Women’s Lacrosse Lands 4 on ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team
1/26/2023 3:05:52 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Liberty Flames women’s lacrosse had four players awarded with ASUN Preseason All-Conference team honors. Liberty was also picked to finish second in the 2023 ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll for a fourth straight year.
Joining the preseason all-conference team are midfielders Mackenzie Lehman and Lizzy Ferguson, defender Mikayla Coghill and attacker Jordan Baerga. Liberty’s four honorees is second most in the league and trails only Jacksonville (6). Coastal Carolina had two recipients. No other ASUN team had more than one honoree.
The Lady Flames were voted to finish second in the ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll for a fourth straight season. Liberty received one first-place vote and 54 points in the poll, behind five-time defending champion Jacksonville, who garnered the six first-place votes and 62 points. Coastal Carolina (third, 49 points), Kennesaw State (fourth, 38 points), Stetson (fifth, 28 points), ASUN newcomer Lindenwood (sixth, 26 points), ASUN newcomer Queens (seventh, 19 points) and Delaware State (eighth, 12 points) round out the poll.
This is the second straight appearance on the preseason all-conference team for Coghill and Lehman. Ferguson and Baerga are making their first-ever appearances on an ASUN Preseason All-Conference team.
The Lady Flames will open their 2022 campaign on the road against No. 1 and defending champion North Carolina on Feb 15. Liberty’s first ASUN contest will take place on April 1 against Jacksonville on the road. Liberty’s schedule features six ranked opponents from the 2022 season.
Liberty finished the 2022 campaign with an 11-8 record and finished as the runner-up at the ASUN Women’s Lacrosse Championship for a third straight season.
Mackenzie Lehman | Junior | Midfielder | McMurray, Pa.
• 2022 ASUN All-Conference first team selection
• 2022 VaSID All-State first team honoree
• ASUN Player of the Week (April 12)
• Finished second on the team in goals (40), points (53) and draw controls (59)
• Scored the game-winning goal in Liberty's 15-14 OT win at Virginia Tech on Feb. 23, the Lady Flames' first-ever win over the Hokies
• Had 11 games with multiple goals, including a career-best six goals vs. Stetson on April 9 on just six shots
• Won three or more draw controls eight times, including a career-best 10 draws versus Vanderbilt Feb. 12
Lizzy Ferguson | Senior | Midfielder | Fort Washington, Pa.
• 2022 ASUN All-Conference second team selection
• Led the Lady Flames with 62 draw controls
• Captured first 20-goal season of her career along with two assists, 22 points, 17 caused turnovers and 13 ground balls
• Matched a career high nine draw controls at UC Davis (March 11) and had 11 games with at least three draw controls.
• Scored a career-best three goals against Stetson (April 9)
Mikayla Coghill | Senior | Defender | Fredericksburg, Va.
• ASUN Defensive Player of the Week (March 15)
• 2022 ASUN All-Academic team member
• Key member of Liberty defensive unit that led the nation in caused turnovers per game (13.58) and No. 4 in ground balls per game (20.98) in 2022
• Third on the Lady Flames with 27 caused turnovers and fifth with 33 ground balls
• Had career bests in ground balls (7) and caused turnovers (6) vs. No. 12 Florida (March 9) and became the second player in program history with at least seven ground balls and six caused turnovers in the same game
• Scored first career goal on April 21 vs. Delaware State
• Tallied nine games with multiple ground balls and seven games with two or more caused turnovers
Jordan Baerga | Junior | Attacker | Clayton, Del.
• 2022 ASUN All-Conference first team selection
• 2022 ASUN All-Tournament team honoree
• ASUN Player of the Week (Feb. 15)
• Scored five goals and scooped up four ground balls in season opener at Vanderbilt (Feb. 12)
• Led the Lady Flames in goals (41) and points (55) and was tied for second on the team with 14 assists
• Totaled 28 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers and 12 draw controls over 2022 season
• Tallied six goals, one assist, seven points, six ground balls, four draw controls and three caused turnovers in two ASUN Championship games
• Scored multiple goals in 12 games and multiple ground balls in seven games
Unanimous ASUN Lacrosse Preseason Player of the Year: Sarah Elms, Jacksonville
ASUN Lacrosse Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Molly Brock, Jacksonville
ASUN Lacrosse Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Paige Pagano, Jacksonville
ASUN Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
GK Paige Pagano, Jr., Jacksonville
D Maddie Sturgell, Gr., Jacksonville*
D Hailey Blachly, Sr., Jacksonville
D Mikayla Coghill, Jr., Liberty
D Grace Guglielmo,Gr., Queens
D Mia Judd, So., Stetson
M Molly Brock, Gr., Jacksonville*
M Avery McIlwayne, Jr., Coastal Carolina
M Lizzy Ferguson, Sr., Liberty
M Mackenzie Lehman, So., Liberty
A Kayla Downey, R-Jr., Coastal Carolina
A Mackenzie Boyle, Sr., Jacksonville
A Sarah Elms, Gr., Jacksonville
A Jordan Baerga, Jr., Liberty
*Denotes unanimous selection
Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year: Kayla Downey, Coastal Carolina
Fan-Voted Preseason Midfielder of the Year: Shannon Donovan, Queens
Fan-Voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Mikayla Coghill, Liberty
2023 ASUN Conference Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (first-place votes) Total Points
1. Jacksonville (6) 62
2. Liberty (1) 54
3. Coastal Carolina (1) 49
4. Stetson 28
5. Lindenwood 26
6. Queens 19
7. Delaware State 12
Graphic at Top of Story (L-R): Mackenzie Lehman, Lizzy Ferguson, Mikayla Coghill, Jordan Baerga