KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. – Senior Mandy Buell (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) capped an outstanding lacrosse career at Gettysburg College by being named the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Attacker of the Year at the All-American Banquet at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge on Saturday night.
After racking up two goals and one assist in the IWLCA North-South All-Star Game held at Cabrini College earlier in the day, Buell took home one of the top awards in all of collegiate lacrosse. She becomes just the second Bullet to earn Attacker of the Year from the coaches, following former teammate Hannah Church '12 in 2012. Buell is the sixth Bullet overall to earn a player of the year award from the IWLCA.
The award comes on the heels of one of the best offensive seasons ever turned in by a Gettysburg student-athlete. Buell racked up 74 goals and 95 points over 20 games this season. Her goal total represented the fourth-highest in program history, while her point total ranked sixth. She scored a point in every game and she tossed in at least two goals in 18 contests. Buell was a model of efficiency on offense, putting 82.6 percent of her shots directly on the cage and turning 61.2 percent of her shots into goals. She also converted 18 free-position goals and set career marks with 24 ground balls, 37 draw controls, and nine caused turnovers.
Buell scored a career-high seven points in six different contests this season, with two of those efforts coming against nationally-ranked opposition. She tallied at least two goals against every nationally-ranked team the Bullets faced this spring, including a career-high seven against No. 15 York (Pa.) College. Buell also scored the game-winning goal in a 13-12 overtime victory over The College of New Jersey.
Being named the nation's top offensive player was the just the icing on the cake for Buell. In addition to that award, she was recognized as a first-team All-American and the winner of the Division III Community Awareness Award on Saturday. Also this season, Buell was tagged All-Metro Region First Team, Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and All-CC First Team.
Buell finished her career with 159 goals, 49 assists, and 208 points. She ranks 10th all-time in career goals and 12th in career points. Buell, who graduated with a degree in mathematics, will begin work on her MBA this fall at Mount St. Mary's University.
Teammate Bridget Kenny (Gladstone, N.J./Bernards) was also recognized Saturday evening at the Radisson Hotel. Kenny was named All-America Second Team after an outstanding senior season. She finished second to Buell on the team with 54 goals and 73 points. She paced the team with 82 draw controls and finished as the program's all-time leader with 285. A three-time all-conference pick and two-time all-region selection, Kenny finished eighth in school history with 235 career points.
Gettysburg finished with an overall record of 16-4, including 8-1 in the Centennial Conference. After finishing runner-up in the conference tournament, the Bullets advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship for the 14th consecutive season. Gettysburg finished eighth in the final national poll.
Centennial IWLCA Attackers of the Year
2007-Jen Pritchard, Franklin & Marshall, Soph.
2009-Jen Pritchard, Franklin & Marshall, Sr.
2010-Blake Hargest, Franklin & Marshall, Sr.
2012-Hannah Church, Gettysburg, Sr.
2015-Mandy Buell, Gettysburg, Sr.