Bowling Green, KY – One day ahead of the Mid-South Conference Tournament, a plethora of Patriots were honored with end of the year awards as Cumberlands garnered four top honors and placed seven on the MSC All-Conference Team.  Bella Ricchiazzi, Trinity Brown, Head Coach Kelly Buikus, and Assistant Coach Tatiana Samuel each captured a top honor.

Bella Ricchiazzi was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year after having a dominating regular season.  Ricchiazzi becomes Cumberlands first Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and just the second player UC player to earned conference player of the year honors.  The junior led the team with 81 goals, 52 assists, and 133 points, while also tallying 38 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers on the season.  Ricchiazzi ranks second in the NAIA and leads the conference in goals, assists, and points, while her 26 caused turnovers are 13^th most.  The Framingham, MA native is averaging 7.8 points per game tallied double-digit points four time this season.  Ricchiazzi earned MSC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and has etched her name in the program record books as UC career points leader with 394, while she ranks second all-time in goals and assists with 245 and 149, respectfully.

"It's amazing to be able to say our best overall player is also one of our hardest workers. Bella eats, breathes and sleeps lacrosse and is dedicated to this team in every way possible," said Coach Buikus. "She truly keeps a team first mentality and it's so nice to see her get this recognition. She has done so much for our program and I'm just so proud of Bella and she is so deserving of this award."

Trinity Brown broke a pair of single season records and anchored one of the top defenses in the NAIA to be voted as the MSC Defensive Player of the Year.  The junior has recorded a NAIA-best 141 draw controls, 45 caused turnovers, and 44 ground balls. Brown set the Patriots single season record for draw controls and caused turnovers, while holding the career mark for caused turnovers and ground balls.  In Cumberlands 22-4 win at Marian, Brown became the first Patriot to clip the century mark in caused turnovers for a career.  The three-time MSC First Team All-Conference selection was named the MSC Defensive Player of the Week a conference record five times and became just the second player in the NAIA to be named national player of the week three times in a season.  Brown becomes the third Patriot to earn conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.

"Trinity Brown is a force on the circle and the defensive end. She has worked hard and has continually grown as a lacrosse player," said Coach Buikus. "She is one of the most competitive people I have ever coached and she is a proven winner. I'm so happy that Trin has been named the MSC Defensive Player of the Year in a very competitive category in the MSC."

For the second consecutive season Patriots Head Coach Kelly Buikus was voted the Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year.  It marks the third time that Coach Buikus has earned this honor while at the helm of the Patriots.  Additionally, Cumberlands assistant coach Tatiana Samuel earned the inaugural MSC Assistant Coach of the Year award.  The Patriots have gone 16-1 on the season with a perfect 6-0 record in conference play to earn a clean conference slate for the third time in program history.  UC has six wins over teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA and leads the country to goals, assists, points, draw controls and goals against average.  Under their leadership the Patriots have been ranked second in the NAIA all season and have captured their third straight Mid-South Conference regular season title.

"Tati has been a great addition to our program and has helped in all facets. Our defense has greatly improved since her arrival and it's been wonderful to see her grow as a coach over the last three seasons. She is hardworking, detail oriented and a great recruiter. She is going to be an amazing head coach someday and I'm so happy for her and honored to call her my assistant coach and friend," said Coach Buikus.

Goalie Olivia McCarrell and midfielder Reegan Hensley garnered First Team All-Conference honors, while Stephanie Meyer and Rachel Leigh were Second Team selections.  Hannah Churchley was voted an MSC All-Conference Honorable Mention.

McCarrell earned first team honors for the second straight year as she has recorded a NAIA-best 4.78 goals against average and a 57.8% save percentage.  The reigning NAIA First Team All-American closed out the season with a season-best 12 saves, while she has limited her opponents to under five goals in 13 games this season.  The sophomore has also notched 38 ground balls and nine caused turnovers, while earlier this month McCarrell made her 250^th career save.

A breakout season from Hensley earns her a spot on the first team all-conference list.  Hensley is ranked second on the team with 51 goals and 74 points, while she has added 23 assists, 15 ground balls, and 13 caused turnovers.   The sophomore has netted at least three goals in nine games this season, including a career-high six goals and ten points in the win at Thomas More.  Hensley is ranked fifth in the MSC in goals and assists, while she ranks fourth in points.  This is Hensley's second all-conference selection as she was an honorable mention last year.

Another Patriot that notched their second all-conference accolade is Meyer.  The Taylor Mill, KY native has dished out 36 assists to go along with 32 goals, 68 points, and 38 grounds balls all of which are career-highs for the junior.  Meyer's 36 assists rank second in the MSC, while she is ranked third in program history for career ground balls with 128 and caused turnovers with 65.  Meyer has dished out multiple assists nine times this season.

For the second straight season, Leigh notched second team all-conference accolades.  The Northfield, CT native is ranked fifth in the MSC with 23 assists as she has netted 23 goals, totaled 46 points, and scooped 51 draw controls.  Leigh netted at least four points in each of the final four games on the year, as she has dished out multiple assists eight times this season.  She notched a season-high four goals and six points against Thomas More.

Churchley rounds out UC's all-conference selections with honorable mention honors.  The Marietta, GA native has tallied 16 caused turnovers and 28 ground balls throughout the regular season. Churchley had multiple caused turnovers in four of UC's final five games, while scooping a career-high six ground balls in the win over Thomas More.  She was also part of the Patriots backline that limited opponents to 4.64 goals against average.

Cumberlands returns to the field Thursday, April 21, for the quarterfinals of the MSC Tournament.  The Patriots face Webber, the fourth-seed in the south, at 11 a.m. at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  Live coverage of game is available here.

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