EDISON, N.J. – Ahead of opening round of the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships tomorrow, four members of the Fairfield University women's lacrosse team earned All-MAAC nominations Friday afternoon.
The Stags' 2022 co-captains Kelly Horning and Caroline Mangan highlighted the group earning First Team accolades, while both Elizabeth Talluto and Nicollette LaVista nabbed Second Team honors.
After returning to the program for a fifth-year, Horning set new program records this season in both ground balls and caused turnovers for a career, and moved up to third in team history for draw controls in a career as well. Horning scored 32 goals in the regular season this spring in addition to 13 assists offensively, while leading the team on the defensive end in caused turnovers (30) and ground balls (39), in addition to 47 draw controls. This is Horning's third appearance on the First Team All-MAAC roster in her career, and was previously named to the all-rookie team her first year and the MAAC Midfielder of the Year last season.
A leader on the defensive end once again, Mangan sits amongst the team leaders in ground balls this season collecting 35. She has also forced 17 turnovers by her opponents, while not committing a turnover herself all year, while also contributing a goal on the attack earlier this season. This is Mangan's third All-MAAC honor, having been recognized in each season awards were given out by the conference, as she took a spot on the All-Rookie team her freshman year, and the Second Team roster last season.
Talluto nabbed her first All-Conference honor with her second team nomination, as she paced the Stags' offensive numbers for the vast majority of the regular season. Talluto will enter the postseason having already netted 41 goals, currently tied for the 16th best single season mark in program history with a trio of former Stags. She has also 19 assists thus far, putting her fifth in the MAAC in points per game at 3.75/game.
LaVista in her senior season brings home her first All-MAAC honor after locking down the center circle for the Stags in 2022. During the regular season, LaVista corralled a team-high 85 draw controls, which was the third most controls of any player in the MAAC. That mark puts her just one away from tying Erin Mammele's 2017 record of 86 draw controls, the second-best single season output in program history. That also brings her career total to 162, eight away from Riley Hellstein for the second most draw controls in a career at Fairfield.
Fairfield women's lacrosse begin their quest for a fourth consecutive conference title when they take on Canisius Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the 2022 MAAC Championships. Opening draw between the Stags and the Golden Griffins is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium, with the winner advancing to the semifinals next weekend.
