CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) named University at Albany's Nikki Branchini an All-American on Monday, May 31, headlining a group of seven America East women's lacrosse players honored on All-American and All-Region teams. Branchini was also named the Division I Defender of the Year by womenslacrosse.com.
Branchini, the America East Player of the Year, was a third-team All-American a named by the coaches' group, and a first-team All-American by womenslacrosse.com. The junior defender was in the nation's top ten in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers per game while leading the Great Danes to the conference's regular-season crown and the program's all-time most successful season.
The IWLCA will honor the National
All-Americans at the IWLCA All-American banquet on June 12, 2010 at
the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pa.
Boston University's McKinley Curro was tabbed a second-team All-American by womenslacrosse.com, while America East Rookie of the Year Jamie Fahey was named to the all-rookie squad.
The IWLCA also awarded its all-region accolades last week, which honored seven America East women's lacrosse players. Branchini and Curro, as well as Boston University's midfielder Rachel Collins and defender Corcoran Downey were named to the North Region First Team, while Albany goalkeeper Ashley Ross and Boston University attacker Traci Landy each garnered North Region Second Team accolades. Collins was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2010 America East Championship.
Fahey was named to the Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team as a freshman.