NEWS

 

WASHINGTON – Davidson lacrosse attacker Jenna Skibbe has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year as one of seven Wildcats to collect All-Conference honors, the league office announced Wednesday. 

Skibbe is the just second Wildcat in program history to earn the A-10’s Rookie of the Year honor after Julianne Carey captured the award in 2021.

“Jenna could not be more deserving of the Rookie of the Year Award as she has proven herself to be one of the top attackers in our conference, and this is only just the beginning for her,” said head coach Kim Wayne. “I can’t wait to see what Jenna brings to the field this weekend and the years ahead.”

On the year, Skibbe is second on the team in scoring with 41 goals while ranking third among all NCAA Division I freshmen in total goals and goals per game (2.73). A native of Lake Mary, Fla., she captured five A-10 Rookie of the Week honors during the regular season, and recorded 11 multi-goal games including a pair of 6-goal performances.

In addition to Skibbe’s major award, she was also recognized on the league’s All-Rookie Team. Allie Hartnett, Noelle Cegielski, Josie Lambert, Kella McGrail, Brooke Ross and Kayla Joyce were also named to postseason teams. 

Just a sophomore, Hartnett (18 goals, 18 assists) repeated on the All-Conference First Team as a midfielder, while Cegielski (26 GB, 29 CT) earned her second career honor on the conference’s top team. 

“Being a true two-way midfielder is a tough position, but it’s a role Allie has embraced since day one,” Wayne noted. “Making First Team All-Conference two years in a row shows how consistent Allie is in all areas of the field.”

“Noelle has been a top defender in our conference over the past four years and has earned every award she has ever received,” added Wayne. “I’m incredibly proud of all our senior defenders, as it’s hard to receive acknowledgement and recognition as a defender, but boasting one of the top defensive units in the country in caused turnovers takes an entire unit, and I know Noelle has been able to step up even more because of the support system she has by her side.”

Lambert’s first career postseason nod comes on the A-10’s All-Conference Second Team after leading the Wildcats with 49 goals this season. The junior’s .544 shot percentage ranks third in the conference, while her 3.06 goals per game stacks up at 44th nationally.

“Josie has been a dominant force on offense since last season and before tearing her ACL,” said Wayne. “I believed Josie would come back strong, but I never expected her to become our leading scorer. She has done a great job not letting expectations stop her, and I know she will continue to be a threat throughout tournament play.”

The young makeup of Skibbe, McGrail, Ross and Joyce impressed league foes this season, as the four earned All-Rookie nods. It’s the most A-10 freshmen honorees in program history.

“Going into this year, I never would have expected us to have two, let alone four players on the All-Rookie Team,” Wayne closed. “It is rare for a freshman on a Division I team to play, let alone start or make any kind of significant impact. But having four who play with confidence the way Kella, Jenna, Brooke and Kayla have played all spring, is something I am so proud of. I can’t wait to watch all of our freshmen grow together over the next three years.”

McGrail, the only freshman in a veteran Davidson defense, has appeared in all 16 games this season, picking up 22 ground balls to pair with 11 draw controls and 11 caused turnovers. Joyce has also helped Davidson’s defense this season, earning seven wins in cage with 48 saves and a .425 save percentage. Ross closed out the All-Rookie honors as a dynamic attacker with 18 goals, nine assists and 26 draw controls in her first season.

The Wildcats will begin their quest towards an Atlantic 10 title on Thursday, May 2 as the No. 3 seed, taking on No. 6 George Mason at 3 p.m.