Women’s Lacrosse Leads League With 6 ASUN Preseason All-Conference Honorees
2/3/2022 1:08:43 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Liberty paced all ASUN squads with six ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference team honorees, led by ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, goalkeeper Jennifer Soriero.
Joining Soriero on the preseason all-conference team are defenders Mikayla Coghill and Alexa Evernham, midfielders Mackenzie Lehman and Mia Toscano and attacker Brooke Bryan. Liberty’s six honorees outpaces Jacksonville (4), Coastal Carolina (2) and Kennesaw State (2).
The Lady Flames were voted to finish second in the ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll for a third straight year. Liberty received one first-place vote and 29 points in the poll, behind four-time defending champion Jacksonville, who garnered the other five first-place votes and 35 points. Coastal Carolina (tied for third, 20 points), Kennesaw State (tied for third, 20 points), Stetson (fifth, 14 points) and Delaware State (sixth, seven points) rounded out the poll.
“We couldn’t be more excited to kick off this season. We have an unbelievably deep team this year, and these postseason honors reflect that,” said head coach Kelly Nangle. “This is the most balanced we have been in every facet of the game. I am so proud of our girls, and I can’t wait to watch our team continue to grow and get better as we prepare for what’s to come!”
All six honorees for Liberty are making their first-ever appearances on an ASUN Preseason All-Conference squad, and this is Soriero’s first preseason major award.
The Lady Flames will open their 2022 campaign on the road at Vanderbilt, Feb. 12. Liberty’s first ASUN contest will take place on April 16 against Kennesaw State.
Jennifer Soriero | Junior | Goalkeeper | Pompton Plains, N.J.
• 2021 ASUN All-Conference first team honoree
• 2021 ASUN All-Tournament team selection
• ASUN Defensive Player of the Week (March 3, 2021)
• Set school’s single-season ground balls record with 66 and ranked No. 12 in nation in ground balls per game (3.47) at season’s end
• Had multiple ground balls in 16 of 19 games and scooped up career-best nine ground balls at Furman in 2021
• Tallied 10 or more saves seven times, including four double-digit save games against ranked teams, and finished No. 18 in the country in total saves with 141
Mikayla Coghill | Junior | Defender | Fredericksburg, Va.
• 2021 ASUN All-Conference second team selection
• Started all 19 games in 2021
• Finished fourth on the team with 32 ground balls and also had 14 caused turnovers and three draw controls last season
• Scooped up two or more ground balls 10 times in 2021, including a career-best four ground balls at season
Alexa Evernham | Junior | Defender | Swedesboro, N.J.
• 2021 ASUN All-Conference second team honoree
• Started all 19 games during 2021 season
• Ranked fifth on the squad with 27 ground balls and had 18 caused turnovers and first career assist
• Collected multiple ground balls eight times in 2021, including a career-best four ground balls versus Coastal Carolina
Mackenzie Lehman | Sophomore | Midfielder | McMurray, Pa.
• 2021 ASUN Freshman of the Year
• 2021 ASUN All-Conference second team selection
• Named ASUN Player of the Week on April 21, 2021, Liberty’s first-ever freshmen to garner the award
• Led Liberty freshmen in goals (18), assists (9), points (27), ground balls (23) and caused turnovers (21, second on team) and led the team in draw controls (53)
• Scored five goals in Liberty’s ASUN Championship semifinal win over Kennesaw State
• Won three or more draw controls seven times, including a career-best eight draws versus Kennesaw State in the regular season
Mia Toscano | Senior | Midfielder | Venetia, Pa.
• 2021 ASUN All-Conference first team honoree
• 2021 VaSID All-State second team selection
• One ASUN Player of the Week award (Feb. 24) and one ASUN Defensive Player of the Week honor (April 21) in 2021
• Ranked second on the team with 24 goals, tied for third with nine assists and had 33 points (also third on the team)
• Finished second on the squad in draw controls (51), third in ground balls (35) and fifth in caused turnovers (19)
Brooke Bryan | Redshirt Junior | Attacker | Westlake, Calif.
• 2021 ASUN All-Conference first team honoree
• 2021 VaSID All-State first team recipient
• 2021 ASUN All-Tournament team member
• ASUN Player of the Week (April 14, 2021)
• Led the squad with 50 goals (second most in a season in program history) and 55 points in 2021
• Set new school record with 21 free-position goals last season
• Finished No. 16 in the country in shot percentage (.602), No. 17 in free-position goals per game (1.11), No. 24 in total goals (50) and No. 32 in free-position percentage (.600)
Unanimous ASUN Lacrosse Preseason Player of the Year: Sarah Elms, Jacksonville
ASUN Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jennifer Soriero, Liberty
ASUN Lacrosse Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Molly Brock, Jacksonville
ASUN Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
GK Jennifer Soriero, Jr., Liberty
D Avery Whitehead, Gr., Coastal Carolina
D Casey Sullivan, Gr., Jacksonville
D Payton Gregory, Sr., Kennesaw State
D Mikayla Coghill, Jr., Liberty
D Alexa Evernham, Jr., Liberty
M Molly Brock, Sr., Jacksonville*
M Siena Gore, Gr., Kennesaw State*
M Mackenzie Lehman, So., Liberty
M Mia Toscano, Sr., Liberty
A Sarah Elms, Gr., Jacksonville*
A Hannah Demis, Gr., Coastal Carolina
A Jenny Kinsey, Gr., Jacksonville
A Brooke Bryan, R-Jr., Liberty
*Denotes unanimous selection
Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year: Hannah Demis, Coastal Carolina
Fan-Voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Avery McIlwaine, Coastal Carolina
Fan-Voted Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Claire Martell, Coastal Carolina
2022 ASUN Conference Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (first-place votes) Total Points
1. Jacksonville (5) 35
2. Liberty (1) 29
3T. Coastal Carolina 20
3T. Kennesaw State 20
5. Stetson 14
6. Delaware State 7
