NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Six Commodores were named All-American Athletic Conference on Wednesday highlighted by three unanimous selections to the first team in fifth-year seniors Gabby Fornia and Melissa Hawkins and senior Bri Gross.
Fornia becomes the first AAC women’s lacrosse player to be named to the all-conference first team three times. She led the league in both assists (53) and assists per game (3.31) and broke her own AAC single-game record for points (13) and assists (10) in the win over Cincinnati on April 30.
Gross is a two-time first team selection. She ranked fourth in the league in draw controls per game (4.38) and seventh in caused turnovers per game (1.38). Gross finished the regular season with 28 goals, 37 points, 29 ground balls, 70 draw controls and 22 caused turnovers.
Hawkins’ 1.75 caused turnovers per game is second in the conference. This is her third all-conference selection and second first-team nod. Hawkins anchored the defense with a team-high 28 caused turnovers and 27 ground balls.
Three Commodores earned second-team All-AAC honors in seniors Maddie Souza and Karlie Bucci and junior Kayla Rieu. Souza and Bucci scored 29 and 27 goals, respectively to help lead the potent Vanderbilt offense this season. Rieu was a key contributor in the midfield, finishing the regular season third on the team with 35 draw controls and scoring nine times.
The 3-seeded Commodores face 2-seeded Temple in the first round of the AAC Tournament at 6:15 p.m. CT on Thursday in Greenville, North Carolina, with action airing on ESPN+.
