Casten, Dunphey Recognized as All-Big Ten
May 04 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday the 2016 All-Big Ten honorees in women's lacrosse. Highlighting the list for Rutgers was junior midfielder Kristina Dunphey (Hillsborough, N.J.) and sophomore defender Amanda Casten (Brick, N.J.). The 20-member All-Big Ten team was compiled by a vote from the six league head coaches.
"Dunphey has been such an explosive threat for us all season. She has drawn our opponents' top matchups and still consistently produced despite doubles and early slides," said head coach Laura Brand-Sias. "Casten has been a consistent defender for us since day one. She has really stepped up this year and expanded outside her comfort zone. Even while drawing our opponents top scoring threat, she is still willing to take chances both in settled play and transition. Both Kristina and Amanda are deserving of this recognition and the program is proud of their accomplishments."
Dunphey started in 15 of 16 games this season and leads Rutgers with 41 goals, 50 points, 94 shots and 30 draw controls. She is currently fifth in the league in shots per game (5.88), tied for fifth in goals per game (2.56), and tied for eighth in points per game (3.13).
Against Michigan to close the season on April 30, Dunphey recorded the best individual RU performance since 2013 with seven goals and eight points - one of seven times this season she had at least a hat trick. Her goal and point totals this season are the second-best in the last decade for a Scarlet Knight.
Just a sophomore, Casten is in her second year as an RU starter on defense. She leads the Scarlet Knights with 15 caused turnovers and 28 ground balls, and is tied for fifth in the Big Ten with 1.75 ground balls per game. Casten was second in the B1G with 2.20 ground balls per game in conference games only, while Dunphey's 2.80 goals per outing in Big Ten play was tied for sixth.
Casten and Dunphey were both named Big Ten Players to Watch prior to the season. The two all-conference honorees are the most for the program as a member of the Big Ten. Last season Lauren Sbrilli became the first All-Big Ten member in program history. The last time multiple Scarlet Knights were named all-conference was when Sbrilli, Chelsea Intrabartola, and Megan Clements were named All-BIG EAST in 2014.
The full list of All-Big Ten honorees is listed below by member schools.
Fourth-seeded Rutgers (5-11, 2-3) women's lacrosse takes part in the 2016 Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., beginning Thursday, May 5 at noon against No. 5 Ohio State (11-5, 2-3). The Scarlet Knights and Buckeyes meet in the opening round for the second consecutive season.
The winner between Ohio State and Rutgers will advance to play No. 1 Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals on Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. All games of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament will be televised live nationally on Big Ten Network.
2016 WOMEN'S LACROSSE ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
All-Big Ten Team*
TAYLOR CUMMINGS, M, Maryland
NADINE HADNAGY, D, Maryland
ALICE MERCER, D, Maryland
ZOE STUKENBERG, M, Maryland
MEGAN TAYLOR, G, Maryland
MEGAN WHITTLE, A, Maryland
Kimberly Coughlan, M, Michigan
Madeline Dion, D, Michigan
KALEIGH CRAIG, A, Northwestern
Selena Lasota, A, Northwestern
Cian Dabrowski, A, Ohio State
Shannon Rosati, D, Ohio State
Christina Turner, D, Ohio State
Madison Carter, A, Penn State
MADISON CYR, M, Penn State
Jenna Mosketti, M, Penn State
Steph Lazo, A, Penn State
Katie O'Donnell, M, Penn State
ABBY SMUCKER, D, Penn State
Amanda Casten, D, Rutgers
Kristina Dunphey, M, Rutgers
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
*Additional honorees due to tie
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