HAMILTON – After its success in the regular season, the Colgate women's lacrosse program has been recognized with four players being named to 2019 Patriot League Second Team honors.
 
Colgate Patriot League Second Team Honorees
Attack – Tara Atkinson (Sr.)
Midfield – Noelle Patterson  (Jr.)
Defense – Madeline Barcia (Sr.)
Goalie – Samantha Croston (Jr.)
 
Currently totaling a team-high of 56 points this season, senior attack Tara Atkinson recently surpassed 110 career points, and holds 117 entering Thursday's Patriot League Semifinals. On her way to averaging over three points per game, Atkinson recorded a career-high of seven points against both Holy Cross (March 23) and Lehigh (April 6). By posting five assists in the Patriot League Quarterfinals at Boston University (April 28), Atkinson moved up the rankings to third in program history of assists in a single season with 31. Atkinson currently holds 53 in her career, and looks to crack 55 in Thursday's semifinals to join the top-10 of career assists.
 
On her way to earning Patriot League Second Team honors, junior midfielder Noelle Patterson has scored in all 17 games this season. Most recently Patterson tied her career-high of four goals in the Patriot League Quarterfinals, which marked the sixth time she has earned three or more in a game this season. Patterson leads the Raiders with her 36 goals, 83 shots, and 61 shots on goal, and is an all-around player posting the second-most ground balls (30) and draw control wins (51) on the team.
 
Having recently surpassed 100 career ground balls, senior defender Madeline Barcia is a top player for the Raiders on the back line. Barcia has marked a career-high of four points this season by two goals and two assists, and enters the Patriot League Semifinals with 113 ground balls in her career. The 2019 season has seen 11 caused turnovers by Barcia as well as 25 ground balls and a career-high of five shots on goal. A two-time recipient of the honor, Barcia previously earned Patriot League Second Team for her efforts in the 2018 campaign.
 
A steadfast presence for the Raiders, junior goalie Samantha Croston has started every game this season in net. Croston has allowed single-digit goals against on four occasions this season including a career-best of just four against Lehigh (April 6), and has recorded double-digit saves on eight occasions. Earlier this year, Croston had a pair of season-best performances with 15 saves against Bucknell (March 30) and Wagner (March 3). On her way to posting a season 12.01 goals against average, .463 save percentage, and a team-leading 39 ground balls, Croston reached the Colgate record book with 17 career wins, ranking 10th all-time in program history.
 
It is the first All-League honor for Atkinson, Patterson, and Croston, and second for Barcia after her 2018 All-League recognition.
 
UP NEXT
Colgate continues postseason action on Thursday as the No. 5 seeded Raiders face No. 1 seed and tournament host Loyola. First draw is set for 5 p.m. in Baltimore, where the winner advances to the Patriot League Championship on Saturday, May 4.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate women's lacrosse program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateWLax and on Instagram at ColgateWLax. 
 
2019 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse First Team
Attack:
Jackie Brattan, Army West Point (So.)
Kailey Conry, Boston University
Hannah Powers, Loyola Maryland (Sr.)
Livy Rosenzweig, Loyola Maryland (So.)
Kelly Larkin, Navy (Jr.)
Andie O'Sullivan, Navy (Sr.)
Midfielder:
Samantha Stewart, Army West Point (Jr.)
Katie Belval, Boston University (Sr.)
Sondra Dickey, Lehigh (Jr.)
Taylor VanThof, Loyola Maryland (Sr.)
Kayla Harris, Navy (Jr.)
Defense:
Tonianne Magnelli, Boston University (Sr.)
Lindsey Ehrhardt, Loyola Maryland (Sr.)
Kristen Yanchoris, Loyola Maryland (Sr.)
Marie Valenti, Navy (Sr.)
Goalkeeper:
Kady Glynn, Loyola Maryland (Sr.)
 
2019 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Second Team*
Attack:
Emma Vinall, American (So.)
Caroline Raymond, Army West Point (Fr.)
Keely Connors, Holy Cross (Sr.)
Tara Atkinson, Colgate (Sr.)
Jane Kirby, Lafayette (Sr.)
Midfield:
Emily Vervlied, Boston University (So.)
Noelle Patterson, Colgate (Jr.)
Sam Fiedler, Loyola Maryland (So.)
Annalise Heyward, Navy (Jr.)
Kendall Goldblum, American (So.)
Manuela Cortes, Army West Point (Sr.),
Defense:
Callie DeWitt, Bucknell (Sr.)
Madeline Barcia, Colgate (Sr.)
Alexandra Ladda, Lehigh (Jr.)
Katie Detwiler, Loyola Maryland (Fr.)
Goalkeeper:
Maddie Burns, Army West Point (Jr.)
Samantha Croston, Colgate (Jr.)
Samantha Sagi, Lehigh (So.)
 
*19 student-athletes on the second-team due to ties in voting