Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University graduate student Leah Knowles has earned a huge league honor for the third straight year, taking home SAC Midfielder of the Year accolades. The South Atlantic Conference announced the women's lacrosse regular season awards Wednesday morning, and the SAC co-champs have eight all-conference honorees. Knowles is joined on the first team by Kaleigh Wilgeroth, Nelida Watson, Claire Fuchs, Katie Koroly and Megan Biase. Krysta Churns earns second team All-SAC accolades, while Chloe Herring is a third team all-conference honoree.

Knowles is now a three-time SAC Player of the Year award winner, earning SAC Offensive Player of the Year honors the last two years, and now earning Midfielder of the Year in the first season of the award. The two-time All-American is Wingate's all-time leader in career goals, points, draw controls and caused turnovers. She has piled up 54 goals, 13 assists, 85 draw controls, 36 caused turnovers and 35 ground balls on the year. Knowles ranks second in the SAC in goals and CTs, third in draw controls and fourth in points.

Biase earns All-SAC honors for the fourth straight season, picking up first team accolades for the third time. The 2021 SAC Defensive Player of the Year earned All-Region and All-American accolades in 2023. Biase has posted a 10.08 goals-against average and .410 save percentage this season, registering 89 saves while adding 49 ground balls. She ranks third in the SAC in goals-against average and fourth in save percentage. Biase notched her second career shutout in the win over Emory & Henry this season. She piled up 14 saves against Rollins, while registering 12 saves at Anderson.

Wilgeroth is an All-SAC selection for the second straight year, earning first team honors for the first time after picking up third team accolades last year. The junior leads the Bulldogs with 33 assists, ranking second with 37 goals for a team-best 70 points, adding 20 ground balls, 10 CTs and six draw controls. Wilgeroth ranks third in the SAC in assists and points. She has a point in every game this year, with four or more points in 12 of 16 games including an eight-point effort against Catawba. She poured in six goals against Embry-Riddle.

Koroly is a first team All-SAC selection for the second time in as many years. The sophomore has once again anchored one of the nation's top defenses, piling up 33 caused turnovers and 33 ground balls, while also collecting 31 draw controls. Koroly has contributed a goal and an assist this season as well. She ranks third in the conference in caused turnovers. She has at least one CT in 13 of 15 games, with three or more in seven contests. Koroly piled up seven caused turnovers and five draw controls against LMU, while notching four CTs and three ground balls against Florida Tech.

Watson earns first team All-SAC accolades for the first time in her career. The junior has piled up 35 goals and 15 assists this year, ranking third on the team in goals, assists and points, adding 15 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Watson has at least one point in every game this year, with three or more points 10 times. She piled up three goals and five assists at Tusculum, while going for four goals and two assists at UVA Wise. Watson has four straight games with four points, netting four goals each against Mount Olive and Anderson.

Fuchs is an all-conference honoree for the first time in her career, picking up first team accolades. The junior has collected 22 goals and 28 assists on the year, adding 64 draw controls, 11 caused turnovers and 14 ground balls. Fuchs ranks second on the team in assists and draw controls, third in points and fourth in goals. She has a point in every game this year, going for three or more points nine times including each of her last four games. Fuchs had three goals, two assists and eight draw controls in the season opener, while notching two goals, four assists and four draw controls against Emory & Henry. She has had a goal and three assists in three of her last four games, adding 19 draw controls in the stretch while also compiling four goals and an assist at Anderson.

Churns is a second team All-SAC defender for the second time in as many seasons. The sophomore is another key part of the defense, starting all 16 games while collecting 23 caused turnovers, 29 ground balls and five draw controls. Churns has at least one CT in 13 of 16 games, with multiple caused turnovers eight times. She had three CTs and five ground balls against Emory & Henry, while notching three CTs and two ground balls against Mount Olive.

Herring is an All-SAC honoree for the first time in her career. Another key defensive force for the Bulldogs, the junior has accumulated 16 caused turnovers and 15 ground balls on the year. Herring has a CT in all but three games this year, notching three CTs in three of her last four contests. She had three CTs and two ground balls against LMU, while collecting three CTs and three ground balls against Mount Olive. She piled up four ground balls at Anderson, while registering three more CTs against Limestone.

Wingate is the number one seed in the SAC Tournament. The Bulldogs will host Newberry in the SAC Tournament semifinals Wednesday at 5 p.m. The winner is onto the SAC title game Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Matthews Sportsplex.  

All-SAC First Team
A – Alicia Cannon, Anderson
A – Kaleigh Wilgeroth, Wingate
A – Nelida Watson, Wingate
A – Megan Davis, Limestone
MF – Leah Knowles, Wingate
MF – Reese Hjertaas, Limestone
MF – Claire Fuchs, Wingate
MF – Mallory Trimble, UVA Wise
D – Bailey Stumpf, Limestone
D – Katie Koroly, Wingate
D – Katy Snyder, Anderson
D – Delaney Duck, Lincoln Memorial
GK – Megan Biase, Wingate
 
All-SAC Second Team
A – Ava Skeffington, Anderson
A – Chandler Bell, Lincoln Memorial
A – Ella Todd, Newberry
A – Rayne Dobson, Anderson
MF – Kathryn McCabe, Anderson
MF – Josie Tinnerello, Lincoln Memorial
MF – Lucy Brewer, Tusculum
MF – Marissa Plumer, Newberry
D – Krysta Churns, Wingate
D – Keira Crilly, Limestone
D – Madalyn Messersmith, Newberry
D – Taryn Moreno, UVA Wise
GK – Ava Drath, Anderson

All-SAC Third Team
A – Joscelin Martin, Limestone
A – Abby Stoffelen, UVA Wise
A – Cassell Richardson, Newberry
A – Serena Elias, Newberry
MF – Sarah Dudick, Limestone
MF – Keira Martin, Limestone
MF – Madison Hobbs, Limestone
MF – Chloe Christensen, Lenoir-Rhyne
D – Jackie Tiongco, Anderson
D – Paige Volpone, UVA Wise
D – Chloe Herring, Wingate
D – Makenna Filley, Lenoir-Rhyne
GK – Emily White, Tusculum
 
Midfielder of the Year
Leah Knowles, Wingate

Attacker of the Year
Alicia Cannon, Anderson
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Bailey Stumpf, Limestone
 
Freshman of the Year
Rayne Dobson, Anderson
 
Coach of the Year
Scott Tucker, Limestone