Dirksen, Greer Highlight Six All-MAC Honorees
Messiah's post-season honorees were (from top left to right): Freshman Rachel Dirksen, sophomore Megan Bovenzi, senior Jackie Dando, senior Brianne Brennan, senior Jen Venter and head coach Heather Greer.

Annville, PA — Just days after shocking 16th-ranked and top-seeded Elizabethtown College to win the MAC Championship and advance to NCAA Tournament competition for the second time in school history, the Messiah women’s lacrosse program was showered with accolades and honors.

The Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation announced freshman Rachel Dirksen as the 2009 MAC Rookie of the Year and Heather Greer as the MAC Coach of the Year Tuesday — highlighting a total five First Team All-MAC selections from Messiah.

Sophomore midfielder Megan Bovenzi, senior midfielder Jackie Dando, senior defender Brianne Brennan and senior goalie Jen Venter joined Dirksen on the 12-member first team, equaling the most first team all-conference selections the program has ever boasted in a single season.

Dirksen led the way as the league’s rookie of the year, scoring a team-leading 54 goals and dishing out a team-best 31 assists for 85 total points on the season. Those numbers came off of just 115 shots — a 47 percent shooting percentage on the year. She added 58 draw controls and picked up 30 ground balls — the former serving as the second-highest amount on the team.

Dirksen’s award was Messiah’s fourth conference rookie of the year honor — and second straight — in the 13-year history of the program.

Bovenzi and Dando earned first team all-conference awards for the first time in their respective careers, while Dando was honored with all-league status for the second straight year — she was named Second Team All-MAC last season. Bovenzi finished right behind Dirksen in total goals (35) and assists (13) despite missing two games late in the year with an ankle injury. Her 51.5 percent shooting percentage was tops among players averaging at least four shots per game, while her 41 ground balls were third most on the squad.

Dando, meanwhile, provided Messiah speed throughout the field, as the senior scored 20 goals and added 10 assists while finding a penchant for being fouled inside the arc — Dando recorded a team-leading 30 free position shots, cashing in on eight.

Brennan and Venter anchored a stellar Messiah defense, as Venter finished with 147 saves between the pipes while allowing just 142 goals on the year — a 50.9 percent save rate.

Venter played perhaps her best lacrosse of her career last week in the MAC Tournament, finishing with 29 saves to just nine goals allowed — earning tournament MVP honors as a result.

Brennan will be difficult to replace next season after finishing with a team-leading 65 draw controls and 39 caused turnovers, anchoring Messiah’s low defensive unit while being a significant presence in the midfield as well. Brennan adds to her Second Team All-MAC honor from last season.

For Greer, success has come quickly, as the second-year head coach has guided the program to its only its conference championship and NCAA berth in just her second year at the helm. Following a 10-7 campaign last season, the team’s current 14-4 record stands just win one away from equaling the single-season school record — a feat achieved in both the 2005 and 2006 seasons under six-year head coach Rob Pepper.

Elizabethtown College’s Katie Foley was named the MAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season Tuesday. A complete list of MAC All-Conference teams is below.

Messiah will travel to Catholic University tomorrow afternoon to compete in NCAA First Round competition against the Cardinals. Game time is set for 5 p.m.

First Team All-Middle Atlanic Conference
Player — Team — Pos. — Yr. — Hometown (High School)
Rachel Dirksen — Messiah — Attack — Fr. — Glenside, PA (Abington)
Katie Foley — Elizabethtown — Attack — Sr. — Palmyra, NJ (Holy Cross)
Amanda Wayne — FDU-Florham — Attack — Sr. — Bellport, NY (Bellport)
Jessie Basch — Eastern — Midfielder — Sr. — Zionsville, IN (Zionsville)
Megan Bovenzi — Messiah — Midfielder — So. — Rochester, NY (Irondequoit)
Jackie Dando — Messiah — Midfielder — Sr. — West Chester, PA (Reed Henderson)
Laura Gambardello — FDU-Florham — Midfielder — Sr. — Pennsauken, NJ (Pennsauken)
Anna Ford — Elizabethtown — Midfielder — Sr. — Salisbury, MD (Home schooled)
Bri Brennan — Messiah — Defender — Sr. — Swarthmore, PA (Ridley)
Linnea Davis — Eastern — Defender — Sr. — Nyack, NY (Nyack)
Jackie Gale — FDU-Florham — Defender — Jr. — New Vernon, NJ (Madison)
Jen Venter — Messiah — Goalkeeper — Sr. — Crownsville, MD (Annapolis Area Christian)

Second Team All-Middle Atlanic Conference
Player — Team — Pos. — Yr. — Hometown (High School)
Megan Byrnes — Elizabethtown — Attack — Jr. — Lutherville, MD (Towson)
Grace Griffith — Eastern — Attack — So. — Amherst, MA (Amherst Regional)
Megan McIntyre — Lycoming Attack — Jr. — Baltimore, MD (Mercy)
Katie Caprinolo — Elizabethtown — Midfielder — Jr. — Jarrettsville, MD (North Harford)
Sarah Cullinan — Elizabethtown — Midfielder — So. — West Chester, PA (West Chester East)
Jackie Elliott — Widener — Midfielder — Jr. — Upper Darby, PA (Upper Darby)
Lindsay Parent — FDU-Florham — Midfielder — So. — Cinnaminson, NJ (Cinnaminson)
Justine Titko — Lycoming — Midfielder — Jr. — Wrightsville, NJ (Northern Burlington)
Danielle Gargiulo — Lycoming — Defender — Jr. — Branchburg, NJ (Immaculata)
Lyndsey Reeve — Elizabethtown — Defender — Sr. — Turnersville, NJ (Washington Twp.)
Dana Simmons — Elizabethtown — Defender — Sr. — Flourtown, PA (Plymouth)
Jennifer Hawkins — Elizabethtown — Goalkeeper — Sr. — Havre de Grace, MD (Havre de Grace)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Katie Foley, Elizabethtown
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rachel Dirksen, Messiah
COACH OF THE YEAR: Heather Greer, Messiah