ROYAL, OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has named Trine University women's lacrosse sophomore goalie Grace Garrett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) its first ever Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett, along with senior Emily Canepa (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) were named to the All-MIAA First Team after the conference's first season of play.
Garrett logged every minute of action in goal for the 5-6 Thunder, as she finished the season with 104 saves, averaging 9.45 a game which ranked 55th in Division III at the end of the regular season. Garrett's .466 save percentage was good enough for 64th in the nation. She also finished the regular season third on the team with 35 groundballs and 14 caused turnovers. In MIAA play, Garrett's 10.17 saves per game tied for the lead. Garrett was also third in the league with a .452 save percentage amongst multi-game starters and her 12.00 goals against average were fourth.
Canepa led Trine in nearly every major statistical category including 33 goals and six assists on the season. She also led the Thunder with 50 groundballs, 31 draw controls and 32 caused turnovers. Canepa's 2.91 caused turnovers per game were good enough to finish the regular season sixth in the nation and 4.55 groundballs per game was 17th. Canepa was second in the conference 14 caused turnovers, fourth with five free position goals and tied for 10th with 15 total goals.