CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Navy senior attacker Kelly Larkin and senior midfielder Annalise Heyward were selected as the 2020 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively when the League office announced preseason honors on Tuesday. Meanwhile, defending champion Loyola Maryland was selected to finish atop the preseason poll.
The Greyhounds, led by four-time defending Patriot League Coach of the Year Jen Adams, received 160 points and 16 first-place votes to finish atop the poll while 2019 Patriot League runner-up Navy picked up 148 points and four first-place votes. Boston University (122), Army West Point (104) and Lehigh (91) round out the League’s top five.
Loyola Maryland and Army West Point each placed a League-high four student-athletes on the 2020 Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Team. Junior attacker Livy Rosenzweig is a two-time first-team All-League selection while junior midfielder Sam Fiedler and sophomore defender Katie Detwiler were both second-team picks last season. Greyhounds’ junior midfielder Elli Kluegel was also named to the preseason team. The Black Knights representatives, senior midfielder Samantha Stewart and junior attack Jackie Brattan, were both first-team honorees last season. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Burns and 2019 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Caroline Raymond garnered second-team honors for Army West Point.
Navy received three preseason all-League selections, including Larkin, Heyward and senior midfielder Kayla Harris, a 2019 first-team all-League member. Boston University had two student-athletes recognized, including senior attacker Kailey Conry, a three-time all-League honoree, and junior midfielder Emily Vervlied, who was named to the second-team in 2019. Lehigh senior midfielder Sondra Dickey, a two-time first-team all-League pick, made the squad along with American junior attacker Emma Vinall, who made the 2019 all-League second team. Colgate had one representative with junior midfielder Danielle Van Calcar.
Voting for the Patriot League women’s lacrosse preseason major awards, all-League squad and poll is was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their team or student-athletes.
2020 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack, Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton
*Larkin was the 2019 Patriot League Attacker of the Year, 2017 rookie of the year and a three-time All-League selection in addition to receiving Inside Lacrosse Second Team All-America and IWLCA Third Team All-America honors last season.
*In 2019, she finished among the NCAA DI leaders in points (3rd, 121), goals (10th, 69) and assists (7th, 52). Her 121 points from a season ago is the second-best single-season mark in Patriot League history.
*Larkin is the Patriot League’s career leader in points (346) while placing second in career assists (161), six behind former Navy star Jasmine DePompeo (167).
2020 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder, Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell
*Heyward received 2019 All-Patriot League Second Team and All-Tournament honors after starting 21 games for a Navy squad that held opponents to 10.53 goals per game while giving up a League-low 25.14 shots on goal.
*The Charlotte, N.C. native finished among the Patriot League leaders with 83 draw controls, 44 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers in addition to totaling 50 points on 34 goals and 16 assists.
*She caused turnovers in 14 games and posted nine games multiple caused turnovers, including a season-high five caused turnovers against Towson.
2020 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. Loyola Maryland (16 first-place votes), 160
2. Navy (4), 148
3. Boston University, 122
4. Army West Point, 104
5. Lehigh 91
6. Colgate, 85
7. Holy Cross, 56
8. American, 46
T9. Bucknell, 36
T9. Lafayette, 36
2020 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
2020 Patriot League Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-League Team
Emma Vinall, American, Jr., Attack
Jackie Brattan, Army West Point, Jr., Attack
Caroline Raymond, Army West Point, So., Attack
Samantha Stewart, Army West Point, Sr., Midfielder
Maddie Burns, Army West Point, Sr. Goalkeeper
Kailey Conry, Boston University, Sr., Attack
Emily Vervlied, Boston University, Jr., Midfielder
Danielle Van Calcar, Colgate, Jr., Midfielder
Sondra Dickey, Lehigh, Sr., Midfielder
Livy Rosenzweig, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Attack
Sam Fielder, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Midfielder
Elli Kluegel, Loyola Maryland, Jr., Midfielder
Katie Detwiler, Loyola Maryland, So., Defender
Kelly Larkin, Navy, Sr., Attack
Kayla Harris, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
Annalise Heyward, Navy, Sr., Midfielder
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.