Jun 5, 2008 Babson's Martignetti, Collins Earn IWLCA All-America Honors BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Following the most successful season in
program history, Babson College women's lacrosse senior Anita
Martignetti (Winchester, Mass.) and sophomore Anna Collins
(Winchester, Mass.) have been named to the IWLCA All-America Team.
Martignetti earned Second Team honors, while Collins received Third
Team recognition.
Martignetti closed out her magnificent career with a brilliant
senior season in which she earned her fourth straight
All-Conference First Team nod, her second consecutive NEWMAC Player
of the Year award, and her third straight All-New England First
Team selection. One of the team's tri-captains, the veteran attack
totaled 50 goals and 21 assists for a team-high 71 points this
spring while also adding 41 groundballs, 45 draw controls, and 28
caused turnovers. She recently graduated as Babson's all-time
leader in career points (256) and assists (66) while ranking second
in goals (190) and third in groundballs (141). The All-America
award was the second of her career following her Third Team
selection in 2007 - making her the first player in Babson lacrosse
history to earn All-American status in multiple seasons.
One of the program's up-and-coming stars, Collins emerged as one of
the nation's top players after a breakout season this spring. The
talented midfielder received All-NEWMAC First Team and All-New
England First Team honors for the first time in her young career
after tying for the team lead with 54 goals to go along with 14
assists for 68 total points. She also added 34 groundballs, 20
caused turnovers, and a team-high 47 draw controls. The All-America
Third Team honor was her first, as she joined Martignetti, teammate
Jackie Godfrey (Franklin, Mass.), and Babson Athletics Hall of
Famer Tracy Russell '97 as the only All-Americans in program
history.
The national awards came on the heels of the program's finest
season ever, as Babson won a program-record 16 games against just
three losses, claimed its second straight NEWMAC Championship, and
made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III
Tournament. The Beavers also posted their first-ever NCAA Tourney
victory with a First Round win at Trinity before finally falling to
national runner-up Franklin and Marshall in the Regional
Semifinals. The Beavers were nationally ranked by the IWLCA
throughout the season for the first time ever, finishing the season
ranked 11th in the country.
"This is a wonderful accomplishment for two of the best players
I've ever coached," said head coach Kully Reardon. "Anita has meant
everything to our program. She is a fantastic athletes and a
tenacious competitor that has truly elevated our program to a whole
new level. Words can't describe how much she has meant to Babson
and how much we will miss her next year. She is truly one of the
College's all-time greats."
"Anna enjoyed a brilliant sophomore season for us," Reardon
continued. "She is an outstanding player on both ends of the field,
and she really came into her own this spring. She will undoubtedly
be one of the cornerstones of our program for the next two years."
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