Martignetti, Collins Earn All-America Honors

June 4, 2008

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Following the most successful season in program history, Babson College women's lacrosse senior Anita Martignetti (Winchester, Mass.) and sophomore Anna Collins (Winchester, Mass.) have been named to the IWLCA All-America Team. Martignetti earned Second Team honors, while Collins received Third Team recognition.

Martignetti closed out her magnificent career with a brilliant senior season in which she earned her fourth straight All-Conference First Team nod, her second consecutive NEWMAC Player of the Year award, and her third straight All-New England First Team selection. One of the team's tri-captains, the veteran attack totaled 50 goals and 21 assists for a team-high 71 points this spring while also adding 41 groundballs, 45 draw controls, and 28 caused turnovers. She recently graduated as Babson's all-time leader in career points (256) and assists (66) while ranking second in goals (190) and third in groundballs (141). The All-America award was the second of her career following her Third Team selection in 2007 - making her the first player in Babson lacrosse history to earn All-American status in multiple seasons.

One of the program's up-and-coming stars, Collins emerged as one of the nation's top players after a breakout season this spring. The talented midfielder received All-NEWMAC First Team and All-New England First Team honors for the first time in her young career after tying for the team lead with 54 goals to go along with 14 assists for 68 total points. She also added 34 groundballs, 20 caused turnovers, and a team-high 47 draw controls. The All-America Third Team honor was her first, as she joined Martignetti, teammate Jackie Godfrey (Franklin, Mass.), and Babson Athletics Hall of Famer Tracy Russell '97 as the only All-Americans in program history.

The national awards came on the heels of the program's finest season ever, as Babson won a program-record 16 games against just three losses, claimed its second straight NEWMAC Championship, and made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Beavers also posted their first-ever NCAA Tourney victory with a First Round win at Trinity before finally falling to national runner-up Franklin and Marshall in the Regional Semifinals. The Beavers were nationally ranked by the IWLCA throughout the season for the first time ever, finishing the season ranked 11th in the country.

"This is a wonderful accomplishment for two of the best players I've ever coaches," said head coach Kully Reardon. "Anita has meant everything to our program. She is a fantastic athletes and a tenacious competitor that has truly elevated our program to a whole new level. Words can't describe how much she has meant to Babson and how much we will miss her next year. She is truly one of the College's all-time greats."

"Anna enjoyed a brilliant sophomore season for us," Reardon continued. "She is an outstanding player on both ends of the field, and she really came into her own this spring. She will undoubtedly be one of the cornerstones of our program for the next two years."