Gilbert and Kuligowski Named to Pac-12 All-Academic Team

SAN FRANCISCO – USC women's lacrosse senior defender Jackie Gilbert (Pleasanton, Calif.) and junior defender Morgan Kuligowski (Great Falls, Va.) were each named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Academic second team on Wednesday, May 15.

Additionally, seven Women of Troy received honorable mention status including junior attacker Hope Anhut (Skillman, N.J.); junior defender Natalie Byrne (West Linn, Ore.); sophomore attacker Sophia Donovan (Santa Clara, Calif.); senior attacker Amanda Flayhan (Waccabuc, N.Y.); sophomore goalie Riley Hertford (Lake Oswego, Ore.); junior midfielder Kerrigan Miller (Bayport, N.Y.); and sophomore defender Madi O'Brien (Glen Mills, Pa.).

Gilbert was named the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the Pac-12 All-Conference first team. She is a two-time all-academic choice after making the first-team cut in 2018. Gilbert led the Pac-12 in draw controls (6.10 dcpg) and was second in caused turnovers (1.45 ctpg). She graduated in May with a 3.70 grade-point average and a degree in real estate development.

Kuligowski was an honorable mention choice as a sophomore in 2018. She finished the season with 13 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Kuligowski holds the highest grade-point average among Women of Troy with a 3.73 in neuroscience. She completed her degree requirements a year early and received one of the University's highest honors as a Renaissance Scholar for her minor in classical perspectives. Kuligowski received a special academic scholarship that she will use towards a master of Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games & Health).

Both Byrne and Miller were also honorable mention recipients in 2018.

USC won the Pac-12's regular-season crown with a 9-1 league mark and then claimed wins over California and Colorado to win the Pac-12 tournament. It was the Trojans' third league crown following MPSF championships in 2016 and '17. Seventh-year head coach Lindsey Munday was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year and Miller was awarded the Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year honor for the second season in a row. The Trojans received the program's fourth NCAA bid and faced Denver in the first round, but fell in a narrow 11-10 overtime decision to the Pioneers.

For more information on the USC women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCTrojansLax.

Players Mentioned

Hope Anhut

Natalie Byrne

Sophia Donovan

Amanda Flayhan

Jackie Gilbert

Riley Hertford

Morgan Kuligowski

Kerrigan Miller

Madi O'Brien