Cassels & Rutherford Named to IWLCA/US Lacrosse Women's Lacrosse All-America Team

by Sports Information
5/31/06

LANCASTER, PA – Attacker Kelly Cassels (Jr., Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) and defender Holly Rutherford (Sr., Rochester, NY/Brighton) have been named to the 2006 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA)/US Lacrosse Division III Women’s Lacrosse All-America first team.

The pair are among 48 student-athletes in Division III named a IWLCA/US Lacrosse All-America selection as 16 players were named to the first, second and third teams. The IWLCA and US Lacrosse will honor all 48 selections at an awards banquet on June 10, 2006 in Baltimore, MD.

A 2005 first team and 2004 second team selection, Cassels repeated on the All-Centennial Conference first team selection and the IWLCA All-Region first team this year as she recorded 42 goals and 21 assists for 63 points to rank second in goals, points and assists.

The team leader in free position goals with 12-on-25 attempts, she collected 53 ground balls, caused 18 turnovers and corralled 39 draws this year while netting three game-winning goals.

She was a force in Centennial Conference games this year tallying 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points, including five free position goals, to rank second in free position goals, fifth in goals, fourth in assists and third in points.

A 2005 second team selection to the Warrior/Inside Lacrosse and womenslacrosse.com All-America teams, Cassels led the team in goals and earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Region first team honors as she finished with 47 goals and nine assists for 56 points last year.

For her career, Cassels has 122 goals and 34 assists for 156 points as she ranks 14th in goals and 17th in points.

The eighth player in Centennial Conference history to earn first team honors three times as she earned All-Centennial Conference first team honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Rutherford earned her third All-Region nod as she previously earned first team honors in 2004 and second team accolades in 2005.

A 2005 All-Eastern College Athletic Conference South Region All-Star, Rutherford recorded 50 ground balls, 24 draw controls and 51 caused turnovers with one assist this year as she raised her career scoring total to 29 goals and five assists for 34 points while anchoring an F&M defense which allowed 7.50 goals per game.

She will conclude her career on June 10 as she will join teammate Eileen Keever (Sr., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) on the South roster as both players were invited to take part in the 2006 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Farewell Lacrosse Festival Division III North/South Senior All-Star game on June 10 at Johns Hopkins University sponsored by STX.

Historically, the selection of Cassels and Rutherford mark the 44th and 45th All-America honors in the program’s history as 25 women's lacrosse players at Franklin & Marshall have earned All-America accolades.

Franklin & Marshall concluded the year with a #8 ranking in the final IWLCA poll and a #6 ranking in the final Laxpower.com poll as the Diplomats finished 15-5 and advanced to the Centennial Conference title game at Gettysburg College and NCAA Regional Finals at SUNY-Cortland.

One of the most successful Division III women's lacrosse programs in the nation, Franklin & Marshall has captured six conference titles as the Diplomats have competed in 14 national championship tournaments and recorded a mark of 296-149-3 in 30 years of competition.

The IWLCA (Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association) was founded on the principle of developing among intercollegiate coaches a deep sense of responsibility in teaching, promotion, and maintaining the growth of women's lacrosse in accordance with the highest ideals of fair play. It is a body committed to being an integral part of the growth and direction of our collegiate sport.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body for lacrosse.

2006 IWLCA/US LACROSSE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
First Team
Rachel Barr, A, Williams
Bridget Bigley, M, The College of New Jersey
Betsy Carney, D, Nazareth
Kelly Cassels, A, Franklin & Marshall
Katie Ceglarski, M, Gettysburg
Heather Chaapel, GK, Nazareth
Lauren Dougher, M, The College of New Jersey
Allie Libby, A, Colby
Caitlin O'Leary, D, Mary Washington
Elizabeth Renehan, M, Middlebury
Betsy Rose, D, Bowdoin
Holly Rutherford, D, Franklin & Marshall
Kate Scott, A, Salisbury
Helen Sneath, M, Colorado College
Kaylan Tildsley, M, Williams
Jen Willis, A, SUNY Cortland

Second Team
Alyssa Briody, A, Amherst
Sarah Davis, D, Salisbury
Kate Fitzgerald, A, Colorado College
Ali Goetz, GK, Salisbury
Maggie Goodman, M, Rowan
Jen Kelly, A, Gettysburg
Katie Kline, A, Rowan
Erin Lynn, M, SUNY Cortland
Liz Longley, A, Hamilton
Erin McCarthy, M, Salisbury
Mary Noonan, M, Amherst
Ali Perencevich, M, Middlebury
Kate Sheridan, M, Colby
Meredith Spangler, D, The College of New Jersey
Amanda Strickler, A, Washington & Lee
Emery Sweeney, D, Amherst

Third Team
Kaitlyn Barker, A, Mary Washington
Allison Bourgal, M, SUNY Cortland
Caitlin Cuozzo, M, Union
Bobbie Dennison, M, Bowdoin
Karen Doane, M, The College of New Jersey
Kate Donoghue, A, Bowdoin
Megan Duke, M, Messiah
Emily Erickson, D, Middlebury
Erin Gallagher, D, Messiah
Erin Gallagher, D, SUNY Cortland
Megan Marquardt, GK, The College of New Jersey
Hannah Murtaugh, D, Colorado College
Catherine O'Brien, GK, Colby
Ellie Shihadeh, A, Gettysburg
Kim Walker, M, Middlebury
Rachel Wallick, D, Washington & Lee