University Park, Pa. — Three members of the Penn State women’s lacrosse team, junior Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) and seniors Maggie Dunbar (Cockeysville, Md.) and Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.), have been recognized by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) with All-West/Midwest Region honors. Cahill was honored on the first team while Dunbar and Steadman were named to the second team.
The three Nittany Lions are now eligible for inclusion on the IWLCA All-American team, which will be announced on Monday, May 31. The IWLCA will honor the National All-Americans at the IWLCA All-American banquet on June 11, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pa.
Cahill, a First Team All-ALC honoree and the 2011 ALC Goalkeeper of the Year, anchored a Penn State defense that ranked among the nation’s top 20 for much of the season. The two-time ALC Defensive Player of the Week had several standout performances that highlighted her first season as a starter, playing a pivotal role in Penn State navigating one the NCAA’s most difficult schedules. In an 11-10 double overtime win over rival Ohio State, Cahill recorded 14 saves, including several late in regulation that allowed the Nittany Lions to come from behind to tie and then later win the game. She earned National Defensive Player of the Week recognition from Synapse Sports following her 13-save effort in an 11-8 upset of Vanderbilt on March 20. In helping Penn State to its fifth consecutive opening round ALC Championship win, a 17-11 rout of Johns Hopkins, Cahill notched a career-high 15 saves. The junior finished the 2011 season with a 9.95 goals against average, a .466 save percentage, 150 saves, and a team-high 47 ground balls.
Dunbar’s First Team All-West/Midwest Region selection is her second consecutive. Named a preseason Tewaaraton Trophy candidate, the two-time First Team All-ALC midfielder shined for Penn State in 2011, excelling on both the offensive and defensive ends. Providing another option on an already balanced PSU attack, Dunbar established career highs in goals (12) and points (21) and tied her previous season best in assists with nine. Always in the thick of the action, she led the team in draw controls (42) and caused turnovers (32) and ranked second in ground balls (46). Dunbar’s best all-around outing of the year came in a 12-11 win over Lehigh, as she totaled three goals, one assist, six draw controls, five ground balls, and four caused turnovers.
Steadman served as Penn State’s primary weapon on the attack this season, netting at least one goal in 17 of 18 games. Her career-high and team-leading 37 goals marks the first time since 2006 that a Nittany Lion has reached the 30-goal plateau. Steadman’s 50 points also topped PSU in 2011. The senior attacker stole the spotlight in her final regular season home appearance in the blue and white, posting a career-high six points (5 goals, 1 assist) and scoring the game winner in double overtime in Penn State’s 11-10 victory over Ohio State. She tied that personal best mark three weeks later, registering six points (4 goals, 2 assists) in the Lions’ 17-11 win over Johns Hopkins in first round action of the ALC Championship. Steadman finished her career with impressive offensive numbers, totaling 94 goals and 48 assists in 66 games. Penn State ended 2011 with a 10-8 record, marking the first time since the 1998-99 seasons that the Nittany Lions posted back-to-back double digit win campaigns. The season was highlighted by wins over four ranked opponents and a 3-2 record in ALC play. In addition to Cahill, Dunbar, and Steadman, senior midfielder Jackie Eastman (Springfield, Pa.) was also recognized with All-ALC honors, earning second team accolades for the second straight year.