TOWSON, Md. – A pair of Towson University women's lacrosse players were honored as the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) announced its Division I All-Region selections on Friday.
Sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Montalbano was named First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region while senior defender/midfielder Breanna Hamm was placed on the Mid-Atlantic second team. The duo were honored by the IWLCA for the first time in their careers.
The pair were among seven Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) athletes honored. Montalbano joined Delaware's Erin Wein as the only CAA athletes to earn first team honors in any of the regions.
Montalbano was named First Team All-CAA and to the CAA All-Tournament Team early this month. She was honored by the CAA for the second straight year after being a CAA All-Rookie team member last year. She has started all 19 games at midfield while doing a little bit of everything for the Tigers. Montalbano leads the team in goals (35), assists (22) and points (57). She finished the regular season among the top three Tigers in ground balls (27), draw controls (41) and caused turnovers (17). Montalbano was a two-time ILWomen.com StringKing National Player of the Week and a three-time CAA Player of the Week (offensive-twice, defensive-once). She ranks seventh in the CAA in goals per game (1.84), fifth in assists per game (1.16) and fourth in points per game (3.00). Montalbano scored the game-winning-goal against Hofstra, William & Mary and UConn. She led the team with a career-high six points three times and scored a career-high four goals twice. Montalbano dished out a career-high four assists at Elon. She had a career-high five ground balls at Stetson, a career-high six draw controls in the win over UConn and a career-high four caused turnovers twice.
"As just a sophomore, Kaitlyn really embraced her role to step up as an offensive leader for us," said Towson head coach Sonia LaMonica. "She is a dynamic threat and goes so hard all over the field. A true two-way middie, Kaitlyn is such an asset to our program."
Hamm earned Second Team All-CAA honors early this month and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the CAA Tournament. She earned all-conference honors for the second time in her career after being an all-rookie selection as a freshman. She has started all 19 games at midfield this season. A strong contributor on both ends of the field, she has 12 goals and three assists for 15 points. She has 33 ground balls and leads the team with 46 draw controls and has also contributed 22 caused turnovers. Hamm has scored a season-high two goals four times, including the UMBC game when one of her goals proved to be the game-winner. She has 12 games with multiple draw controls including three games where she pulled down a season-high five draw controls. Hamm moved into the number two spot for career draw controls with her four against Old Dominion in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. She had a season-high five ground balls twice and a career-high four caused turnovers against James Madison in the CAA Championship game.
"Bre is such a force for this team, she truly leaves everything she has out there on the field," remarked LaMonica. "Her impact within the draw schemes and our defensive set has the X factor for us."
The IWLCA has named 128 student-athletes in Division I with a selection to one of the All-Region teams for 2016. These student-athletes are now eligible for inclusion on the IWLCA All-American teams, which will be announced on Wednesday May 18.
The Tigers are back in action on Sunday, May 15 when they host No. 7 Penn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Opening draw from Johnny Unitas® Stadium is set for 12 noon.
