SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The Susquehanna University women's lacrosse team led all schools with seven selections to its Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star teams. The Crusader baseball and softball teams also had one first-team selection to their respective MAC Commonwealth First Team All-Stars, with baseball getting two second-team picks and softball one. The All-Stars were released Thursday by the conference office.
Senior co-captain Janelle Reed (Shamokin/Line Mountain H.S.) repeated as a first-team women's lacrosse All-Star midfielder, while fellow senior co-captain Dana Makowski (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson H.S.) and junior Erin Powell (Claymont, Del./Ursuline Academy) were first-teamers at attack and on defense respectively after being second-team picks a year ago. Freshman goalkeeper Giulia Umile (Blue Bell/Gwynedd Mercy Academy) rounded out the first-team selections. Sophomore attacks Krista O'Brien (Sykesville, Md./Liberty H.S.) and Katie Sonnefeld (Monkton, Md./Hereford H.S.) joined freshman defensive pick Katie Hess (Darnestown, Md./Connelly School of the Holy Child) as second-team All-Stars.
Together, these players helped the Crusader women's lacrosse team equal the program's best record in its 12-year varsity history, finishing 13-3 overall (Other Best Season: 13-3, 1999), 6-1 and in second place in the MAC for third-year head coach Gina Lucido. The Crusaders are ranked 32nd in the latest Division III rankings by LaxPower.com.
Senior shortstop/pitcher Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) was the lone MAC Commonwealth Conference First Team All-Star on the Crusader baseball team, which made the MAC Tournament for the first time since 1995. Junior second baseman Chris Knickerbocker (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) and sophomore catcher Travis Zook (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) were both second-team selections.
Susquehanna is presently 13-15-1 going into tomorrow's 11 a.m. loser's bracket game vs. Elizabethtown in the MAC Tournament at Quakertown Memorial Park Stadium. The Crusaders went 8-6 and finished second in the MAC Commonwealth Conference for second-year coach Tim Briggs.
Freshman shortstop Shana Lalo (Bethlehem/Northampton H.S.) was the lone first-team Commonwealth Conference All-Star for the Crusader softball team, also earning Rookie of the Year honors. Senior captain Lisa Stack (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West H.S.) was a second-team pick at first base.
The Crusader softball team recorded its fifth-straight winning season while going 14-13 overall, 7-7 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference for sixth-year head coach Vince Anselmo.
While his sport took place in the winter, Crusader head men's and women's swimming head coach Ged Schweikert of Mifflinburg also was recently honored at his sport's annual coaches' meeting as MAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year. Schweikert coached the first two conference champions in his program's 21-year history this season, also leading Susquehanna's efforts as it hosted the conference meet for the first time.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-STARS
The starting center, Reed earns conference All-Star honors for the third time in as many years of playing lacrosse. Despite missing an entire game and most of another with a bad back at the start of the season, she came on to lead the team in groundballs with 57 — ranking fifth in scoring with 29 goals and an assist for 30 points (2.00 ppg). She also tied for fifth in interceptions with seven.
Reed finished her career fourth in program history in career assists, fifth in scoring and sixth in goals with 70 goals and 21 assists for 91 points (1.82 ppg).
"Janelle really came on over the second half of the season once her back started to feel better. She is so athletic and really controlled the midfield," said Lucido.
She is a biology major and the daughter of John and Janet Reed.
A starting attack wing, Makowski was a MAC All-Star for the fourth time in as many years — earning first-team honors in each of her first two seasons in addition to this year. She is the school record holder in both career assists with 63, and scoring with 112 points — ranking second in goals with 99.
This season, Makowski led the team in assists with 25, ranking fifth in the MAC (1.56 per game), and was second in scoring with 33 goals for 58 points (3.63 ppg). The 25 assists broke her own school season record, while her 58 points were second best in a season at Susquehanna, with her goals being fifth most.
"Dana just has awesome stick skills and was our play-maker. She enjoyed setting up goals as much as she did scoring them," said Lucido. "We'll certainly miss her."
Makowski is a human resource management major and the daughter of Al and Maryellen Makowski.
Powell was a first-teamer on the offensive side as a freshman, but has switched to cover point and earned All-Star honors on defense in each of the last two seasons. Despite missing one game, and most of another with an injury, she led the team in interceptions with 17 while finishing third in groundballs with 40. She helped key a Crusader defense which finished second in the MAC in team goals-against average at 7.69 — ranking 14th in the final regular season NCAA Division III statistics. Powell had one goal this season on her only shot, giving her 24 goals and six assists for 30 career points.
"Very few players can go from being a first-team All-Star on offense, to earning first-team honors on defense. Erin has now done that, and deservedly so," said Lucido.
Powell is a business major and the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Powell.
Umile capped a record-setting season by being the team's lone MAC Player of the Week this past week. She broke the school records for saves in a season with 190, goals-against average at 7.69, and save percentage at .607. Umile was first in the MAC in both goals-against average and save percentage — ranking 14th in the final NCAA Division III regular season statistics.
She made a career high 18 saves in last Wednesday's 13-8 win at Muhlenberg, breaking the season save record in the process. After making 13 saves and allowing just three goals (.813 save percentage) in Friday's 17-3 rout of MAC rival Messiah, she had 14 stops in Saturday's dramatic 11-10 win over Division II Philadelphia University in the season finale. Umile surrendered just one second half goal vs. Philadelphia while making five saves, shutting out the Rams over the final 15:23 while helping the Crusaders rally from a 9-5 halftime deficit.
"Everything Giulia has gotten, she's earned through all the hard work she's put in. I think playing in goal is one of the most difficult things to do in lacrosse, particularly as a freshman, and she's just done a great job," said Lucido.
Umile is a history major and the daughter of Nadina and Ugo Umile.
The starting second home, O'Brien broke the school record for both season goals and scoring this year with 46 goals and 22 assists for a team high 68 points (4.25 ppg). Her 22 assists were the second most in a season at Susquehanna. She scored a team high six goals twice in a game this season, tying for the program's third-highest single game total. O'Brien also tallied a team high five assists to tie for the second most in a game at the school.
In just her first two seasons, she has already compiled 78 goals and 32 assists for 110 points (3.44 ppg) to rank second all-time in assists, third in points, and fifth in goals.
She is a mass communications major and the daughter of Ronald and Peggy O'Brien.
Sonnefeld started at first home and went on to record 30 goals and 15 assists for 45 points (2.81 ppg) as she earned MAC All-Star honors in her first full season as a starter. She was third on the team in assists, also ranking third in both shots (63) and interceptions (10). She is already tied for fifth in career assists at the school with 19 through two seasons.
She is a science undecided major and the daughter of George and Carol Sonnefeld.
Hess also helped key the nationally-ranked defense from her third man position as she earned All-Star honors in her rookie season. She was fourth on the team in interceptions with nine, also scoring 12 goals and six assists for 18 points (1.13 ppg). She also collected 24 groundballs.
She is pre-professional major and the daughter of Karen and Chuck Hess.
BASEBALL ALL-STARS
Berwager earned first-team honors this season after being a back-to-back second-team MAC Commonwealth All-Star shortstop. He was a utility pick because he is also the top pitcher on the Crusader staff. The lead-off hitter who tops the team in hits while batting .339 (39-for-115), Berwager also leads the MAC Commonwealth Conference in home runs while tying for the sixth most in a season at Susquehanna with six (0.21 per game). He has also scored the ninth most runs in a season (33). Defensively, he has the second most assists in a season with 88 — needing just five more Friday for the record (Record: 92, Jim Hanlon, 1988). Berwager ranks fourth in school history in career assists (242), ninth in hits (106) and 10th in runs (76).
On the mound, he has compiled a 5-3 record and 4.50 earned run average this season, pitching eight complete games in his nine starts. He has a staff high 53 strikeouts in 60 innings (7.95 per game).
"Andy is one of our senior leaders and has really stepped up to help key our playoff run. His versatility made him valuable to us, and he earned some Most Valuable Player votes from the other conference coaches too," said Briggs.
Also an Academic All-American candidate as a finance major, Berwager is the son of Timothy and Sheri Berwager of Hanover.
Knickerbocker earned second-team honors as he is second among the Crusader regulars in batting at .391 (34-for-87). Included in that average are four doubles, three home runs, 20 runs scored and a team high six stolen bases. He also has 13 walks and has been hit by a pitch four times – ranking second among the everyday players in on-base percentage at .490. After some early-season trouble on the field, Knickerbocker also settled in as a solid defensive second baseman – now sporting a .904 fielding percentage.
He is a public relations major and the son of Ripley and Carol Knickerbocker.
Zook may have the potential to be the program's next professional prospect – with stellar defensive skills and a rifle arm behind the plate. He has thrown out 18 of 37 runners who have attempted to run on him this season (.486) while posting a .972 fielding percentage with just five errors. Offensively, he is easily the most improved hitter on the team – now batting .371 (33-of-89) with six doubles, a triple, three home runs and a team high 27 RBI. Zook threw both potential base stealers and had a pair of hits to drive in two runs in Susquehanna's 14-5 loss at Freedom Conference champion Allentown in the first-round of the MAC Tournament Wednesday.
He is a biology major and the son of John and Jami Zook.
SOFTBALL ALL-STARS
Lalo topped a group of six freshmen who started for the Crusader softball team this season, leading the team and the MAC Commonwealth Conference in batting at .460 (40-for-87). She was also first on the team in runs batted in with 18, ranking fifth in the conference (0.67 per game), and runs scored with 21. She additionally boasted a team best .506 slugging percentage which included four doubles, and a team high .510 on-base percentage. Defensively, she had just eight errors in 140 total chances for a .943 fielding percentage, despite alternating between first base and shortstop.
Lalo was also the MAC Commonwealth Conference Softball Player of the Week on April 17 as she hit .526 (10-for-19) with a pair of doubles, five runs batted in and three runs scored in a 4-1 week. Defensively during that week, she had just one error in 32 total chances (.969) – helping to turn two double-plays at short.
"Shana is the most focused hitter I've seen here in my six years. In fact, she's the most focused player – period, and I think that's because she's so mentally tough," said Anselmo.
Lalo is a public relations major and the daughter of Robert and Susan Lalo.
The multi-talented Stack earned All-Star honors for the first time in her career while playing six different positions this season and compiling the best fielding percentage among the regulars at .975 – primarily at first base. She had just three errors in 121 chances this spring. Offensively, Stack hit a career best .318 (28-for-88), finishing tied for second on the squad in doubles with six. She also was third in runs scored with 20 and had a triple and 13 RBI. Her eight sacrifice bunts were second best on this season's squad.
A four-year starter, Stack finished second all-time at Susquehanna in at-bats (406), tied for second in doubles (18), third in runs
(92), fourth in both hits (115) and stolen bases (27), fifth in both RBI (59) and defensive chances accepted (381), tied for sixth in triples (7), tied for seventh in assists (110), and ninth in putouts (243). She set the school record for at-bats in a season with 135 in 1998.
She is an environmental major and the daughter of Mark and Joyce Stack.
MEN'S SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR
Schweikert is the only head swimming coach in the 21-year history of the Susquehanna program and had his best season this past year. His men were fifth as they hosted the conference championships and produced the first two champions in program history in senior tri-captain Steve Fischer (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood H.S.) in the 200-yard butterfly (2:01.92), and freshman Luke Peterson (Huntingdon Valley/Upper Moreland H.S.) in the 100-backstroke (55.07). The team also posted its first winning dual meet season since 1991-92 – finishing 5-4 overall, 2-2 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference.
Under Schweikert, the Crusader women's team also recorded its best finish ever at the conference meet as it placed third. The women also went 7-3 overall, 4-1 in the conference for their best dual meet record since 1988-89.
"I was sort of surprised by the award (Coach of the Year), but then Bob Piotti of Widener said 'Why? Look what your swimmers did'," said Schweikert. "They award this to the coach of the year, but this should really be for the team of the year. If it weren't for the swimmers, and how well they did, this award wouldn't have happened."
Schweikert founded the Susquehanna swimming program – helping the school first form club teams in 1978, and then guiding the men to a 4-5 record and the women to a 2-2 mark during their first varsity seasons the following year.
Through his 21st season, he now has a 110-95 women's record (.537) and a 90-111 (.448) mark for the men.
An All-American swimmer in the butterfly at the College of Wooster before earning his bachelor's degree in 1964, Schweikert is best known on campus as an associate professor of psychology. He's been on the Susquehanna faculty since 1970, serving as psychology department chair from 1982-88. He also served a term as a faculty representative on the University Board of Directors.
He and his wife, Mary Louise, reside in Mifflinburg.
