May 22, 2008

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst College junior Breanna Haggerty was named Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) First Team South Region and two other Lakers, juniors Jessie Horeth and Beth O'Neil, were named to the second team. The trio guided Mercyhurst to a 12-3 record in 2008, its best season in program history.

Haggerty is a legitimate All-American candidate after scoring 75 goals and tying for the Division II goals per game title with 5.0 per contest. That average is the third highest in NCAA Division II history and she set the Mercyhurst program record for goals in a season and points in a season with 98. Haggerty is already Mercyhurst's career leader in goals (170) and points (242). She has scored at least three goals in 23 consecutive games and has at least one goal in 40 straight games dating back to early in her freshman year. Haggerty was named NCAA Division II/Nike Player of the Week after scoring nine goals and adding two assists in an 18-3 win over then-No. 9 Queens.

Horeth was named second team all-region after starting all 15 games for the Lakers in the midfield and scoring at least one point in every game. She had a career-high six points with three goals and three assists against Adelphi and finished the season with 28 goals and 22 assists, ranking second on the team in both categories. Horeth also led the team with 26 draw controls.

O'Neil was the team's top defender in 2008, often drawing a match-up against the opponent's top scoring threat. She ranked second on the team with 34 ground balls and 25 draw controls, as well as ranking fourth with 15 caused turnovers. She held the eighth-ranked goal-scorer in the country from St. Andrews to no goals and one assist in a Mercyhurst win and had four ground balls and four caused turnovers in a victory over Indiana (Pa.).

All three players are now eligible to be included on the IWLCA/US Lacrosse All-America Team, which will be announced May 29.