Salisbury University

Overview
After three title game losses in the past five years, the Sea Gulls finally got the monkey off their back with a 7-6 upset of top-ranked Hamilton to win their first-ever national championship. Trailing or tied for most of the game, Beth Rhodey found Aileen McCausland for the go-ahead goal with 5:56 remaining. Julie Ann Caulfield stopped the Continentals’ final attempt in the final four seconds to set off a long-awaited SU celebration.

Salisbury entered the NCAA Tournament coming off an 18-9 win over Mary Washington in the CAC finals. After breezing through Catholic (18-9) and avenging their only loss of the year against TCNJ (12-7), SU took down Final Four host Gettysburg 20-12 in the semifinals, setting up a chance for glory against Hamilton they would not let slip away.

Major Awards
Aileen McCausland, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Sarah McKinley, IWLCA National Defender of the Year
Kim Cudmore, CAC Player of the Year
Jim Nestor, CAC Coach of the Year

IWLCA All-Americans (3)
Kim Cudmore (1st team)
Sarah McKinley (1st team)
Beth Rhodey (2nd team)

Statistical Leaders
Goals: Logan Bilderback, 51
Assists: Kim Cudmore, 56
Points: Kim Cudmore, 94
Ground Balls: Jess Glazer, 35
Caused Turnovers: Jessica Chmielewski, 28
Draw Controls: Beth Rhody, 43
Saves: Julie Ann Caulfield, 101

Future Salisbury Hall-of-Famers on Roster
Sarah McKinley, Class of 2021
Katie Bollhorst, Class of 2024
 

Overview
The Sea Gulls completed their first undefeated season by avenging their loss in the 2012 title game against Trinity (Conn.), taking down the Bantams in emphatic 12-5 fashion in front of a maroon-and-gold partisan crowd in Owings Mills, Md. SU scored the game’s first four goals and never looked back, with Lauren Feusahrens netting five goals on her own and Maggie Roundy contributing five points with two goals and three assists.

Salisbury opened NCAA Tournament play with routs over Cabrini and Christopher Newport before facing a stiff 8-6 test from Franklin & Marshall in the quarterfinals. In the semis against Middlebury, SU erased a 5-3 halftime deficit and rode a Shelby Nemecek go-ahead tally with 8:32 to go to an 8-7 triumph. Ashton Wheatley recorded 12 saves against the Panthers to set up the championship rematch with Trinity.

Major Awards
Katie Bollhorst, IWLCA National Attack Player of the Year
Ashton Wheatley, IWLCA National Goalie of the Year
Jim Nestor, IWLCA National Coach of the Year
Katie Bollhorst, CAC Player of the Year
Jim Nestor, CAC Player of the Year

IWLCA All-Americans (5)
Katie Bollhorst (1st team)
Lauren Feusahrens (1st team)
Ashton Wheatley (1st team)
Bethany Baer (1st team)
Meghan Toomey (2nd team)

Statistical Leaders
Goals: Lauren Feusahrens, 70
Assists: Katie Bollhorst, 62
Points: Katie Bollhorst, 103
Ground Balls (Non-GK): Laura Maskell, 42
Caused Turnovers: Megan Toomey, 31
Draw Controls: Bethany Baer, 51
Saves: Ashton Wheatley, 142

Future Salisbury Hall-of-Famers on Roster
Katie Bollhorst, Class of 2024
Ashton Wheatley, Class of 2024

Overview
The Sea Gulls made it a dynasty with back-to-back national championships and three titles in five years, besting Trinity (Conn.) 9-6 in a rematch of the previous two finals. SU smothered the Bantams early, taking a 5-0 lead into the break and leading by as much as 9-2 in the second half. Three-time National Goalie of the Year Ashton Wheatley completed her masterpiece of a career with four saves, with her hoisting onto her brother’s shoulders arms raised as the moment’s indelible image.

Salisbury waltzed through the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament against Farmingdale State (18-7), Augustana (16-3), and Franklin & Marshall (11-6). Facing Amherst in the semifinals, SU took a 4-3 second-half cushion and expanded it with the next four goals, eventually securing an 8-4 win to set up the finale of a title trilogy against Trinity.

Major Awards
Bethany Baer, IWLCA National Midfielder of the Year
Ashton Wheatley, IWLCA National Goalie of the Year
Jim Nestor, IWLCA National Coach of the Year
Jim Nestor, CAC Coach of the Year

IWLCA All-Americans (3)
Ashton Wheatley (1st team)
Bethany Baer (1st team)
Laura Maskell (1st team)

Statistical Leaders
Goals: Shelby Nemecek, 69
Assists: Shannon Carta, 35
Points: Shelby Nemecek, 75
Ground Balls: Bethany Baer, 41
Caused Turnovers: Shelby Nemecek, 27
Draw Controls: Bethany Baer, 61
Saves: Ashton Wheatley, 131

Future Salisbury Hall-of-Famers on Roster
Ashton Wheatley, Class of 2024

Overview
With a chip on their shoulders following the cancellation of the 2020 season, the Sea Gulls bashed their way to their second undefeated national championship in program history and fourth overall, winning all 20 contests by an average margin of five goals per game.

Salisbury rolled through the regular season, topping it off with the inaugural Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) title over Christopher Newport, to qualify for its 18th straight NCAA Tournament. After blitzing Morrisville State, Washington & Jefferson, and Ithaca in the early rounds, SU rolled into the national semifinals in Salem, Va., and doubled up Denison 20-10 to advance to the finals against Tufts.

With Most Outstanding Player Julie Talbert and National Player of the Year Alexis Strobel driving the engine, the Sea Gulls scored the first four goals of the title game and built up a 14-10 lead with six minutes to go. The Jumbos rallied to cut it to 14-13, but a key save from Mary Claire Hisle in the final minute sealed the deal on a dramatic national championship.

Major Awards
IWLCA National Player of the Year - Alexis Strobel
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player - Julie Talbert
IWLCA National Attack Player of the Year - Alexis Strobel
IWLCA National Defender of the Year - Carrie Hessen
IWLCA National Coach of the Year - Jim Nestor
C2C Player of the Year - Alexis Strobel
C2C Defensive Player of the Year - Carrie Hessen
C2C Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Julie Talbert
C2C Coach of the Year - Jim Nestor

IWLCA All-Americans (3)
Alexis Strobel (1st Team)
Carrie Hesen (1st Team)
Lydia McNulty (3rd Team)

Statistical Leaders
Goals: Lydia McNulty, 62
Assists: Alexis Strobel, 82 [NCAA Leader]
Points: Alexis Strobel, 110
Ground Balls (Non-GK): Carrie Hessen, 27
Caused Turnovers: Carrie Hessen, 27
Draw Controls: Carrie Hessen, 69
Saves: Mary Claire Hisle, 102