ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon women's lacrosse team placed a league-best six student-athletes on the 2011 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) post-season teams released Wednesday afternoon. In addition, Mary Eshenour (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo) picked up the conference's top honor as the PSAC Women's Lacrosse Athlete of the Year.

Eshenour and Rachel DerCola (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) were named to the All-PSAC first team. Jess Fugate (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) and Miranda Walters (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) landed spots on the second team. Caitlyn Fisher (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) and Jenna Hughes (Morgantown, W.Va./University) were both selected to the third team.

Also the 2010-11 Gannon Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year, Eshenour recently concluded a stellar collegiate career as one of the best women's lacrosse student-athletes in school history. The four-year starter finished as Gannon's all-time scoring leader with 246 career goals. She ranks third all-time at Gannon in career points (290) and 13th in career assists (44).

The Waterloo, N.Y., native entered the season as the top active scorer in NCAA Division II. She finished the campaign ranked second among all NCAA Division II players in goals (68) and 12th in points (78). Among PSAC players, Eshenour was the best in goals per match (3.78) and ranked fourth in points per match (4.88).

Her 68 goals this season represented the fifth-highest single-season mark in school history, tying her total from the 2010 campaign. And of course, no one will forget her interception with eight seconds left in overtime against Mercyhurst during the regular-season finale and her assist that followed on the game-tying goal with three seconds left. Eshenour is a three-time all-region selection and a PSAC Scholar-Athlete.

DerCola earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive season, but was named to the first team for the first time. The junior attacker landed a spot on the second team last season. She led Gannon in assists (34) and ground balls (59) while finishing second in points (61) this season. DerCola also added 27 goals, 15 draw controls and 16 caused turnovers.

The Rochester, N.Y., native ranked sixth among PSAC players and 17th among all NCAA Division II players in assists per game (1.89). DerCola was fourth among conference players in ground balls per game (3.28) and fifth in game-winning goals (3). She concluded her junior campaign seventh all-time at Gannon in assists (99), 14th in points (163) and 19th in goals (63).

Fugate was named to the second team after being named PSAC Freshman of the Year last season. The sophomore midfielder recorded 45 goals, 14 assists and 59 points in 18 matches. Her non-scoring statistics included a team-high 51 draw controls, 38 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.

The Wooster, Ohio native ranked eighth among PSAC players in ground balls per match (2.50). Fugate finished the season 17th all-time at Gannon in goals (75), 21st in assists (21) and 21st in points (96).

Walters earned All-PSAC accolades for the first time. The sophomore defender was third on the team with 49 ground balls. She also recorded 14 caused turnovers and 13 draw controls.

The Pittsburgh, Pa., native was a mainstay on Gannon's defensive unit that ranked fifth among PSAC teams in caused turnovers per match (9.17) and sixth in goals against average (10.29). The Lady Knights ranked 19th among all NCAA Division II teams in scoring defense (10.44). Walters has recorded 78 ground balls, 19 draw controls and 27 caused turnovers in 36 career matches.

Fisher was selected to the third team after a break-out season. The sophomore attacker posted 32 goals, 17 assists and 49 points. Her three game-winning goals equaled the fifth-highest total among PSAC players this season. She also added 49 ground balls, 20 draw controls and nine caused turnovers.

Hughes completed Gannon's all-conference selections with a third-team placement. The sophomore defender ranked second on the team in ground balls (51) while recording 21 caused turnovers and 20 draw controls. She became one of Gannon's best players on clearing attempts as the season wore on. Offensively, Hughes chipped in two goals despite playing mostly in the back.

For the complete 2011 All-PSAC women's lacrosse teams and major post-season awards, please click here.