Westwood, Mass. – The NEWMAC has released its Women's Lacrosse postseason awards, as announced by the conference on Tuesday morning. The awards are determined by the conference's eleven coaches following the conclusion of regular season play.

Attack Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) of MIT was voted NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Babson College’s Anna Costello (Milton, Mass.) earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Springfield College's Izzy Lalancette (Feeding Hills, Mass.) was voted Rookie of the Year. The Babson and Springfield coaching staffs share Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Thomas headlines the first team selections at the attack position, and is joined by teammate Ellie Rabenold (Cincinnati, Ohio). Babson’s Amelia Novitch (Dover, Mass.) and U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Abby McAllister (Pleasantville, N.Y.) fill out the attack selections. Babson’s Jessica Evans (Southbury, Conn) was awarded a spot at midfield, as was MIT’s Gwen Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.). Coast Guard’s Caitlyn Coates (Hanover, Pa.) also garnered the accolade at midfield. Costello headlines the defender selections and is joined by MIT’s Katie Bell (Radnor, Pa.). Hannah Hibbert (Center Harbor, N.H.) represents Springfield as a defender, and Coast Guard’s Mia Becker (Hudson, Ohio) completes the defender selections. MIT's Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) rounds out the first team selections in the goalkeeper position.

Babson's Clare Connolly (Hanover, Mass.), Springfield’s Lily Johnson (Oceanside. N.Y.), and Wheaton College's Avon LeBeau (North Branford, Conn.) make up the second team attack honorees. Springfield leads the way with three second team midfield selections, as Lalancette, Samantha Andresen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y) and Maddie Roy (Wilbraham, Mass.) garnered the accolade. Smith College's Jennie Arancio (Smithtown, N.Y.) also received the nod. Babson’s Eileen Manning (Needham, Mass.) was honored in the defender slot and is joined by MIT's Grace Harrington (Seattle, Wash.) and Wheaton’s Ailise Cannon (Kensington. N.H.). Two goalkeepers wrap up the second team, as MIT's Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.) and Babson’s Kathleen Murphy (Scarborough, Maine) were each honored.

Offensive Player of the Year- Ashley Thomas (Sr., F), MIT

Ashley Thomas led the conference with 43 goals in conference play, and 77 overall. She also assisted on 42 goals, and 25 in conference play, good for second in the league. Her 119 points overall, and 68 points in conference, were good for second in the NEWMAC. Thomas broke the MIT program record for points in a season.

Defensive Player of the Year – Anna Costello (GS, D), Babson College

Anna Costello was the leader of the top defense in the conference, which only allowed 42 goals in league play. Costello led the league with 29 caused turnovers in league play, averaging 2.90 per game. She is third in the league in ground balls, scooping up 26 in conference play. She is stellar in defensive transition, with the ability to close space and stop a fast break. Costello helped the Beavers to an undefeated league record, a NEWMAC title, and was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NEWMAC Championship.  

 
Rookie of the Year- Izzy Lalancette (Fr., M), Springfield College

Izzy Lalancette totaled 24 goals and six assists in conference play, including contributions against top opponents, with three goals against No. 19 MIT and four goals against No. 15 Babson. She also made her presence felt on the defensive end, causing six turnovers in league play, and scooping up eight ground balls.

Co-Coaching Staff of the Year – Babson College

Babson, led by head coach Michelle Smith, went undefeated in league play with a 10-0 record, and finishing 16-2 overall. The Beavers closed out the season with a No. 15 ranking in the IWLCA poll. Babson would go on to win the NEWMAC Championship for the second-straight year, earning at AQ into the NCAA Tournament. The Babson coaching staff includes Smith, and assistant coaches Annika Streeter and Allie Collins.

 

Co-Coaching Staff of the Year- Springfield College

Springfield finished the regular season 9-1 in conference play, earning the second seed in the NEWMAC Championship, improving on a 6-3 mark from a season ago. Their 15-4 overall record was their most wins since 2018, and for just the second time in program history, the Pride earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.  The Pride are led by head coach Jennifer Thomas, joined by assistant Kelly Gallo, Katie Martel and Ellsa Peabody.

2024 NEWMAC Women's Lacrosse All-Conference 

Team	Name	Position	Institution
2024 First Team All-Conference	Amelia Novitch	A	Babson College
2024 First Team All-Conference	Ellie Rabenold	A	MIT
2024 First Team All-Conference	Ashley Thomas	A	MIT
2024 First Team All-Conference	Abby McAllister	A	U.S. Coast Guard Academy
2024 First Team All-Conference	Jessica Evans	M	Babson College
2024 First Team All-Conference	Gwen Flusche	M	MIT
2024 First Team All-Conference	Caitlyn Coates	M	U.S. Coast Guard Academy
2024 First Team All-Conference	Anna Costello	D	Babson College
2024 First Team All-Conference	Katie Bell	D	MIT
2024 First Team All-Conference	Hannah Hibbert	D	Springfield College
2024 First Team All-Conference	Mia Becker	D	U.S. Coast Guard Academy
2024 First Team All-Conference	Molly Dulde	GK	MIT
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Clare Connolly	A	Babson College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Lily Johnson	A	Springfield College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Avonlea LeBeau	A	Wheaton College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Jennie Arancio	M	Smith College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Samantha Andresen	M	Springfield College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Izzy Lalancette	M	Springfield College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Maddie Roy	M	Springfield College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Eileen Manning	D	Babson College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Grace Harrington	D	MIT
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Ailise Cannon	D	Wheaton College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Kathleen Murphy	GK	Babson College
2024 Second Team All-Conference	Pauline Vien	GK	MIT

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.