University of Massachusets Athletics
Ashley King Named To WomensLacrosse.com All-American Rookie Team
June 11, 2007 | Women's Lacrosse
June 11, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. - Rising sophomore defender Ashley King (Shoreham, N.Y.) was named to the WomensLacrosse.com All-American Rookie Team this week after having a standout freshman season for the University of Massachusetts women's lacrosse team. She adds the All-American honor to her IWLCA Second Team All-Region and Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team accolades. King was the only defender on the All-American Rookie Team and becomes the first UMass women's lacrosse player to earn All-American honors since Tracey Drown did so in 2004 when she was a third-team selection.
"This is a great honor for Ashley who worked tremendously hard this past season," said UMass head coach Alexis Venechanos. "I think this recognition is evidence that we are getting back to a level of national competitiveness and that our team's hard work is being noticed."
King becomes the first freshman defender for UMass to be named to an All-America team. The only other defender in program history to be named All-American (IWLCA) was Christina Kocot as a senior in 1987.
A High School Academic All-American at Shoreham-Wading River High School prior to attending UMass, King was a major reason the UMass defense finished the season ranked 16th in the NCAA. She started all 17 games and led the team in groundballs with 40. She also caused 17 turnovers and had 12 draw controls. She capped the season with an assist in the win over La Salle.
When King was named to the All-Region Second Team earlier this summer, she became only the second UMass freshman to be named to a regional squad in program history. She shares that honor with Joanna Dignazio who earned a spot as an attack in 1995. King continues UMass' tradition of defensive players earning All-Region honors. Ten of the 18 Minutewomen honored by the IWLCA in program history have been either defenders or goalkeepers.
The Minutewomen will return 91 percent of its scoring for the 2008 season along with its entire defensive unit minus goalkeeper Lauren McCarthy (Derry, N.H.). UMass will also have sophomore Kaytlin McCormick (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) back in the lineup after she redshirted the 2007 season. McCormick netted 31 goals and four assists in 2006 as a freshman. UMass returns 10 of its 12 starters from the 2007 season and a total of 20 letterwinners.
King and the Minutewomen posted an 8-9 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the Atlantic 10 this past season under first-year head coach Alexis Venechanos. The eight wins for UMass were the most since going 11-8 in 2003.
For a complete listing of the 2007 WomensLacrosse.com All-America Teams, visit www.womenslacrosse.com.
UMASS WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-AMERICANS
Pam Moryl (1984 IWLCA First Team)
Lisa Griswold (1987 IWLCA First Team; 1986 IWLCA Second Team)
Chris Kocot (1987 IWLCA Second Team)
Sue Murphy (1988 IWLCA Second Team)
Cathy Furhman (1989 IWLCA Second Team)
Tracey Drown (2004 WomensLacrosse.com Third Team)
Ashley King (2007 WomensLacrosse.com Rookie Team)