Lancaster, Pa. – (5/7/2026) – Following Neumann University's first-ever Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Lacrosse Championship, Commissioner Rebecca Mullen has officially announced the 2026 All-AEC Women's Lacrosse Team and Major Award Winners. The AEC Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year title went to Marywood University senior midfielder Avery Meighan (Floral Park, N.Y.). Her teammate, freshman attack Danica Kelly (Binghamton, N.Y.) was named the Rookie of the Year, while Marymount University sophomore goalkeeper Ava Vautour (Hamilton, Mass.) was recognized as the AEC Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year. Neumann University Head Coach Jackie Neary and her stable of assistants; Macaul Mellor, Sean Ralph, Jamie Gillen, Melissa Michaels, Jackie E. Neary, and Shea Neary were recognized as the Coaching Staff of the Year. Honoring the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) competing at the finals site, the Elite Scholar Athlete Award went to Neumann University sophomore midfielder Kenna Sanders (Harrisburg, Pa.). Gwynedd Mercy University was represented on the 2026 All-AEC Women's Lacrosse Team by two Second Team selections; sophomore defender Deshe Dunlap (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior defender Teagan O'Neill (Pennsauken, N.J.).
 
Meighan (18 games played – 18 games started) was one of the league's best all-around players as the Pacer ranked among the AEC Top-Three in assists (3^rd, 41), points (2^nd, 105), shots (2^nd, 143), caused turnovers (2^nd, 47), draw controls (2^nd, 125), goals (1^st, 64), and ground balls (1^st, 84). She recorded two game-winning goals (GWG) and nine free position goals (9-of-21, .429) among her league-high 64 tallies. Meanwhile, as the league's premier goalkeeper, Vautour (17gp-17gs) complied an 8-8 record with 141 saves and 145 goals allowed (9.39 goals-against average (GAA)) on a .493 save percentage (SV%).   
 
Kelly (18gp-18gs) impressed in her debut season with 10 assists, 65 shots, 32 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers, and four caused turnovers in addition to AEC Top-10 rankings in goals (8^th, 36) and points (10^th, 46). She recorded 2 GWG and was 1-of-5 on free position attempts.
 
Neumann University was 9-8 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the AEC, before defeating #2 Marywood University by an 18-13 measure in the 2026 AEC Women's Lacrosse Championship (May 2). In their second season under Coach Neary, the Knights used their midfield play to dictate their gameplan. They ranked third in the league for goals (3^rd, 208), goals against (3^rd, 182), and turnovers (3^rd, 329), second in clear percentage (2^nd, .784; 247-of-315), draw controls (2^nd, 246) and ground balls (2^nd, 384), as well as, first in clears (1^st, 247) and caused turnovers (1^st, 244).
 
Dunlap (14gp–14gs) and O'Neill (13gp-13gs) were mainstays in the Gwynedd Mercy University starting backfield. The former recorded 26 ground balls, 20 caused turnovers, and a draw control, while the latter provided two shots, two draw controls, 19 ground balls, and 22 caused turnovers during the course of the season.
 
The complete 2026 All-AEC Women's Lacrosse Team and Major Award Winners are listed below and available using the provided links.
 
2026 All-Atlantic East Conference (AEC)
Women's Lacrosse Team & Major Award Winners
 
Player of the Year - Avery Meighan, Marywood University
Defensive Player of the Year - Ava Vautour, Marymount University
Rookie of the Year - Danica Kelly, Marywood University
Coaching Staff of the Year – Neumann University
Elite Scholar Athlete Award - Kenna Sanders, Neumann University
 
All-AEC 1st Team
 
Attack
Alena Catka, Neumann University
Mackenzie Morrissette, Marymount University
Tess Valentino, Marymount University
Natalie Yilanjian, Marywood University
 
Midfield
Elizabeth Mahmud, Immaculata University
Avery Meighan, Marywood University
Kaitlyn Smith, Marywood University
 
Defense
Brighid Brady, Neumann University
Nora Brady, Neumann University.
Anna Geiger, Marymount University
Felicia Pescatore, Marywood University
 
Goalkeeper
Ava Vautour, Marymount University
 
All-AEC 2nd Team
 
Attack
Alivia Backes, Marywood University
Keira Benoit, Immaculata University
Danica Kelly, Marywood University
Rachel Roane, Neumann University
 
Midfield
Krista Geibler, Neumann University
Kaylee Heath, Marymount University
Maggie Miller, Neumann University
 
Defense
Deshe Dunlap, Gwynedd Mercy University
Alexandra Mayo, Marymount University
Teagan O'Neill, Gwynedd Mercy University
Kenna Sanders, Neumann University
 
Goalkeeper
Jenna Scala, Marywood University