May 7, 2008

VOTE FOR DECKER HERE!

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy standout women's lacrosse player Meg Decker was named one of three finalists for the 2008 LaxPower.com Rookie of the Year, as part of its second annual Fan Awards, the website announced today. The awards are designed to acknowledge excellence and achievement in the world of Division I men's and women's lacrosse. Fans can visit the website to select their choices in 14 different categories (seven men's and seven women's). Voting opens on May 7 and will run through Sunday, May 10. Fans can only vote once

Decker, a freshman from nearby Catonsville, Md., had a sensational rookie season, ranking among the nation's leaders in goals, points and draw controls. The first-team All-Patriot League selection ranked second on the team with 76 points, 63 goals and 58 draw controls. She scored at least three goals in each of the last 14 games and tied a Patriot League Tournament record with six goals in the semifinal loss to American on April 25. The six goals matched a career high, also set in the second game of her career, against Niagara on March 1. Decker, who was a three-time honoree as Patriot League Rookie of the Week, currently ranks 19th in the country in points (76), 17th in points per game (4.47), sixth in goals per game (3.71) and 10th in draw controls per game (3.41). Among the country's freshmen, Decker is third in points, third in goals and first in draw controls. She was a big reason Navy ranks second nationally in scoring offense, as it averaged 16.7 goals per game, while leading the country in draw controls per game at 17.1, the second-highest average for a team in a season in NCAA history.

The Mids wrapped up their first year of Division I play with a 13-4 record, setting the NCAA record for most wins by a first-year program. Navy will return all but four seniors from this year's team in 2009.

# GO NAVY #