The Gulf South Conference announced its women's lacrosse all-conference team and individual award winners for the 2025 season. Selections were determined by the league’s head coach via an online poll and were unable to vote for their own players.
Flagler’s Sydney Onega was named GSC Attacker of the Year. Alabama Huntsville’s Sarah Cole was tabbed as Midfielder of the Year, while teammate Ella Rutherford received Freshman of the Year honors. Lander also took home a pair of superlatives with Autumn Huskey voted Defensive Player of the Year, while Bob Dachille was recognized as Coach of the Year. For the first time in league-history, each individual awardee was a unanimous selection.
After celebrating its third-consecutive GSC regular season title, Flagler had conference-high 10 All-GSC representatives, including seven First Team selections. Lander followed with six overall honorees, while UAH and Lee had four apiece. Montevallo was also represented with two all-conference nods.
Onega tallied 63 points in 2025, scoring 30 times while assisting on 33 more. As a result, she led the GSC in points, points per game (3.94) and assists, while ranking 10th overall in goals. The senior also led the Saints in free-position goals (9) and was tied-fourth among team leaders in ground balls (19).
Cole meanwhile topped the GSC statistical standings with 48 goals and 98 shots, while ranking second in overall points (56). The junior also led the Chargers shots on goal (77), free-position goals (1st/11), caused turnovers (25) and draw controls (58), while being second in ground balls (34).
Huskey was a stalwart for the Bearcat backline posting career-bests in ground balls (51) and caused turnovers (42). As a result, the senior led the GSC in both categories and ranked 20th among NCAA Division II counterparts in ground balls and tied-10th in caused turnovers. She also finished with two assists and 28 draw controls.
Rutherford logged a 50-point season, en route to being named the season’s top freshman, as she scored 28 goals and dished out 22 assists. As a result, the rookie was fourth among GSC leaders in points and assists, in addition to being fourth in ground balls (36), and ninth in draw controls (33).
Dachille collected his first GSC coaching award after leading Lander to an overall 12-3 record in the regular season. The Bearcats went 3-1 in conference play, finishing second in the GSC standings. Under Dachille’s direction, Lander also appeared in the national weekly rankings for the first time.
The 2025 GSC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, which is hosted by the Huntsville Sports Commission, begins Friday, April 25 from the Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex in Huntsville, Ala. For more information including, tickets, schedule and how to watch, visit championship central at gscsports.org/wlaxchamp25.
GSC Women’s Lacrosse Season Awards
Attacker of the Year: Sydney Onega, Sr., Flagler^
Midfielder of the Year: Sarah Cole, Jr., UAH^
Defensive Player of the Year: Autumn Huskey, Sr., Lander^
Freshman of the Year: Ella Rutherford, UAH^
Coach of the Year: Bob Dachille, Lander^
First Team All-GSC*
GK – Kara Krusbe, Sr., Lander
D – Autumn Huskey, Sr., Lander
D – Jenn Seebach, Sr., Flagler
D – Sydney Schiavone, Jr., UAH
D – Kaia Morey, Jr., Lander
D – Molly Sloan, Jr., Flagler
M – Sarah Cole, Jr., UAH
M – Ella Pinder, Jr., Flagler
M – Izzy Olson, Sr., Lander
A – Sydney Onega, Sr., Flagler
A – Carley Tepel, Jr., Flagler
A – Ella Rutherford, Fr., UAH
A – Jessica Wright, Jr., Flagler
SP – Greta McGinnis, Jr., Flagler
Second Team All-GSC
GK – Lauren Ribadeneira, Sr., Flagler
D – Talitha Goodman, Jr., UAH
D – Delaney Deffke, Sr., Montevallo
D – Maddy Hartstock, So., Flagler
D – Abby Davidheiser, Fr., Lee
M – Carly LaFerriere, Sr., Flagler
M – Ella Benson, Jr., Lander
M – Noelle Harrington, Jr., Lee
A – Brooke Kelly, Sr., Lander
A – Maya Bronson, Jr., UAH
A – Hannah Vecsey, Sr., Lee
A – Ellery Shearer, So., Montevallo
SP – Callie Curtis, Jr., Lee
^ unanimous selection
* extra member due to tie in voting, no tie-breaker