June 17, 2003
FAIRFAX, Va. - Three George Mason women's lacrosse players, senior All-American Jill Toomey (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck), senior Paula Priest (Kingsville, MD/Fallston), and sophomore Meg Dentler (Crofton, MD/Arundel), were each named All-State in voting conducted by the Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID), the organization recently announced. Toomey and Priest both receive the honor for the third consecutive season, while Dentler is tabbed for the second consecutive year.
Toomey, a 2002 and 2003 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American and IWLCA South All-Region selection, and three-time first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree, was a four-year starter at attack for the Patriots. She led the Patriots last season in goals scored (59), points (72) [tying her own single-season record in both categories], and draw controls (33). She shot 45.7 percent from the field, and also finished second on the team in ground balls with 45 and third in assists with 13. Her stellar season included two contests in which she scored seven goals, tying her single-game school record, and one contest where she tied her record with nine points. A 2002 and 2003 team captain, Toomey completed the year ranked seventh nationally in points per game and fifth nationally in goals per outing.
Toomey closes her career as arguably the greatest women's lacrosse student-athlete to ever play at George Mason. She has 243 career points, becoming the first Patriot to ever score 200 or more, and holds the mark for goals in a career with 188. She ranks second all-time in assists (55). Toomey never missed a game during her career and holds the school records for most games played (67), most games started (67), and most consecutive games started (67).
Priest, who started 12 games on defense and played in 14 due to a knee injury, also earned her third straight All-CAA first team honor in 2003, concluding the year ranked sixth nationally in caused turnovers at 2.79 per game. Since her return from injury, she averaged 3.43 caused turnovers in the final 11 contests of the year, and was fourth on the roster overall in ground balls with 32. Priest concludes her career as the Patriot record-holder for caused turnovers with 117.
Dentler also garnered 2003 IWLCA All-Region second team and first-team All-CAA honors. The sophomore goalkeeper lead the league in save percentage at .583, which ranked fifth in the nation. She totaled 207 saves on the season and posted a 9.49 goals-against average, adding 29 ground balls, seven caused turnovers, and one draw control. The 2002 CAA Rookie of the Year, Dentler started 16 of 17 games in the cage of the Patriots this season and recorded 10 or more saves 13 times, including a season-high 23. Last year, Dentler set the school record for saves in a season with 225.
George Mason concluded the year with a 9-8 overall record for its first winning season since 1998. The Patriots finished in a three-way tie for third in the CAA with a 4-3 mark and advanced to the tournament for the 10th consecutive season. Mason's nine overall wins tied the school record for victories in a season, which was set last year (9-9). This season's team also set a record for assists with 84.
VaSID University Division Women's Lacrosse All-State Team (Agate): Amy Appelt, UVA; Lauren Aumiller, UVA*; Jess Beard, JMU; Cary Chasney, UVA; Gail Decker, JMU; Meg Dentler, GMU; Lauri Kenis, UVA; Paula Priest, GMU; Tiffany Schummer, UVA; Lisa Staedt, JMU; Jill Toomey, GMU; Suzanne Wosczyna, ODU
* - VaSID Player of the Year - (Virginia head coach Julie Myers was named VaSID Coach of the Year)
