ERIE, Pa. - Gannon’s
Taryn Millerd (Shortsville, N.Y./Midlakes) and
Kayla Nelson (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) have been selected to play in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) North-South Division II All-Star Game. The contest is scheduled for Saturday, June 12 at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, Pa.
Thirty-eight student-athletes from 18 institutions were selected to play in the all-star event. Millerd and Nelson will play for the South squad which is coached by former Gannon standout and current Indiana (Pa.) head coach Mindy Richmond. Molloy head coach Tom Campolettano will lead the North team.
Millerd and Nelson were among 32 NCAA Division II student-athletes named to the IWLCA All-America teams released last Wednesday. Millerd was named to the first team while Nelson landed a spot on the second team. Both student-athletes previously earned IWLCA All-South Region first-team accolades.
Millerd was Gannon’s leader in goals (77) and points (95). The senior midfielder led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in game-winning goals (6) while ranking second in goals per match (4.05) and fourth in points per match (5.00). Nationally, she was the best among NCAA Division II players in goals. She ranked fifth in points, 19th in caused turnovers per match (1.68), 49th in assists (18) and 67th in ground balls per match (2.58).
The Shortsville, N.Y., native concluded her collegiate career as Gannon’s all-time leader in goals with 221. Millerd ranks third all-time at Gannon in points (287) and 10th in assists (66). Her 77 goals this season represented the second-highest single-season total in school history, falling 11 shy of the school record.
Nelson was Gannon’s top feeder with 67 assists, 17 goals and 84 points. The senior attacker led the PSAC and ranked second among all NCAA Division II players in both assists (67) and assists per match (3.53). She ranked seventh among PSAC players in points per match (4.42) and 14th nationally in points (84).
A four-year starter, Nelson is Gannon’s all-time assist leader with 190. She ranks seventh all-time at Gannon in points (234). Her 67 assists this season equaled the second-highest single-season total in school history, narrowly missing the school record by one.
Gannon concluded its season with a 12-7 record after a strong run in the PSAC Tournament. The Lady Knights opened the tournament with a convincing 15-9 victory at rival Mercyhurst in the quarterfinals, before bowing at national runner-up West Chester 19-18 in the semifinals. The squad was unable to maintain a three-goal advantage in the final seven minutes against the Golden Rams.
Head coach Steve Wagner’s squad recorded 12 victories for the second consecutive season, reaching double digits in wins for the sixth straight campaign. The Lady Knights have never posted a losing record during their 15-year history.