Stringer Named GNAC Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year During Year End Awards
WINTHROP, Mass. – Freshman goalkeeper Colleen Stringer (Point Lookout, N.Y.) of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's lacrosse team made history, becoming the first member of the women's lacrosse program to be named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Goalkeeper of the Year and Rookie of the Year, it was announced Monday by the league's front office. In addition to her major awards, Stringer was also named to the All-GNAC First team and All-Rookie Team. Senior midfield Makenzie Dinger (Hingham, Mass.) joined Stringer on the First Team after a historic 2023 season. Senior Victoria Gargan (Springfield, Mass.) rounded out the USJ honors, being named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.
The Blue Jays finished the 2023 campaign with a 10-7 record, the best mark in program history. Stringer anchored the team in between the pipes, posting a 7-5 record across 12 starts, totaling 689:14 minutes in goal for USJ. The freshman tallied 134 saves, the eighth most the in the GNAC, a 54.0 save percentage, the third best, and a 9.92 goals against average, the fifth best in the league. Dinger had a historic 2023 season, eclipsing both the 100-career goal mark and the 200-career points total. The senior was unstoppable offensively, leading the GNAC with 87 goals, while finishing third in the conference with 106 total points. Dinger was just as effective defensively, finishing second in the league with 89 ground balls and 49 caused turnovers.
For the complete list of all-conference honorees, major award winners, and all-sportsmanship selections, please see below.
FIRST TEAM
A - Maire Brown, Dean
A - Maris DiBeneditto, Johnson & Wales (RI)
A - Lydia Dexter, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
A - Abby Stoller, Simmons
M - Heather Hanson, Colby-Sawyer
M - Taina Gamory, Johnson & Wales (RI)
M - Carson Battaglia, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M - Makenzie Dinger, St. Joseph (Conn.)
D - Hannah Himes, Colby-Sawyer
D - Isabella Nugent, Johnson & Wales (RI)
D - Heather Rohr, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
D - Riley Wasiuk, Simmons
GK - Colleen Stringer, St. Joseph (Conn.)
SECOND TEAM
A - Megan Steele, Emmanuel (Mass.)
A - Sarah Lachance, Rivier
A - Bridget Collins, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
A - Julia Chausse, Simmons
M - Sophia Kuhlthau, Colby-Sawyer
M - Anna-Elise Pikul, Elms
M - Deja Srimouksavanh, Emmanuel (Mass.)
M - Frida Turriza, Simmons
D - Delaney Brown, Emmanuel (Mass.)
D - Avery Robillard, Emmanuel (Mass.)
D - Cassie Hemmerdinger, Rivier
D - Madison Scott, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
GK - Emma Glyman, Johnson & Wales (RI)
THIRD TEAM
A - Taylor Borla, Elms
A - Elise Paier, Elms
A - Livia Fedele, Emmanuel (Mass.)
A - Madeleine Gould, Johnson & Wales (RI)
M - Katie Sloan, Johnson & Wales (RI)
M - Margaret Johnson, Johnson & Wales (RI)
M - Shauna Clark, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
M - Marita Nothacker, Simmons
D - Emma Webster, Colby-Sawyer
D - Jasmin Contreras, Norwich
D - Emi Boedeker, Simmons
D - Sidney Pilot, Simmons
GK - Katie Castle, Simmons
ATTACKER OF THE YEAR - Lydia Dexter, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR - Heather Hanson, Colby-Sawyer
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR - Riley Wasiuk, Simmons
GOALKEEPER/ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Colleen Stringer, St. Joseph (Conn.)
COACH OF THE YEAR - David Keenan, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Colby-Sawyer
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Elena Bronson, Colby-Sawyer
Cecilia Ponzini, Colby-Sawyer
Allie Stockwell, Dean
Jackie Cronin, Elms
Livia Fedele, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Emily Gates, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Broghan Laundry, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Ella Marschitz, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Izzy Babb, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Fara Holland, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Athena Merck, Norwich
Bailey Carroll, Rivier
Alexis Eldridge, Saint Joseph's (Me.)
Colleen Stringer, St. Joseph (Conn.)
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Lydia Rosen, Anna Maria
Simone Long, Colby-Sawyer
Melissa Mostowy, Dean
Elise Paier, Elms
Ali Bergin, Emmanuel
Maddie Gould, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Kaitlin Bedell, Lasell
Valentina Drown, Norwich
Abbie Doheny, Regis
Caitlin Newell, Rivier
Heather Rohr, Saint Josheph's (Me.)
Sammi Hogan, Simmons
Victoria Gargan, St. Joseph (Conn.)
About The GNAC
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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