Women's Lacrosse

2025 USA South Women's Lacrosse Awards Announced

The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2025 All-Conference awards for women's lacrosse. Individually, Meredith's Reese Walker was named Offensive Player of the Year while her coach, Lauren Scott, was selected as Coach of the Year. Methodist's Kennedy Martin collected Defensive Player of the Year and Southern Virginia's Makenzie Mickelsen earned Rookie of the Year accolades to round out the individual awards. Additionally, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school who their coach felt displayed the best sportsmanship this season.

All awards are voted on by the women's lacrosse coach at each institution.

Walker, a junior attacker from Fayetteville, North Carolina is just the second women's lacrosse student-athlete to be named USA South Offensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year after first earning Rookie of the Year honors (Carlee Joseph, Meredith, 2015-17).  Walker concluded the regular season leading the Conference in points with 142 on a League-best 60 goals and 82 assists. The point total has already set a new single-season USA South record. She also has complied 36 caused turnovers, 30 ground balls, and one draw control this spring. Within Conference contests, Walker again led the way in scoring with 82 points on 27 goals and a USA South-best 55 assists. For her efforts, Walker earned First Team All-Conference accolades for the third consecutive season and was named USA South Player of the Week six times this spring.

Martin, a senior midfielder from Wilmington, North Carolina collects USA South Defensive Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive season, becoming the first in League history to accomplish the feat. During the regular season, Martin led the League in draw controls (97) and caused turnovers (49) while tying for the Conference-high in ground balls (62). She also added 46 points on 31 goals and 15 assists. Against Conference foes, Martin led the way with 25 caused turnovers and was tied for the League-lead with 38 ground balls. For her efforts this spring, Martin earned First Team All-Conference accolades at midfield for the third consecutive season and collected USA South Defensive Player of the Week four times.

Mickelsen, a freshman midfielder from Garland, Utah is first Knight women's lacrosse student-athlete to be named USA South Rookie of the Year. She finished the regular season in the top-ten of League scoring with 60 points on 44 goals and 16 assists. Mickelsen also totaled 91 draw controls, which ranked third in the USA South, 35 ground balls, and 20 caused turnovers. In USA South-only action this spring, Mickelsen was seventh in the Conference with 43 points on 29 goals, which ranked tied for fourth, and 14 assists to go along with a League-best 58 draw controls. For her efforts, Mickelsen earned First Team All-Conference honors this season at attack while also being named USA South Rookie of the Week five times.

In her 13th season at Meredith, Scott collects her seventh USA South Coach of the Year honor which is the most by a coach in League women's lacrosse history. This spring, Scott led the Avenging Angels to a 15-2 overall regular season record and an unbeaten season in League play. With a 9-0 Conference record, Meredith earned its eighth USA South Regular Season crown.
 

Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Coach of the Year
9064
Reese Walker
Meredith
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Kennedy Martin
Methodist
9066
Makenzie Mickelsen
Southern Virginia
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Lauren Scott
Meredith

The 2025 USA South Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Team:
 
First Team Second Team Third Team
Attack
Aly Reece, Piedmont
Kenzie Todd, Meredith
Reese Walker, Meredith

Midfielder
Kennedy Martin, Methodist
Makenzie Mickelsen, Southern Virginia
Lauryn Turner, Meredith

Defender
Sophie LeClaire, Meredith
Ainsley McGinn, Methodist
Kaylee Moreland, Piedmont
Brooke Murrell, Methodist

Goalie
Madi Horrell, Meredith
Attack
Merryn Bumpass, Piedmont
Kaitlyn Coleman, Methodist
Kenzie Poulsen, Southern Virginia

Midfielder
Emily Denaga, Brevard
Savannah Limehouse, Piedmont
Ellie Patterson, Southern Virginia
Bailey Swails, Meredith

Defender
Sydney Bastian, Southern Virginia
Alyse Moore, Brevard
Mariela Perez, Southern Virginia

Goalie
Ashley Fuentes, Methodist
Attack
Xan Hill, Brevard
Kate Hudson, Huntingdon
Mikayla Ramos, Methodist
Ava Spradley, Meredith

Midfielder
Rosanna Espinosa-Ponce, Greensboro
Brynly ManWaring, Greensboro
Ava Trankina, Piedmont

Defender
Grace Blanton, Brevard
Katherine Couch, Meredith
Morgan Hall, Meredith

Goalie
Kyla Smith-Fondall, Brevard
 
 
All-Sportsmanship
Grace Blanton, Brevard
Bethany McQuinn, Greensboro
Colby Jones, Huntingdon
Casey Phelps, Meredith
Abigail Wilson, Methodist
Jillian Stine, N.C. Wesleyan
Madeline Chadbourne, Pfeiffer
Laura Crone, Piedmont
Paysen Grandy, Southern Virginia
Mary Langer, William Peace