Three Pioneers Named 2023 IWLCA All-Americans
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DENVER – Three University of Denver women’s lacrosse players were named All-Americans by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association on Thursday, as senior defender Sam Thacker was named to the First Team, graduate student defender Trinity McPherson was selected to the Second Team and junior draw specialist Abby Jenkins was chosen to the Third Team.
DU’s three All-America accolades are the most the program has had in a single campaign and brings its total All-Americans to 13. All three players were also honored earlier this month as members of the All-West/Midwest Region First Team.
Thacker repeats as a First Team All-American after also earning the honor last season. The Lutherville, Maryland, native leads Denver with 53 caused turnovers, is second on the team with 55 ground balls and is third with 41 draw controls. She is one of six players in the country with at least 40 caused turnovers, 40 ground balls and 30 draw controls and is one of two with 50-plus caused turnovers and ground balls and 40 or more draw controls.
A unanimous selection for the second straight season as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-Big East First Team, Thacker becomes the first player in school history to earn multiple First-Team All-American accolades.
McPherson earns her first career All-America honor in her first season at DU. The defender leads the Pioneers with 61 ground balls, which are tied for the third-most in a campaign in school history and rank third overall in the NCAA this season. She is second on the Pios with 60 draw controls and is one of four players in the nation with at least 50 ground balls and 50 draw controls.
The Baltimore, Maryland, native is also third on the Pioneers with 53 caused turnovers and has also added five goals and six assists—the first points of her career. She was also a member of the All-Big East First Team.
Jenkins has displayed why she is one of the best draw specialists in the nation, recording 10 or more draw controls in three games this year. Her 129 draw controls in 2023 are the most in a season in school history, breaking her own mark of 109 from last season.
The Richmond, Virginia, native also owns the program’s career draw controls record of 293 after surpassing the previous mark of 225 held by Kiki Boone (2012-2015) on April 1. Jenkins owns seven of the top-16 single-game draw control performances at Denver. She was also a member of the 2023 All-Big East Second Team.
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