Five Cavaliers Named to IWLCA All-South Region Team

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia women’s lacrosse team placed five Cavaliers on the All-South Region team, as announced today by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). Senior All-Americans Kaitlin Duff and Brittany Kalkstein were named to the first team, while redshirt junior Lauren Benner, junior Liz Downs and senior Caity Whiteley were honored on the second team.

Duff is making her third-straight appearance on the all-region team, while this is her second-consecutive first team honor. A midfielder from Bethesda, Md., Duff became the second Cavalier in program history to reach 100 in five different career statistical categories (117 goals, 172 points, 174 ground balls, 110 draw controls, 127 caused turnovers) and also tied former Cavalier Lauren Aumiller atop of the program’s career records for caused turnovers.

The speedy lefty led the team in goals (42), assists (23) and points (65), in addition to caused turnovers (31) and she shared the team lead in ground balls (41) this year. A team co-captain, Duff was named to the All-ACC team for the third year in a row and was honored as a top-25 Tewaaraton Trophy nominee.

Kalkstein, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, is making her second-straight appearance on the all-region first team. The ACC and UVa career record holder for draw controls (282); Kalkstein also sits fourth on the all-time NCAA career list and is sixth in NCAA single season history for her school-record 97 draws this year.

A midfielder from Baltimore, Md., Kalkstein was second on the team in goals (41), assists (21), points (62) and caused turnovers (28). The co-captain also shared the team lead in ground balls (41), en route to being named to the All-ACC Team and ACC All-Tournament Team. Kalkstein was also a two-time ACC Player of the Week (3/1 and 3/22) and was named the national player of the week by Nike/Inside Lacrosse (3/2) and WomensLax.com (3/1) this year.

Benner is being honored on the all-region team for the first time in her career. The Cavaliers’ starting goalkeeper, Benner posted an overall record of 12-4 and was ranked 16th nationally with a 9.29 GAA. Stopping 44.8 percent of shots faced, Benner anchored a defense that allowed just 9.83 goals per game. The Arnold, Md., native ranked third on the team in ground balls, scooping up 37, and caused six turnovers.

Downs, a defender from Alexandria, Va., is making her second-straight appearance on the all-region team. An All-ACC selection this year, Downs is the Cavaliers’ top mark-up defender. She ranked fourth on the team with 28 ground balls and third with 17 caused turnovers. She has started every game of her career and held opponents below their scoring averages.

Whiteley, an attacker from Phoenix, Md., stepped into a starting role this season and had a career year. Scoring 31 goals – good for fourth on the team – and distributing 21 assists, Whiteley ranked third with 52 points. She also scooped up 14 ground balls and won five draw controls. This marks her first career all-region honor.

These student-athletes are now eligible for inclusion on the IWLCA All-America teams, which will be announced on Monday, May 31.

South Region First Team
Sarah Bullard, M, Duke University, Jr.
Kristen Carr, D, University of North Carolina, Sr.
Corey Donohoe, A, University of North Carolina, Jr.
Kaitlin Duff, M, University of Virginia, Sr.
Molly Ford, A, Georgetown University, Sr.
Lindsay Gilbride, A, Duke University, Sr.
Kim Griffin, M, James Madison University, Sr.
Karri Ellen Johnson, A, University of Maryland, So.
Sarah Jonson, D, The College of William & Mary, Jr.
Ashby Kaestner, M, Georgetown University, Sr.
Brittany Kalkstein, M, University of Virginia, Sr.
Caitlyn McFadden, M, University of Maryland, Sr.
Sarah Mollison, A, University of Maryland, Jr.
Logan Ripley, GK, University of North Carolina, Sr.
Jenn Russell, M, University of North Carolina, Sr.
Karissa Taylor, D, University of Maryland, Sr.

South Region Second Team
Kelly Barnes, D, Georgetown University, So.
Lauren Benner, GK, University of Virginia, Sr.
Megan Bosica, M, University of North Carolina, Sr.
Cally Chakrian, D, James Madison University, So.
Liz Downs, D, University of Virginia, Jr.
Grace Golden, M, The College of William & Mary, Jr.
Mia Hurrin, D, University of North Carolina, Jr.
Danielle Kachulis, D, Duke University, Sr.
Christie Kaestner, A, Duke University, Jr.
Morgan Kelly, GK, James Madison University, Sr.
Mary Kate Lomady, A, James Madison University, Jr.
Logan McCraw, D, Georgetown University, Jr.
Katie Schwarzmann, M, University of Maryland, Fr.
Kat Thomas, M, Duke University, So.
Caity Whiteley, A, University of Virginia, Sr.
Mary Zulty, A, The College of William & Mary, Jr.