LUNDWALL NAMED GNAC WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR; FOUR OTHERS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior midfielder Savannah Lundwall (Fiskdale, Mass.) has been named the 2017 Great Northeast Conference Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday Morning.  Lundwall also earned Second Team All-Conference honors along with senior attack Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) and junior defender Stephanie Warn (Hanson, Mass.). Senior attack Abaigeal Merrigan (Rye, N.H.) and junior defender Sophia White (Monterey, Calif.) earned Third Team honors.

Lundwall earns Defensive Player of the Year honors after a stellar senior campaign that saw the midfielder start all 15 games and excel on both sides of the ball. Lundwall led the GNAC with 49 draw controls in conference play and recorded 81 overall on the year which is the second highest total recorded in a single season at Emmanuel College. The Fiskdale, Mass. native ranked second in GNAC play with 23 caused turnovers and tallied 32 overall only trailing former Saints standout Sarah Higgins '16 in the category. Offensively, Lundwall finished the season leading the Saints in goals with 35, and tallying 14 assists for a total of 49 points.

Over her career, Lundwall appeared in and started all 65 games for the blue and gold ranked only behind second teammate Emily Baker in the category.  Lundwall made an immediate impact upon her arrival to Boston helping the Saints win their first ever Women's Lacrosse Conference Championship and making the All-Tournament team in the process.  The dual sport standout earned three All-Conference honors and made two All-Tournament teams over her career. The midfielder concludes her illustrious career ranked second in EC history in draw controls (208), groundballs (171) and caused turnovers (96).

Baker joins Lundwall on the GNAC Second Team following an equally impressive senior season. The attacker played and started in all 16 games for the Saints leading the team in total points with 52 on 30 goals and a team high 22 assists.

Over Baker's storied four years she represented the Saints Women's Lacrosse team a school record 66 times, starting all 66 of those contests.  The Stratham, N.H. native was a member of the Saints first-ever GNAC championship team and earned All-Conference honors three times.  Statically Baker left her mark as well, concluding her career ranked third in EC history in points (197), goals (121) and in assists (76).

Warn earns GNAC Second Team All-Conference honors after an excellent junior campaign.  The defender missed two weeks of action due to a mid-season injury, but was still able to maintain a caused turnover average of 1.75 per game ranking second only behind the Defensive Player of the Year. During the campaign she picked up 28 ground balls, won 21 draw controls and caused 21 turnovers.  The Hanson, Mass. native spent limited time in the attack, but was still able to rack up 14 goals and two assists for a total of 16 points.

Merrigan earns GNAC Third Team honors after enjoying the most productive season of her successful four-year career.  The attacker played in and started all 16 games for the blue and gold tallying a career high 29 points on 13 goals and 16 helpers.  The Rye, N.H. native was extremely efficient in her shot selection, maintaining an 88.9% shots on goal percentage ranking tied for second in the GNAC among players that took at least 25 shots.

Merrigan enjoyed many team and individual successes over her four-year career with the Saints.  She appeared and started in 17 games throughout her rookie campaign that ended with the programs first GNAC Championship.  Merrigan finishes her career ranked 10^th all-time in points with 88 on 47 goals and 41 assists which is good for the fifth highest assist total in EC history.

White joins Merrigan on the GNAC All-Conference Third Team after a standout year in the Saints defense where she started all 16 contests.  The Monterey, Calif. native recorded the second most caused turnovers for Emmanuel with 26 only trailing DPOY, Lundwall. On the year, White picked up a career high 32 groundballs and scored on 100 percent of her shots going one for one in her limited time in the offensive third.

Throughout her career, White has been a staple in the EC defense, appearing in 41 games over three seasons.   The defender has recorded 50 groundball pick-ups, forced 38 turnovers and tallied nine goals.

The Saints concluded the 2017 campaign with an overall record of 6-10, finishing GNAC play with a 5-4 slate to earn the No.5 seed in the GNAC tournament.

Click here to view the 2017 GNAC Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Team