STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 10, 2002 -- Three Penn State women's lacrosse players earned regional recognition for their play during the 2002 season, it was announced today. Senior defender Alison DeCecco (Newtown Square, Pa.) and junior attack Colleen O'Hara (Ardmore, Pa.) were both selected to the All Mid-Atlantic first team while sophomore attack Katie Jeschke (Ellicott City, Md.) was named to the second team.

DeCecco, a 2001 All-America selection, has started every game for the Lion defense for the past two seasons. She was second on the team in groundballs with 34 and caused turnovers with 20 while also scoring six goals, including one in the 10-8 win over William and Mary on March 17. DeCecco was also named to the 2002 American Lacrosse Conference All-Conference team.

Only a junior, O'Hara led Penn State in scoring with 59 points on 46 goals (22nd in the nation) and 13 assists. She netted goals in all but one contest this season, including 10 games of two or more goals. Her highest point output of the season came in the Penn State's last game against Delaware, when she tallied five goals in the first half and added two assists. O'Hara recorded six goals twice this season, in the 13-8 loss to Dartmouth and the 17-12 win at Ohio. She also ranks fourth on the team in draws with 13 and was named to the 2002 American Lacrosse Conference All-Conference team as well.

Jeschke tallied 32 goals and seven assists for 39 points on the season, second only to O'Hara. The sophomore scored more than two goals on eight occasions and tallied a mark in 12 of Penn State's 17 contests this season. Her 20 draw controls ranked second on the team and she started every game of the season for the Nittany Lion attack.

Penn State ended their 8-9 season ranked 15th in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and 17th by Warrior/Inside Lacrosse magazine. Twelve of the Lion's 17 opponents are ranked in the Top 20 in the final IWLCA poll, including every team in the top five (Princeton, Georgetown, North Carolina, Virginia and Loyola). Penn State was ranked as high as 10th after their 10-9 defeat of then-third-ranked Loyola on April 6 at Jeffrey Field.

The Lions finished second (4-2) in the first year of the American Lacrosse Conference, a lacrosse-only conference that consists of Davidson, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Ohio, Ohio State, Penn State and Vanderbilt. The Commodores finished with a 10-5 record and were a perfect 6-0 in conference play.

 All Mid-Atlantic First Team Attack: Noelle Cebron, Temple Charlotte Kenworthy, Princeton Megan Mirick, Ohio State Colleen O'Hara, Penn State Lauren Simone, Princeton Jami Wilus, LaSalle Midfield: Crissy Book, Penn Danielle Shearer, Notre Dame Theresa Sherry, Princeton Shannon Wilson, Ohio State Defense: Rachel Becker, Princeton Kristin Checksfield, Rutgers Alison DeCecco, Penn State Kathryn Larn, Notre Dame Brooke Owens, Princeton Goalkeeper: Laurie Tortorelli, Delaware All Mid-Atlantic Second Team Attack: Tracey Bounds, Ohio State Katie Jeschke, Penn State Heather McClelland, Lafayette College Patience Synnestvedt, Temple Midfield: Mimi Hammerburg, Princeton Lindsey Hart, Ohio Robin Keevan, Temple Natalie Loftus, Notre Dame Regina Oliver, Ohio State Corinne Shuck, Delaware Stephanie Tinney, Lafayette Defense: Christy Bennett, Penn Susan Succilli, Rutgers Tina Fedarcyk, Notre Dame Shelly Wosczyna, Temple Goalkeeper: Lauren Gulotta, Rutgers --LIONS--