The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) awarded 324 schools across Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA the 2024 IWLCA Academic Honor Squad title on July 24, acknowledging their exemplary academic achievements. In a parallel announcement, 1,125 student-athletes from 201 institutions earned a place on the 2024 IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll.
Among the recognized, St. Mary’s College of Maryland stood out, securing its 12th consecutive Academic Honor Squad award. This accolade highlights the team’s persistent academic excellence, boasting a 3.448 GPA for the 2023-24 academic year. St. Mary’s College also saw five of its athletes named to the Academic Honor Roll, marking it as the sole representative from the United East Conference in these acknowledgments.
The criteria for the Academic Honor Squad distinction require a women’s lacrosse team to have achieved a minimum team GPA of 3.2 over the academic year. St. Mary’s College not only met but surpassed this benchmark, continuing an impressive streak of academic focus that has garnered them 15 Academic Honor Squad recognitions over the last 17 years, excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Student-athletes Rachael Freeman, MC Mortimer, Jill Hayden, Annika Kumwembe, and Madison Laine represented St. Mary’s on the 2024 Division III Academic Honor Roll. To qualify for this honor, a student-athlete must be a junior, senior, or graduate student with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Both Freeman and Mortimer, who have previously received this honor, were also named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District on June 25. All five honored players were part of the 2024 United East Spring All-Academic Team.
Beyond academic achievements, St. Mary’s College excelled athletically. The women’s lacrosse team concluded the season with a 12-7 record, maintaining a flawless 4-0 score in the United East Conference (UEC). They clinched the UEC regular-season and tournament titles for the third consecutive year and secured their 11th appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament, exiting in the second round against third-ranked Franklin & Marshall.
