April 24, 2008
Washington, D.C. - The 2008 Major Award winners were announced at Thursday night's Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Championship Banquet on the campus of American University, the host of this year's women's lacrosse tournament. American senior Jackie Lane was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, while Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors went to American senior Brittany Finnegan. The Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year award went to American senior Kristine Vida. Lehigh's Lauren Dykstra was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Rounding out the awards was American Head Coach Katie Woods, who brought home the Patriot League Coach of the Year plaque.
Lane was the offensive leader for the Eagles this season, leading them to a 5-1 League record and a share of the regular-season title. This marks the second-consecutive year that Lane has won this award, making her the fifth women's lacrosse student-athlete in Patriot League history to accomplish the feat. She finished the regular season with 53 points, 36 goals and 17 assists, all of which were team highs. Lane was also selected to the First-Team All-Patriot League earlier this week.
Finnegan becomes the second-consecutive Eagle to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. She finished the regular season with 15 goals and one assist. She also caused 14 turnovers and helped lead a defensive unit that was one of the best in the Patriot League, allowing just 10.58 goals per game. Finnegan is also a member of the First-Team All-Patriot League.
Vida becomes the first American goalkeeper to be named Goalkeeper of the Year in the Patriot League. Since the award was first given out in 2004, only Holy Cross alum Megan Orr has been named the winner. The senior from Syosset, N.Y. allowed just 11.66 goals per game this season, while tallying 174 saves and a save percentage of .497. Vida was named the First-Team All-Patriot League goalkeeper this week.
Dykstra burst onto the scene this year, making a mark from day one when she scored three goals, including the game winner, in Lehigh's opener. The freshman from Mendham, N.J. becomes the third-consecutive Mountain Hawk to win the award, joining current teammates Inneke Carmola (2007) and Sara MacIntyre (2006). She finished the season with 61 goals and 75 points, both of which were second-best in the League. Both totals were tops among freshman this season.
Woods earns her first Coach of the Year award, and becomes the first AU coach to win since Maureen Dupcak did so in 2003. In her third season at the helm of the program, Woods led the Eagles to a 7-9 overall record, and a 5-1 record in League play. She helped American to a share of the regular-season title and the right to host the League tournament for the first time since the 2003 season.
The 2008 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Tournament gets underway tomorrow afternoon when No. 1 American hosts No. 4 Navy at 1 p.m. No. 2 Colgate will face off against No. 3 Lehigh at approximately 3:30 p.m. The winner of each semifinal game will advance to the League championship game, which will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 27.
For more information on this year's tournament, including rosters and directions to American University, please visit the women's lacrosse championship page or click here.
2008 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Jackie Lane, Sr., American
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittany Finnegan, Sr., American
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kristine Vida, Sr., American
Rookie of the Year: Lauren Dykstra, Fr., Lehigh
Coach of the Year: Katie Woods, American
