Galloway, N.J. – The Stockton University women's lacrosse team and seven of its student-athletes qualified for academic recognition from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). The Ospreys earned acknowledgement as an
IWLCA Zag Sports Academic Honor Squad by registering a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the 2018-19 academic year.
Stockton was one of 166 NCAA Division III teams to achieve Academic Honor Squad status and one of five NJAC schools on the list, joining Rowan, The College of New Jersey, Kean and Montclair State. The Ospreys went 9-7 this spring, the sixth consecutive season with a winning record since the program's inception.
Individually, senior
Melanie Patterson (Jackson/Jackson Liberty) garnered a spot on the
IWLCA Zag Sports Division III Academic Honor Roll for the second straight year. She was joined by fellow seniors
Melanie Iatarola (Sewell/Washington Twp.),
Brooke Hallett (Absecon/Holy Spirit),
Gaby Ojeda (Galloway/Absegami) and
Brittany Corti (Little Egg Harbor/Pinelands).
Teammates
Kristen Russo (Wayne/Wayne Hills) and
Abbey Yannacone (Manahawkin/Southern Regional), both juniors, also qualified for the Honor Roll.
The Osprey teammates were among 630 student-athletes from 303 institutions across Division I, II, III and NAIA on the list. Student-athletes must be a junior, senior or graduate student with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher to qualify.
Patterson finished up her career as the program's all-time leader in draw controls with 123. During her senior year, she grabbed a career-high 41 draw controls and added nine goals and one assist for 10 points plus 12 ground balls and eight caused turnovers.
Iatarola was solid on defense, starting all 16 games in her final season. She produced a career-high 11 caused turnovers and scooped 17 ground balls while helping the Ospreys to a 12.09 goals against average.
Hallett started all 16 games in net in her first season of lacrosse after three years on the Stockton softball team. She registered a 12.09 goals against average and posted nine wins.
Ojeda started all 16 games, potting 26 goals and dishing four assists for 30 points. She also grabbed 18 draw controls and scooped 17 ground balls in her final season at Stockton. Ojeda ended her career as Stockton's all-time leading goal scorer with 76 tallies.
Corti saw action in eight games this spring and potted the first two goals of her career. Her first college marker came against New Paltz and turned out to the the game-winning goal. In addition, she scooped two ground balls and caused one turnover.
Yannacone tied her career high with 28 goals while dishing five assists for 33 points. She tallied three goals in a game on five occasions during the season and scooped a total of 15 ground balls. Yanncone was accurate when given the opportunity as she posted an outstanding .859 shots on goals percentage, with 55 of her 64 shots making it on net.
Russo missed the 2019 season due to injury after two years in which she contributed strong all-around play for the Ospreys. Russo scored 45 goals and totaled 84 draw controls, 64 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers in 2017 and 2018 combined.