Hokie ClubJune 8, 2021, NEW YORK - Thirteen of the top NCAA lacrosse players were selected in Athletes Unlimited's first-ever Lacrosse College Draft, which was held today and aired on Facebook. Among the 2021 draft class are UNC four-time All-American attacker Katie Hoeg, Stony Brook standout midfielder Ally Kennedy and Maryland's 2021 Tewaaraton Award finalist defender Lizzie Colson. All draftees will be invited to be part of Athlete Unlimited Lacrosse's inaugural season to be held at Maureen Hendricks Field in Boyds, Maryland, from July 23 to August 22.
The 30-game season will have the largest TV and digital distribution ever for professional women's lacrosse via partnerships with CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports, Facebook and YouTube. Through CBS and Fox alone, Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse will reach more than 80 million homes in the U.S.
"The Lacrosse Player Executive Committee had the challenging task of narrowing the list of incredibly talented NCAA players down to 13 selections," said Michelle Tumulo, member of the Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Player Executive Committee. "Ultimately, we hope many of these star athletes will become part of history as members of the league's inaugural season, adding to the excitement of the return of women's professional lacrosse."
"As they do in all aspects of the league, the Lacrosse Player Executive Committee has worked incredibly hard to select this group out of an amazingly accomplished college lacrosse talent pool," said Jon Patricof, CEO and co-founder of Athletes Unlimited. "We are so excited to be bringing the best of the sport to the Washington DC area starting July 23 and to welcome fans to attend in person."
2021 Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Draft Class
Angie Benson (Palm City, Fla.), Goalie, Virginia Tech
Introduced by Mira Shane
Benson began her collegiate career with Towson, where she led the team to the NCAA tournament in 2016 and 2017, and was named to the 2016 CAA All-Rookie Team. After stepping away for two seasons, she finished her career at Virginia Tech, where she ranked second in the nation in goals-against average at 7.38 in 2020 and holds the program record for career goals-against average at 10.30.
Lizzie Colson (Manchester, Md.), Defender, University of Maryland
Introduced by Megan Douty
Colson is a two-time NCAA champion with Maryland. In 2021, she led the nation in caused turnovers (49), which ranks second all-time in the school record book. She was named a Tewaaraton finalist, Big Ten Defender of the Year and was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honoree.
Molly Garrett (Winter Springs, Fla.), Midfielder, University of Michigan
Introduced by Hannah Nielsen
Garrett is a three-time Tewaaraton Award nominee (2019, 2020, 2021), while serving as team captain all three seasons at Michigan. She was a 2021 All-Big Ten First Team selection and her 190 draw controls rank second in program history.
Asa Goldstock (Niskayuna, N.Y.), Goalie, Syracuse University
Introduced by Kayla Treanor
Goldstock led Syracuse to the 2021 NCAA Championship, where the Orange were the runner-up to Boston College. She holds the school record for ground balls (194) and led the country in 2020 in goals-against average (7.07) and had a career best .481 save percentage while serving as team captain.
Katie Hoeg (Mattituck, N.Y.), Attacker, University of North Carolina
Introduced by Michelle Tumolo
Hoeg is a four-time All-America selection (three-time First Team) and Inside Lacrosse's 2020 Co-National Player of the Year. The four-time ACC champion holds UNC records with 360 points and 227 assists, which are also good for second in NCAA history. She also holds the NCAA record for most assists in a season (73).
Ally Kennedy (North Babylon, N.Y.), Midfielder, Stony Brook University
Introduced by Kylie Ohlmiller
Kennedy is a three-time Tewaaraton Award nominee and a three-time America East Midfielder of the Year. In her final season at Stony Brook, she led the team with 73 goals and became the third player in program history to score at least 200 goals while helping the Seawolves win their eighth-straight America East title and earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
Lindsey McKone (Bellaire, Texas), Midfielder, Northwestern University
Introduced by Katrina Dowd
A First Team All-Big Ten selection for the 2021 season, McKone won a career-high 38 draw controls and tallied 25 goals and 17 assists. She earned Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-America honors.
Kerrigan Miller (Bayport, N.Y.), Midfielder, University of Southern California
Introduced by Gina Thomas
Miller enjoyed a decorated career at USC, where she was a two-time Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year (2019, 2020) and two-time Inside Lacrosse All-American (Second Team-2020, Third Team-2018). After transferring to the University of North Carolina for a graduate season, she helped the team to its fifth straight ACC title.
Sammy Mueller (Pelham, N.Y.), Midfielder, University of Virginia
Introduced by Kristen Kjellman
Mueller spent her undergraduate years at Virginia, where she was ACC 2017 Freshman of the Year and earned First Team All-America honors, and was a Top-25 Tewaaraton Award nominee in 2019. She also played a graduate season at Northwestern.
Alyssa Parrella (Miller Place, N.Y.), Attacker, Hofstra University
Introduced by Shannon Smith
Parrella holds Hofstra records in career goals (261), career points (355), season goals (85) and season points (105). She was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2017 and CAA Player of the Year in 2019, before leading the team to the 2021 NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007.
Ella Simkins (Center Port, N.Y.), Defender, Syracuse University
Introduced by Halle Majorana
Simkins won 88 draw controls and caused 35 turnovers during a career-best 2021 season as Syracuse ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense. She was named an Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American.
Kayla Wood (Catonsville, Md.), Defender, University of North Carolina
Introduced by Amber McKenzie
Wood is a three-time ACC champion during four seasons at UNC. As a Tar Heel, Wood forced 26 turnovers, won 56 draw controls and picked up 49 ground balls.
Catie Woodruff (Skaneateles, N.Y.), Defender, University of North Carolina
Introduced by Jenny Levy
Woodruff caused 31 turnovers and gathered 62 ground balls during her UNC career, on her way to being a four-time ACC champion. The defender was named a USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team All-American and Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-American.