Goucher Women's Lacrosse Receives Recognition From IWLCA

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Goucher College women's lacrosse team was named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Honor Squad announced on Tuesday.  

In addition, Julia Gazzola (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown), Abbie McHerron (Burnt Hills, Md./Burnt Hills) and Mackenzie Nase (Weare, N.H./John Stark Regional) were selected to the IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll. 

"These student-athletes work incredibly hard, both on and off the field," said head coach Sarah Goodson. "I'm so proud of them and happy to see their dedication to their studies being honored." 

Gazzola, a rising senior majoring in biochemistry, appeared and started 21 matches with 60 goals and 17 assists for 77 points along with adding 50 ground balls, 126 draw controls and 31 caused turnovers. Gazzola registered a program-record 96 draw controls in her freshman campaign. She has also been named to the Landmark Conference Academic Honor in her last two years. 

McHerron, a senior slated to graduate in December and majoring in special education, appeared and started in 21 matches with 150 saves in 969:59 minutes with an 11-8 career record. A member of the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll in her first two years, McHerron was named the Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Week as a sophomore. 

Nase, a rising senior and majoring in peace studies, has played in 20 games with 19 starts, 14 goals, 37 ground balls, 25 draw controls and 25 caused turnovers. Nase was selected to the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2020 and 2021. 

The IWLCA has named 319 schools across Division I, II, III, and NAIA as IWLCA Academic Honor Squads for the 2020-21 academic year. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the women's lacrosse team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the academic year. 

The IWLCA honored 918 student-athletes from 189 different institutions on the 2021 IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. 

The trio are 12-10 in their career on the lacrosse field and look to hit the field in the spring of 2022 for the first time since March 10, 2020, due to the pandemic. The Gophers registered a come-from-behind 11-9 win at Notre Dame on that day thanks to five goals from Gazzola while McHerron had a strong second half to aid in the comeback.