YORK, PA – The York College women's lacrosse team placed eight Spartans on the 2023 MAC All-Commonwealth squads as announced by the MAC office on Tuesday morning.

In addition to the eight players earning honors, Bella Garabo, Sydney Mentzer, and head coach Jen Muston earned individual honors. Garabo was named the Commonwealth Goalie of the Year while Mentzer was tabbed as the league's Rookie of the Year. Muston was named the Coach of the Year for the second straight year and sixth time in her Spartan career.

Attacks Kiersten Blanchard and Logan Ward, along with midfielder Sydney Mentzer, defender Emmy Bryden and Garabo each earned a spot on the first-team. Attack Zoe Kluegel, and defenders Sarah Christensen and Christina Vendelis each garnered second-team honors.

Blanchard earned first-team honors for the second consecutive year as she had another banner year. Blanchard heads into the NCAA Tournament with 85 points on 42 goals and 24 assists in her 17 games. She leads the team with 104 draw controls with 13 ground balls and ten caused turnovers. Blanchard set a new single game record with 16 draws in the win over Stevenson. Blanchard is 12 draw controls away from tying assistant coach Nicole Clauter's single season record of 116. Blanchard leads the league in total draw controls and draw controls per game while she is seventh in total goals and eighth in goals per game. Blanchard also ranks fifth in assists per game and fourth in total goals.

Ward has been a force on the offensive end of the field for York as she has 59 points on 35 goals and 24 assists. She has a pair of game-winning goals in addition to 13 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Ward is 13^th in the Commonwealth and 15^th in goals per game. She is now a two-time All-MAC Commonwealth honoree.

Mentzer made an immediate impact on the Spartan lineup as a freshman. She has tallied 42 points on 40 goals and two assists. Mentzer has scooped up 36 ground balls, collected 47 draw controls and recorded 25 caused turnovers, which leads the team. Her 47 draw controls are second on the squad. Mentzer is eighth in the conference in goals, 11^th in goals per game, seventh in caused turnovers and eighth in caused turnovers per game.

Bryden played in and started all 19 games on defense for the Spartans. She has notched one goal, 19 ground balls, nine caused turnovers and 13 draw controls. Bryden is now a three-time first-team All-Commonwealth selection. She spearheaded a defense that allowed 134 goals in 19 games, good for an average of 7.05 goals per game. The Spartans lead the MAC Commonwealth in goals against average and scoring margin.

Garabo was brilliant as she earned her second All-Commonwealth honor as she was a second-team pick last year. She heads into the NCAA Tournament with a record of 15-3 as she played 19 games with 17 starts for York. Garabo has played in 823:24 in net as she owns a 6.34 goals against average and a .561 save percentage. She ranks first in the MAC Commonwealth in goals against average and save percentage. Garabo was named the Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Week seven weeks in a row during the season.

Kluegel burst onto the scene as a sophomore as she notched 53 points on 47 goals and six assists. She has three game-winning goals for the Spartans in addition to going 6-for-10 in free position chances. Kluegel is making her first appearance on the All-Commonwealth squads. She is seventh in the league in goals per game and sixth in total goals.

Christensen earns her first all-conference accolade as a Spartan defender. She has played in and started all 19 games as was a key member of the clear for the Green and White. She notched a goal and two assists for three points while she also had 33 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. Christensen is ranked 17^th in the Commonwealth in both ground balls and caused turnovers.

Vendelis earns her second All-Commonwealth honor as she was a second-team pick last spring. The senior defender was second on the team with 22 caused turnovers while she also had 32 draw controls, 23 ground balls and one goal for the campaign.Vendelis is ranked 13^th in the league in caused turnovers per game and tenth in total caused turnovers.

Muston's Coach of the Year award is her second as a coach in the MAC Commonwealth. She was also a five-time Capital Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2011, 2012, 2017, 2019). Muston guided the Spartans to their second straight MAC Commonwealth regular season and tournament titles. York captured a school-record 14 wins during the regular season including a March 25, 12-8 road win over #2 Washington and Lee. That's the only loss of the year for the Generals heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans have won 20 straight regular season MAC Commonwealth contests and 24 straight overall games against MAC opponents.

The Spartans will open the 2023 NCAA Division III Tournament on Sunday, May 14 in the second round of the tournament at Kinsley Field. The Spartans will face the winner of the University of Scranton and Stevens first round game on Saturday in York. Game time for both games is set for 1:00 pm.

ALL MAC COMMONWEALTH RELEASE