Jane Earley is USA Lacrosse Mag's D-III Women's Preseason Player of the Year

Middlebury attacker Jane Earley was named USA Lacrosse Magazine’s Division III Women’s Preseason Player of the Year, the publication announced Wednesday in advance of the 2023 season.

Earley registered a school-record 80 goals and 99 points last season, helping Middlebury to a 22-1 finish and another national championship. Although she had missed two important seasons after a breakout freshman year in 2019 — COVID canceled the 2020 season, and the NESCAC did not have sports in 2021 — defenders played her like a seasoned attacker. She went from just being happy to contribute in 2019 to being the attacker opponents keyed in on stopping.

With expectations for more of the same in 2023, Earley is the USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Women’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Continue below to read the full list of USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Women’s Preseason Positional Players of the Year.

PRESEASON ATTACKER OF THE YEAR

Jane Earley, Middlebury

A dynamic attacker who is strong on the draw and in transition as well, Earley has the ability to impact Middlebury in a lot of ways. She came back from missing the 2020 and 2021 seasons to COVID-19 restrictions and showed no rust. Earley played a major role in leading the Panthers to an NCAA Division III title and was the 2022 NESCAC Player of the Year after setting school records with 80 goals and 99 points.

PRESEASON MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

Caroline Sullivan, Gettysburg

An incredible two-way middie, Sullivan is less recognized by her stats and more by her grit, leadership, energy and undeniable presence on the field, but that was enough to earn her the Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year award in 2022. She finished with 33 goals, 16 assists, led her team in ground balls with 49 and was second in caused turnovers with 25 while also adding 26 draw controls.

PRESEASON DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

Mary Pat McKenna, Franklin & Marshall

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association named McKenna as its National Defender of the Year last spring, and she’s back for her senior year seeking to make another splash. The 5-foot-6 Royersford, Pa., native was one of six F&M players who started all 22 games last year, and she ranked third in the Centennial Conference in caused turnovers (29) and eighth in ground balls (39).

PRESEASON GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Annie Enrietto, Middlebury

Division III featured several talented upperclassmen goalies last year, but Enrietto led the nation in goals against average (6.01) and ranked eighth in save percentage (.541) as a junior playing her first collegiate minutes. She was on the NCAA all-tournament team for her role in helping the Panthers lock down the national title, following two seasons impacted by COVID cancelation.