(Story courtesy of Colorado College Sports Information Department)
Colorado College set a program record with 18 victories during the 2019 season and earned the No. 1 spot in the NCAA's West Region rankings, so it comes as no surprise the Tigers also set a school record with six players earning all-region honors from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Junior attacker Eva King, junior midfielder Lauren Pejza, sophomore goaltender Alena Stern and freshman attacker Maggie O'Donnell were named to the first team, while senior midfielder Ellie Meyer and junior attacker Allie Thuet were second-team selections.
King became the second player in program history to record 100 points in a single season with personal bests of 49 goals and 51 assists. Her assist total ranks second on the program's single-season list, while her goal total is 13th. King also shared the team lead with 39 ground balls and grabbed 13 caused turnovers, both of which were personal highs.
An all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference selection and Offensive MVP of the conference tournament, King became the eighth player in program history to record 200 career points during the 18-1 victory over Southwestern University in the SCAC championship game. She led the team with 19 points during the postseason on eight goals and 11 assists.
Pejza was one of CC's most effective two-way performers and ranked among the team's statistical leaders in all phases of the game. Offensively, she was fourth with 14 assists, fifth with 37 points and sixth with 23 goals, all of which were single-season highs.
The SCAC Midfielder of the Year and Defensive MVP of the conference tournament led the Tigers with 74 draw controls, was second with 21 caused turnovers and fourth with 35 ground balls. Pejza set single-game highs of four turnovers and five ground balls in the 12-10 victory at Claremont-Mudd Scripps.
Stern, the SCAC Defensive Player of the Year and an all-conference selection, posted a 17-2 record along with an 8.84 goals-against average and a .496 saves percentage. She made double-digit saves on six occasions, including road victories at West Region rivals CMS (12-10) and Occidental College (14-8).
The two-time SCAC Defensive Player of the Week lowered her career goals-against average to 10.37 and improved her saves percentage to .470.
O'Donnell is the first Colorado College freshman to earn all-region honors since three-time All-American Steph Kelly was a second-team selection in 2015 and the first to score first-team honors since two-time All-American Mary Taussig in 2014. She ranked second on the team with 40 assists and 83 points, and third with 43 goals.
With 83 points, the SCAC Rookie of the Year and all-conference selection ranks seventh on the program's single-season list and tied for 35th on the career chart. O'Donnell produced 18 points in four postseason games, notching five goals and dishing out a team-high 13 assists.
One of the team's most athletic players, Meyer contributed in all phases of the game. Offensively, the all-SCAC performer produced 17 goals, 10 assists and 27 points. Meyer finished her career ranked 21st with 86 goals, 22nd with 122 points and 23rd with 36 assists.
The three-time SCAC Defensive Player of the Week led the team with a personal single-season high 35 caused turnovers, tied for the team lead with 39 ground balls and was second with 32 draw controls. Meyer recorded game highs of four caused turnovers and three ground balls against Salisbury in the regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament
An all-SCAC selection, Thuet became just the 12th Tiger to record 50 goals or more in a single-season and finished the season with a team-leading 52. Her 24 assists and 76 points also were personal single-season highs. Thuet also set personal highs with 19 caused turnovers, which ranked third on the team, and 22 ground balls, which was 10th.
Thuet recorded four goals and three assists in the victory at CMS, which resulted in her being named the SCAC Offensive Player of the Week. She also led the team with seven goals and 10 points during CC's two NCAA Tournament games.
