Fan Polls: Best Women's Player, Coach and Performance of 2011
by Clare Lochary | LaxMagazine.com | Best of 2011 Vote: Men's Player, Coach, Performance | Game, Upset, Breakthrough
Lacrosse Magazine's annual "Best of Lacrosse" edition is set to hit US Lacrosse members' mailboxes in December. We've narrowed our categories down to four finalists each. LM is conducting a fan poll to help shape the debate from here.
Who was the best women's lacrosse player, coach and performer of 2011?
These polls will be pulled Thursday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Results will be published in the December issue of LM, alongside
our picks.
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BEST WOMEN'S PLAYER
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Cortney Fortunato, Northport (N.Y.) High School/U.S. U19
Team
Sophomore attacker Cortney Fortunato got the game-winner on a free
position in Northport's 12-11 OT victory over Pittsford in the
Class A state championship. And that was just the first title that
Fortunato won this year. The second was the FIL 2011 U19 Women's
World Championship, where Fortunato helped Team USA to a 14-11 win
over Australia. Fortunato, the youngest player on the American
squad, led the team in points (34) and goals (25).
Sarah Mollison, Maryland
The petite Australian (known as Smalls to her teammates) rolled
her defenders for 56 goals and 45 assists and won ACC Player of the
Year honors. The first-team All-American finished her NCAA career
third in assists, fourth in points and ninth in goals on the Terps'
all-time lists.
Claire Petersen, Adelphi
The two-time IWCLA Division II Attacker of the Year had 187 points
and 125 assists during the 2011 season, setting NCAA records for
all divisions in both categories. All those points helped to boost
the Panthers to a perfect 20-0 record and their third straight NCAA
title.
Shannon Smith, Northwestern
The Shanimal did it all in 2011. She won the Tewaaraton Trophy,
the IWLCA Division I Attacker of the Year award, and an NCAA
Championship. When a young Northwestern squad took the field this
year, stung by the 2010 title game loss, they needed a leader and
Smith answered the call.
BEST WOMEN'S COACH
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Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern
Amonte Hiller won her sixth championship in seven years, and she
did it with a young team that held off defending national champion
Maryland in a title game rematch. The Wildcats went 21-2 in 2011,
with 20 wins coming against top 20 competition.
John Battaglino, Albany
Battaglino was abruptly promoted from assistant to head coach in
August 2010 when former head coach Lindsay Hart resigned, and went
18-1 in his first season at the helm, setting a program record for
wins. The 18 victories included Albany's first America East
Championship, first NCAA tournament game, and first NCAA tournament
win. The Great Danes were the only Division I team to go undefeated
in the regular season, and their one loss came to eventual national
champion Northwestern in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Carol Cantele, Gettysburg
Cantele brought the Bullets' first NCAA women's title in any sport
to her alma mater with a young squad that went 19-4. Gettysburg had
to rally twice during the tournament, defeating defending national
champion Salisbury and SUNY Cortland en route to the championship.
The Bullets handled Bowdoin easily, 16-5, in the title game.
Krystin Porcella, U.S. U19 Team
Porcella led Team USA team to its fourth straight FIL U19 women's
title, leading the team from a 6-3 first-half deficit to a 14-11
win. The Americans finished with a perfect 8-0 record, and five
players made the All-World Squad.
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BEST WOMEN'S PERFORMANCE
Tatum Coffey, U.S. U19 team
Coffey had two goals in the Americans' comeback win over the
Aussies in the U19 championship game, but it was her play between
the lines that earned her MVP honors. Coffey scooped up draw
controls and ground balls at crucial moments, given Team USA the
possessions it needed to get back in the game and win the gold.
Kitty Cullen, Florida
Cullen, the ALC Player of the Year, had six goals in the Gators'
13-11 upset of Northwestern on April 14.
Kerri Harrington, Northwestern
Kerri Harrington made a splash in her first career start, marking
Tewaaraton finalist Sarah Mollison in the NCAA championship game.
Harrington held Mollison to just two shots and zero points. It was
the first time in 67 games that Mollison had been held scoreless,
and was essential to the Wildcats' 8-7 win over the Terps.
Shannon Smith, Northwestern
Smith led her team with four goals, including the game-winner, to
hold off the Tar Heels, 11-10, in the NCAA semifinals. With 18
seconds to play, Smith split the defense near the crease to give
herself a one-on-one shot and put the Wildcats in the championship
game. The game-winner also set a program record for goals in a
season (82), previously set by Hilary Bowen in 2008.
