bridget Morris, Lauren Peck and Christiana Serle, as well as junior Kim Gianis.
Allen, a Commodore tri-captain in 2004, helped Vanderbilt earn the ALC’s automatic qualification into the NCAA Tournament. She led the Commodores in scoring, with 59 points, and in draw controls (38) and caused turnovers (18). A 2003 IWLCA All-American, Allen earned conference Player of the Week honors twice this season, including most recently on May 10 for her seven-point performance in VU’s 10-9 win over Northwestern.
“This award is very well-deserved and I’m happy that Michelle is getting this recognition,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Cathy Swezey said. “I could not be more proud of our entire team — they have all worked extremely hard this season, and these awards are just another example of our commitment to excellence.”
Roguski, a tri-captain for the second consecutive year, was a second-team All-ALC performer last year before tallying career highs in goals, assists and points in 2004 to move into fourth place at Vanderbilt for career scoring. Peck rounded out Vanderbilt’s offensive selections as she led the Commodores this season with 37 goals.
Four Commodores who played primarily on the defensive end also were recognized. Morris was Vanderbilt’s top one-on-one defender, shutting down many of the nation’s most prolific attackers. Mooney, also a 2004 tri-captain, was the Dores’ emotional leader during their conference championship run.
Serle’s ability to make athletic stops in the Commodore defensive third helped her be one of the team leaders in caused turnovers. Gianis, the lone VU underclassmen on the list, led the team in ground balls this season and was one of the Dores’ greatest assets in transition.
With the 2004 regular season in the books, the Commodores (10-5, 5-1 ALC) are now concentrating on their NCAA Tournament First Round matchup with fourth-seeded Loyola. Vanderbilt travels to Diane Geppi-Aikens Field in Baltimore, Md., for the match against the Greyhounds on Thursday, May 13, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Click here for the All-ALC Teams (pdf)
