Women's Lacrosse: Kubasta Defensive Player of the Year, six pocket NCAC accolades

DateMay 12, 2009
LocationCLEVELAND, Ohio
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Senior Katie Kubasta earned her second-straight appearance on the All-NCAC first team and was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Senior defender Katie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina) closed out her four-year career at Denison by earning North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. Kubasta became just the eighth athlete in program's history to earn the honor after scooping up 19 ground balls, causeing eight turnovers and controlling three draws in 2009. Throughout her four-year career in Granville the senior has collected 105 ground balls, forced 32 turnovers and notched 14 draw controls in 59 career games. The Medina, Ohio native has also netted one goal and dished out one assist. This marks Kubasta's second consecutive appearance on the All-NCAC first team.

Joining Kubasta on the first team are junior defender Bethany Keller (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and senior goalie Amanda Wilson (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve). Like Kubasta, Keller is repeating as a first-team all-conference selection after rounding up 21 ground balls and causing seven turnovers while on the Big Red defense line. After earning all-tournament team recognition in just her second season as DU's starting keeper, Wilson landed a spot on the first team after stopping 126 shots and compiling a .474 save percentage. The senior goalie also grabbed a team-high tying 23 ground balls.

Senior midfielder Michelle Bennett (New York, N.Y./Taft) and first-year middie Alex Thurner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) earned spots on the All-NCAC second team. A second-team honoree a year ago, Bennett completed her senior campaign with 10 goals, five assists 14 ground balls and 19 draw controls. Thurner received second-team recognition after leading the Denison offense in scoring with a team-high 27 goals, four of which coming with a man advantage. The rookie also dished out 10 assists, grabbed 22 ground balls, recorded 30 draw controls and caused eight turnovers.

Rounding out the Big Red accolades is sophomore midfielder Lulu Carter (Greenwich, Conn./The Millbrook School). Carter earned honorable mention honors after scoring six goals and handing out six helpers. The sophomore also scooped 23 ground balls, had 21 draw controls and forced 14 turnovers, which was second best on the team this season.