ANNVILLE, Pa. - On Tuesday morning, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) announced the All-MAC Commonwealth women's lacrosse teams for the 2023 season. The Falcons were well decorated this season including an Attacker of the Year honor by Rachel Delate and a Defender of the Year honor by Grace Gormley
In addition to their Player of the Year honors, Delate and Gormley were selected to the First Team along with defender Emma Hagg. Makenzie Schnur and Hope Flack earned a Second Team accolades for their efforts this season while Emma Lytle and Hayley Lettinga rounded out the Falcon honorees with Honorable Mention nods.
The Falcons earned an at-large bid to play in the NCAA Tournament after finishing as the runner-up in the MAC Commonwealth this season. Messiah will be in action on Saturday in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament against the St. Mary's of Maryland Seahawks at 1:00 p.m. in Ewing, N.J.
Rachel Delate earned a First Team nod and was awarded Attacker of the Year for her outstanding play this season. The Attacker of the Year honor is her third major honor of her career, tacking onto her impressive resume which holds Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, both earned in 2021. In 18 games so far this season, Delate churned out a team high 95 points with 55 goals and 40 assists. Most notably, she tallied a season high 16 points on Mar. 29, against Alvernia with seven goals and nine assists. The 16 points set a new program record for points in a game. Her nine assists were also a single-game program record. On the season, Delate has 10 games with at least five points, pacing the Falcons offense throughout the year. Delate is the first player in program history with three season of 90-plus points in a career, doing so in all three full seasons she had in Grantham.
This season, Grace Gormley was named the Defender of the Year while claiming a spot on the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team. The First Team selection is her second in as many years and third overall All-Conference honor as Gormley earned a Second Team nod in 2021. In 18 games this season, Gormley found the back of the cage three times but her impact was made on the defensive end of the field. Leading the team with 49 caused turnovers, 58 ground balls, and 76 draw controls. Those stellar stats all came while turning the ball over just 18 times on the season. Gormley leads the conference with 2.72 caused turnovers per game and ranks 22nd nationally in the stat. Her strong defensive effort has helped the Falcons to a 7.11 goals against average as a team, the 21st lowest mark in the country this season.
Emma Hagg is back on the First Team for the second time in as many years to add to her young resume as a Falcon. A year removed from winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2022, Hagg followed that up with another impressive campaign this season. Causing 25 turnovers and collecting 29 ground balls in 18 games this season, Hagg was an important part of the stifling Falcons defense this season.
Makenzie Schnur picked up a Second Team Honor this year and was her first All-MAC Commonwealth selection in her career. Schnur scored 28 goals this season and added 22 assists which was the second most only to Delate's 40 helpers. On the defensive end, Schnur racked up six caused turnovers and grabbed 21 ground balls in her 17 games played.
Hope Flack earned a Second Team accolade this season to pair with her First Team ballot she earned in 2021. Appearing in 17 games, Flack tacked on 23 goals and one assist for her 24 points on the year. Flack found her stride midway through the season, scoring 22 of her 23 goals in the final 11 games of the year.
Earning Honorable Mentions for the Falcons were Emma Lytle and Hayley Lettinga. For Lytle, it is her first All-Conference selection in her career. Lytle was second in the team in goals scored with 31 while also added nine assists for 40 points on the season.
For Lettinga, the Honorable Mention is the first accolade from the conference in her carrer. Lettinga scored 29 goals on the season, which was third most on the Falcons. Her six assists gave her 35 points in her first season as a Falcon.
The Falcons will travel to Ewing, N.J. after earning an at-large bid and will take on the St. Mary's Maryland Seahawks on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
