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Aug. 5, 2007
Baltimore – Five Cavaliers were named to the US Lacrosse National Teams Program Sunday (Aug. 5) as the US Elite and US Developmental teams were named following tryouts in Catonsville, Md. Nikki Lieb (’06), Jessy Morgan (’07), Kendall McBrearty (’08), Megan O’Malley (’08), and Jen Holden (’09) were all named to the program as Lieb returned to the Elite Team and Morgan, O’Malley, and Holden were all invited to play on the Developmental Team while McBrearty was named to the Developmental Team for the first time in her career.
Lieb, a three-time first-team All-American, is a veteran of the Elite Team after serving on the team for the 2005-2006 year. A three-year starter for the Cavaliers and the 2006 National Defensive Midfielder of the Year, Lieb was a 2006 finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy and was named the State Player of the Year. She ranks second all-time in school history with 136 draw controls and has three of the top-ten totals for a single season in draw controls. Lieb also ranks seventh all-time in school history with 83 caused turnovers. She was a team captain in 2006.
Morgan earned third-team All-American honors in 2007 as she was named a starter for the Cavaliers for the second consecutive season. Morgan, who earned National Player of the Week honors, was also a member of the US National Teams program in 2006-2007. A captain in 2007, she ranked second on the team in caused turnovers and ground balls and was one of Virginia’s top match-up defenders.
O’Malley returns to the Developmental Team after her appearance with the team in 2005-2006. A midfielder who started all 23 games for Virginia in 2007, O’Malley ranked seventh on the team in scoring and eighth in draw controls. She was whistled for less than a foul per game (20 fouls in 23 games).
Holden, a third-team All-American in 2007, was named to the National All-Rookie Squad by womenslacrosse.com in 2006 after her first season, and was named to the US Developmental Team in August that year. Holden led all field players in minutes played and helped the Cavaliers rank sixth nationally in scoring defense (8.42 gapg). A disciplined defender, she was whistled for less than a foul per game (21 fouls in 23 games). Holden ranked third on the team (second among field players) in ground balls. She started all 23 games in 2007.
McBrearty was the 2007 ACC Tournament MVP after leading the Cavaliers to their second consecutuve ACC title. The National Player of the Week for April 30, McBrearty started all 23 games and ranked in the top-10 nationally for goals-against average with an 8.30 GAA. Her 179 saves ranks sixth all-time in school history for a single season. This is her first national team stint.
The US Elite and Developmental Teams will practice throughout the academic year and will compete in both the Stars and Stripes Weekend in Eugene, Ore. October 5-8 and the Champions’ Challenge in Orlando, Fla. January 25-27, against both international and collegiate teams.