Galica Named ACC Freshman of the Year, LaMonica Shares Coach of the Year Honor
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday (May 1) the recipients of the 2024 ACC Season Awards for women’s lacrosse. Among the winners are Virginia’s Kate Galica, who was recognized as ACC Freshman of the Year, as well as head coach Sonia LaMonica who was recognized as the ACC Co-Coach of the Year.
A first-year out of Wayne, Pa., Galica burst onto the scene as a freshman playing in each of Virginia’s 18 games while making 13 starts. Virginia’s first ACC Freshman of the Year since Rachel Clark in 2022, Galica put up 24 points with 20 goals and four assists to her season tally. She was also an instrumental piece in the draw circle for UVA. Galica set a Virginia single-season freshman record pulling down a total of 86 draw controls—the seventh-highest single season total of any Virginia player.
Outside of the stat sheet, Galica has a knack for coming through for her team in the big moments. In a tightly contested game against No. 3 Boston College, Galica scored twice in the final five minutes of play including a goal with just two seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime and put UVA on course for a 13-12 win.
LaMonica becomes the first Virginia coach to be named ACC Coach of the Year since Julie Myers received the award in 2008. She shares the award with former Maryland teammate Acacia Walker-Weinstein of Boston College.
In her first season as Myers’ successor, LaMonica has guided the Cavaliers to their first 14-win season since 2010 while matching a program-high with six ACC wins on their way to an appearance in the ACC semifinal round.
LaMonica’s debut season has featured an impressive record against the best teams in the nation including wins over No. 3 Boston College, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 6 James Madison and the team’s first victory over No. 14 North Carolina since 2014. Prior to 2024, Virginia had not recorded a win over a top-five opponent since a victory over No. 5 Syracuse in 2018.
Eight Cavaliers were named All-ACC Selections (April 23) including: Morgan Schwab (first team), Maggie Bostain (second team), Katia Carnevale (second team) Mackenzie Hoeg (second team), Kiki Shaw (second team), Kate Galica (all-freshman) Madison Alaimo (all-freshman) and Jenna Dinardo (all-freshman).
A couple MAJOR @theACC award winners on Grounds 💫#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/j2e7RRu2Y2
— Virginia Women's Lacrosse (@UVAWomensLax) May 1, 2024
2024 ACC Season Awards
Attacker of the Year: Jackie Wolak, Gr., Notre Dame
Midfielder of the Year: Belle Smith, Sr., Boston College
Defender of the Year: Sydney Scales, Sr., Boston College
Goalkeeper of the Year: Shea Dolce, So., Boston College
Freshman of the Year: Kate Galica, M, Virginia
Co-Coach of the Year: Sonia LaMonica, Virginia; Acacia Walker-Weinstein, Boston College
Virginia ACC Coaches of the Year
Julie Myers – 2002
Julie Myers – 2008
Sonia LaMonica – 2024
Virginia ACC Freshmen of the Year
Amy Fromal – 1997
Mills Hook – 1998
Caitlin Banks – 2001
Amy Appelt – 2002
Blair Weymouth – 2006
Brittany Kalkstein – 2007
Rachel Vander Kolk – 2015
Sammy Mueller – 2017
Rachel Clark – 2022
Kate Galica – 2024
Up Next
The Cavaliers will await their seeding in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Selection show is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 at 9 p.m. and will air on ESPNU.