Cleveland, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference announced the 2023 lacrosse awards today. The seven league Head Coaches voted on the All-MAC First and Second Teams, as well as the Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. 

Kent State's Jackie Wolford was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Robert Morris' Kathleen Kelly earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Kent State's Madison Flannigan earned Goalkeeper of the Year honros, while Eastern Michigan's Mackenzie Blackwell was tabbed the league's Freshman of the Year. Kent State's Brianne Tierney was selected by her peers as the Coach of the Year. 

Wolford was honored with MAC Freshman of the Year in 2021 and received First Team All-MAC award for the second season in a row. As Offensive Player of the Year, Wolford enters postseason play as the MAC leader with 80 points and 67 goals, which is just one away from tying the conference single-season record. The attacker averaged 4.75 goals per game against league opponents while leading Kent State to a share of its first MAC regular season championship.

As conference Goalkeeper of the Year, Flannigan started all 17 games in goal for a Golden Flashes team that captured a share of its first MAC regular season championship in program history. Flannigan ranked second in the conference in save percentage (.494), saves per game (9.71) and ground balls per game (2.59). Her 19 saves against San Diego State were the most by a MAC goalkeeper this season. Flannigan set program single-season records for victories (9), saves (165), goals against average (12.63) and ground balls (44).

Blackwell was the top freshman in the MAC this year in almost every statistical category and ranked highly in the MAC among all players as well. A starter in all 16 games this year, Blackwell led the MAC in total draw controls with 83 while her 5.19 per game average ranked second overall and among the Top 50 in the nation. When looking at conference only statistics, her 6.13 draw controls and 49 total rank first among all players. Offensively, her 2.44 goals per game rank seventh overall in the MAC while her 5.50 shots per contest sat eighth and she ranked sixth in scoring (3.00 goals/game) in MAC games only. When comparing her to other first-year players in the MAC, Blackwell led the rookies in five categories, including goals (39), points (41), shots (88), shots on goals (70), and draw controls (83), while ranking second in free-position goals scored (7).

The All-MAC first team and second teams were also released and are listed below. 

More coming soon...