Five Cavaliers Named to VaSID Women's Lacrosse All-State Team

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Five members of the Virginia women’s lacrosse team were named the Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State team, announced Friday. Julie Gardner and Liz Downs were named to the first team, while Charlie Finnigan, Megan Dunleavy and Kim Kolarik were named to the second team.

UVa’s five VaSID all-state selections topped the eight Commonwealth schools that placed at least one player on the team. The Cavaliers and James Madison were the lone schools from the state to make the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Downs, a senior defender, was a second-team IWLCA All-American this season. The Alexandria, Va., native was one of just three defenders to make the 18-person All-ACC team this year and was one of four defenders in the nation to be honored among the 24 finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy. The co-captain started every game throughout her four years and wrapped up her career as the top true defender in program history. She was tabbed a 2010 third-team All-American, was named to back-to-back All-ACC teams, to the 2008 national all-rookie team and was voted Team MVP by her teammates this season. This is Downs’ third first-team honor in a row from VaSID.

Gardner, a junior attacker from Severna Park, Md., was a third-team ILWCA All-American. The team’s top all-around attacker earned her first All-South Region honor after finishing the year with 27 assists and 60 points to rank fourth and ninth in the ACC, respectively. The 2011 All-ACC team selection scored multiple goals on 11 occasions and dished out multiple assists eight times. She had at least one point in every game this year, including 15 games with multiple points, and five hat tricks. This is Gardner’s first VaSID honor.

Finnigan, a junior attacker from Hampton, Middlesex, England, led the team with 43 goals and contributed at least one point through every regular-season contest this year. The attacker finished the season ranked third in the ACC with 2.53 goals per game and was seventh in the league with 3.35 points per outing. She notched a team-high 12 hat tricks this year, including scoring a career-high eight points on five goals and three assists at Syracuse. She also had seven points against Virginia Tech (four goals, three assists). This is Finnigan’s second year in a row being named to the VaSID second-team.

Dunleavy finished the year second among all field players on the team in ground balls per game. The sophomore defender stepped into a starting role for the Cavaliers this year and finished the season with 29 ground balls, eight draw controls and eight caused turnovers. The Fairfax Station, Va., native scooped up a career-high five ground balls in a win over George Mason. This is Dunleavy’s first career VaSID honor.

Kolarik, a sophomore goalkeeper from Riva, Md., started all 18 games last season for the Cavaliers. She made 133 saves and had a .397 save percentage. Kolarik ranked second in the ACC in ground balls per game and in save percentage. She twice had a career-high 11 saves in a game. This is Kolarik’s first all-time honor from VaSID.

2011 VaSID University Division All-State Women’s Lacrosse Team

First Team
A Casey Ancarrow James Madison*
A Julie Gardner Virginia
A Mary Kale Lomady James Madison
M Grace Golden William & Mary*
M Mary Flowers Richmond
M Lisa Bernardini Old Dominion
D Sarah Johnson William & Mary*
D Liz Downs Virginia
D Cally Chakrian James Madison
GK Juli Liebig Longwood

Second Team
A Cara O’Brien Longwood
A Allie Emala Virginia Tech
A Charlie Finnigan Virginia
M Karis Walborn Liberty
M Kesley Dean Longwood
M Jessica Nonn Virginia Tech
D Taylor Blazer Richmond
D Hannah Riggs Longwood
D Megan Dunleavy Virginia
GK Kim Kolarik Virginia

Freshman of the Year:

Taylor Blazer Richmond

Player of the Year:

Grace Golden William & Mary

Coach of the Year:

Shelly Klaes-Bawcombe James Madison

* – denotes unanimous first-team selection