Crumbacher Repeats As Great Midwest Tourney MVP, Five Eagles Honored In All

Ashland University's women's lacrosse team likes things in twos.
 
Two straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season championships. Two consecutive Great Midwest Tournament titles. Two NCAA Division II postseason appearances in a row.
 
And, as of Wednesday (May 6) afternoon, two consecutive Great Midwest Tournament Most Valuable Player awards for senior attacker Rachel Crumbacher. Crumbacher earned the distinction once again after posting a total of nine goals and six assists for 15 points, and 16 draw controls, in the Eagles' 22-3 win over Walsh in the semifinals, then a 22-6 win vs. Tiffin the championship game – both contests at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.
 
Joining Crumbacher on the all-tournament team are senior goalkeeper Annie Duncan, senior defender Lauren Hinders, and sophomore midfielders Tori Wanat and Nataley Blackburn. In those two tourney victories, Duncan (five saves) and Hinders combined with the rest of the defense to keep AU's opponents to a total of nine goals, Wanat had six goals and three assists for nine points, as well as 12 draw controls, and Blackburn finished with five goals and an assist for six points.
 
Ashland is 15-4 overall, and is riding a 12-game winning streak into the first round of the D-II playoffs on Thursday (May 7) at 4 p.m. in Indianapolis, Ind., vs. Grand Valley State.
  Trinity Stowell, Walsh
Mya Marshall, Walsh
Kathryn Martin, Findlay
Carrigan McCormack, Findlay
Lauren Walsh, Tiffin
Isabelle Vranjes, Tiffin
Kenna Wigginton, Tiffin
Aryanna Rykard, Tiffin
Nataley Blackburn, Ashland
Tori Wanat, Ashland
Lauren Hinders, Ashland
Annie Duncan, Ashland
Rachel Crumbacher, Ashland (MVP)