Five Greyhounds Named Landmark Women's Lacrosse All-Conference; Bill Selected as Player of the Year
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College junior attack Liz Bill has been selected as the 2019 Landmark Conference Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team while senior attack Jillian Picciuto, sophomore attack Meaghan McMullan, sophomore defender Olivia Clearie and freshman midfielder Lindsey Strohl were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College junior attack Liz Bill has been selected as the 2019 Landmark Conference Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team while senior attack Jillian Picciuto, sophomore attack Meaghan McMullan, sophomore defender Olivia Clearie and freshman midfielder Lindsey Strohl were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
The group helped the Greyhounds record a program-best 12 victories in 2019 with an overall record, and the Blue and Grey qualified for the Landmark Conference Semifinals for the second straight spring after finishing 5-2 in the conference during the regular season.
Bill, who was on the All-Conference First Team a year ago, netted a school record 87 goals this spring to go with 12 assists for 99 points, and she also set a school record with 114 draw controls to go with 33 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Bill enters her senior campaign with 245 points on 212 goals and 33 assists to go along with 166 draw controls and 97 ground balls.
"I'm thrilled to see Liz receiving this well-deserved honor," said Head Coach Kristen Nicholson. "Liz is an extraordinary athlete and teammate. She is our offensive captain and leads by example on the field. Liz has a tremendous ability to get to cage when it counts and finds her way through the strongest defensive sets we've seen this year. With her speed and her ability to find the ball, she is dominant on the draw circle as well. Liz is also a huge part of our ride, striping defenders of the ball in our attacking end. Liz is also a tremendous student, she's a nursing major with a 3.4 GPA."
Picciuto, who made the All-Conference Second Team in 2017, had a school record 104 points this season, her third 100-point season, as she scored 56 goals and dished out a school record 48 assists to go along with 70 draw controls, 24 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Picciuto finished her career with school records of 237 goals, 153 assists, 390 points and 285 draw controls in 64 matches, and she also had 107 ground balls and 41 caused turnovers in her career.
"Jillian has had a tremendous career at Moravian for the last four years, and this season was no different," Nicholson said. "Having her receive all conference recognition for her outstanding performance is just one more accolade she can add to her list. Jillian has been the "quarterback" of our offense every year and this year was her best yet with 48 assists on the season. She will be greatly missed next year and leaves big shoes to fill on our offensive end."
McMullan made the All-Conference Second Team for the second straight spring after scoring a career high 101 points on 72 goals and 29 assists, and McMullan's 100-point year is the first by someone other than Picciuto in program history. McMullan has 119 goals, 35 assists, 154 points, 143 draw controls, 60 ground balls and 42 caused turnovers after two seasons at Moravian.
"Meaghan is one of our most athletic attackers and leaders on the offensive end," noted Nicholson. "She has an incredible shot and eye for the cage. I'm thrilled to see her receive all conference honors after a 101-point season this year. As a sophomore, I'm even more excited to see what the future holds for Meaghan and her career at Moravian."
Clearie led the Greyhounds with 47 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers this spring to go along with one goal, one assist and 47 draw controls. Clearie, who moved to defense this season, has 20 goals, three assists, 76 ground balls, 72 draw controls and 52 caused turnovers in two years.
"Liv has truly developed into one of our top defenders after spending her freshman year in the midfield," explained Nicholson. "She has become a takeaway defender leading the way in caused turnovers. I'm so happy to see Liv receiving the recognition for her hard work and dedication to her craft. I'm extremely excited to see how she continues to grow and improve through her junior and senior years."
Strohl contributed 42 goals, five assists, 91 draw controls, 32 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers in her debut season at Moravian.
"I'm so proud of the performance Lindsey had during her breakout freshman year," commented Nicholson. "Lindsey has taking the role as our leader in the midfield. She is an incredible athlete and is integral part of our team. She finds the cage when she needs but also causes the turnover in essential moments of the game. Lindsey is also a huge part of our success on the draw and finds the ball often."
To view the entire 2019 Landmark Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams, visit http://landmarkconference.org/sports/wlax/2018-19/releases/05032019-wlax-awards.
