WINTHROP, Mass. – Senior Riley Wasiuk was named the 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Defensive Player of the Year announced Monday afternoon. In the process, Wasiuk headlines, a program most, eight Simmons lacrosse players to earn All-Conference honors.
Ranked fifth amongst conference leaders in caused turnovers, Wasiuk earned her second all-conference nod – and first All-GNAC first team selection. She was a stoic defender and pestered opposing offenses, registering a program single-season best 46 caused turnovers while also eclipsing the previous program mark in career caused turnovers.
Wasiuk was joined on the All-GNAC First Team by graduate student Abby Stoller. For the second straight year, Stoller led the Sharks offense with 83 goals and 103 points, while also finding herself ranked fifth amongst national leaders in goals and 17th in points.
Junior Julia Chausse was named to the All-GNAC Second Team for the second consecutive year after becoming program's all-time career and single-season leader in assists. Dishing out a 51 assists this season, she blew the previous record of 39 out of the water, while also surpassing the career assist mark with 90 in her three years.
Fellow junior Marita Nothacker also earned All-GNAC Second Team recognition for a second straight season. In 13 games, the Sharks midfielder registered 30 goals and five assists for 35 points, while winning a single-season best 60 draws.
Sophomore Frida Turriza was the third and final Shark to received All-GNAC Second Team honors. In her first season with the Sharks, she was one of the sparks of a potent Simmons offense that was ranked as one of the top 50 offenses in Division III. Turriza finished the season second on the team in goals, finding the back of the net 49 times.
Seniors Emi Boedeker, Sidney Pilot and Katie Castle rounded out Simmons earning All-GNAC Third Team recognition. Earning all-conference recognition for the second straight season, Boedeker led the Sharks with 70 draw controls on the season, while Pilot and Castle grabbed their first all-conference honors of their careers.
Senior captain Sammi Hogan was the Sharks representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.