Photo by: Mason Seidt | Louisville Athletics
Louisville Lacrosse 2026 Postseason Awards Announced
September 07, 2026 | Women's Lacrosse
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With a new season on the horizon, the University of Louisville lacrosse team has announced the team awards for the 2026 campaign. The Cardinals' coaching staff revealed the recipients of the Iron Cardinal, Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Integrity Award, Cardinal Game Changer and the Legacy Award.
The Iron Cardinal is awarded each year to the top two individuals on the team, reflecting overall athleticism and performance metrics.
• Through a number of performance assessments, Ella Berg and Ella Terrell have both displayed elite levels of fitness, strength, power, speed, and agility. These individuals are representative of the most elite athletes at the University of Louisville.
• Started every game
• Led the team with 35 ground balls, standing fifth in the ACC with 2.33 ground balls per game.
• Led Louisville with 21 caused turnovers
• Led the Cards in points with a team-high 34 goals and dished out eight assists
• Ranked 10th in the ACC with 2.27 goals per game
• Stood second on the team with 46 draw controls and fourth with 21 ground balls
• Finished 2026 with a season-long 15-game point streak, registering at least one point in all of the Cardinals' contests and scored at least one goal in 14 of Louisville's 15 games with eight multi-goal performances.
• Earned All-ACC third team honors
• Named an IWLCA midseason All-American honorable mention. (Apr. 1)
• Started every game in goal
• In her first season as a starter led, Division I in saves per game with 11.93
• Paced the ACC in saves with 179, standing fifth nationally
• Her .499 save percentage stood atop ACC goalies and ranked seventh nationally
• Finished her sophomore campaign with 10 double-digit save games
• Against Florida State (March 4), recorded a program-record 19 save performance which stood as the third highest total for any Division I goalie in the 2026 season
• With 10 saves against Notre Dame, she finished her sophomore campaign with 10 double-digit save games (April 16)
• Ranks second on Louisville's all-time single season list with 179 saves and fourth with a .499 save percentage
• Stands eighth on UofL's career list as sophomore with 186 stops
• Made her first start in the season opening game against Ohio State. She posted 16 saves in that contest (Feb. 10)
Recognizes a player whose unique contributions impacted the game and created opportunities for our team to succeed.
• Named to the All-ACC Third Team
• Started all 15 games
• Led the team with 105 draw controls becoming only the fourth Cardinal to ever reach 100 draw controls in a single season and standing fourth in UofL's single season record book.
• Her 7.0 draw controls per game were fifth best in the ACC and 28th nationally
• Set a then-career high of 13 draw controls against top-ranked North Carolina. Also, in that game surpassed 100 career draw controls. (Feb. 22)
• Immediately following the UNC game, she established a new career benchmark with 15 draw control victories against Canisius. (Feb. 25). That mark stands fourth in Louisville's all-time single game history.
The Integrity Award is given to a Louisville Lacrosse player who has consistently demonstrated outstanding moral character, honesty, and the values we hold dear in this program. This individual not only represents what it means to be a great teammate but also a great human being. They lead by example, treat others with respect, and are always there for their teammates, whether it's during a tough practice or a difficult moment off the field.
• Following her freshman season, she was sidelined by injury for the majority of her collegiate career while serving as a leader off the field
• Served as a member of Louisville's Student-Athlete Advisory committee
Legacy Award – Rian Adkins
Highest team honor, recognizing a player whose on- and off-the-field contributions ensured they left the program in a better place than they found it.
• 2026 Team Co-Captain
• Made in immediate impact as a freshman and went on to play in 61 games, scoring 40 goals with 19 assists and collecting 55 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers and 32 draw controls throughout her career.
• Helped the team advance to the second round of the ACC tournament in 2024
2026 Milestones Achieved
Abbie Dunlap
• First career goal (vs. Canisius February 25)
Grayce Kitchen
• First career goal (at Virginia Tech February 14)
Mia Lusardi
• First career goal (at Cincinnati March 12)
Haley Richards
• Set a new program record with 19 saves in a single game. (vs. Florida State, March 4)
• Reached 100 career saves (vs. Cincinnati March 12)
• Reached 100 saves on the season (vs. Duke, March 14)
Olivia Scroggie
•100th Career Draw Control (vs. North Carolina February 22)
• 100th Season Draw Control (vs. Notre Dame April 16)
Elizabeth Shean (at Louisville)
• First goal with the Cards (vs. Duke March 14)
Iron CardinalsThis week we will be rolling out our 2026 team awards ...
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) August 31, 2026
Congrats to our Iron Cards, Ella Berg & Ella Terrell ??#GoCards pic.twitter.com/0Q5gxNBevM
The Iron Cardinal is awarded each year to the top two individuals on the team, reflecting overall athleticism and performance metrics.
• Through a number of performance assessments, Ella Berg and Ella Terrell have both displayed elite levels of fitness, strength, power, speed, and agility. These individuals are representative of the most elite athletes at the University of Louisville.
Rookie of the Year – Avery JohnstonOur 2026 Rookie of the Year, Avery Johnston ??#GoCards pic.twitter.com/R9Ys7LZPww
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) September 1, 2026
• Started every game
• Led the team with 35 ground balls, standing fifth in the ACC with 2.33 ground balls per game.
• Led Louisville with 21 caused turnovers
Offensive Player of the Year – Ella BergAnother for Ella ??
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) September 2, 2026
She is our 2026 Offensive Player of the Year#GoCards pic.twitter.com/Y9nb0CnHPA
• Led the Cards in points with a team-high 34 goals and dished out eight assists
• Ranked 10th in the ACC with 2.27 goals per game
• Stood second on the team with 46 draw controls and fourth with 21 ground balls
• Finished 2026 with a season-long 15-game point streak, registering at least one point in all of the Cardinals' contests and scored at least one goal in 14 of Louisville's 15 games with eight multi-goal performances.
Defensive Player of the Year – Haley RichardsA brick wall ??
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) September 3, 2026
Our 2026 Defensive Player of the Year is Haley Richards!#GoCards pic.twitter.com/exugN82y0m
• Earned All-ACC third team honors
• Named an IWLCA midseason All-American honorable mention. (Apr. 1)
• Started every game in goal
• In her first season as a starter led, Division I in saves per game with 11.93
• Paced the ACC in saves with 179, standing fifth nationally
• Her .499 save percentage stood atop ACC goalies and ranked seventh nationally
• Finished her sophomore campaign with 10 double-digit save games
• Against Florida State (March 4), recorded a program-record 19 save performance which stood as the third highest total for any Division I goalie in the 2026 season
• With 10 saves against Notre Dame, she finished her sophomore campaign with 10 double-digit save games (April 16)
• Ranks second on Louisville's all-time single season list with 179 saves and fourth with a .499 save percentage
• Stands eighth on UofL's career list as sophomore with 186 stops
• Made her first start in the season opening game against Ohio State. She posted 16 saves in that contest (Feb. 10)
Cardinal Game Changer – Olivia ScroggieChanged the game ??
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) September 4, 2026
Olivia Scroggie is our 2026 Game Changer Award winner!#GoCards pic.twitter.com/K5XZv1Xyd5
Recognizes a player whose unique contributions impacted the game and created opportunities for our team to succeed.
• Named to the All-ACC Third Team
• Started all 15 games
• Led the team with 105 draw controls becoming only the fourth Cardinal to ever reach 100 draw controls in a single season and standing fourth in UofL's single season record book.
• Her 7.0 draw controls per game were fifth best in the ACC and 28th nationally
• Set a then-career high of 13 draw controls against top-ranked North Carolina. Also, in that game surpassed 100 career draw controls. (Feb. 22)
• Immediately following the UNC game, she established a new career benchmark with 15 draw control victories against Canisius. (Feb. 25). That mark stands fourth in Louisville's all-time single game history.
Integrity Award – Aubrey BagenstoseOur 2026 Integrity Award winner is Aubrey Bagenstose ??#GoCards pic.twitter.com/m8c91iRaEw
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) September 5, 2026
The Integrity Award is given to a Louisville Lacrosse player who has consistently demonstrated outstanding moral character, honesty, and the values we hold dear in this program. This individual not only represents what it means to be a great teammate but also a great human being. They lead by example, treat others with respect, and are always there for their teammates, whether it's during a tough practice or a difficult moment off the field.
• Following her freshman season, she was sidelined by injury for the majority of her collegiate career while serving as a leader off the field
• Served as a member of Louisville's Student-Athlete Advisory committee
Truly gave her all for The Ville & left this program and city better than she found it.
— Louisville Lacrosse (@LouisvilleLax) September 7, 2026
Congrats to our Legacy Award winner, Rian Adkins! #GoCards pic.twitter.com/hoFkxbNC5L
Legacy Award – Rian Adkins
Highest team honor, recognizing a player whose on- and off-the-field contributions ensured they left the program in a better place than they found it.
• 2026 Team Co-Captain
• Made in immediate impact as a freshman and went on to play in 61 games, scoring 40 goals with 19 assists and collecting 55 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers and 32 draw controls throughout her career.
• Helped the team advance to the second round of the ACC tournament in 2024
2026 Milestones Achieved
Abbie Dunlap
• First career goal (vs. Canisius February 25)
Grayce Kitchen
• First career goal (at Virginia Tech February 14)
Mia Lusardi
• First career goal (at Cincinnati March 12)
Haley Richards
• Set a new program record with 19 saves in a single game. (vs. Florida State, March 4)
• Reached 100 career saves (vs. Cincinnati March 12)
• Reached 100 saves on the season (vs. Duke, March 14)
Olivia Scroggie
•100th Career Draw Control (vs. North Carolina February 22)
• 100th Season Draw Control (vs. Notre Dame April 16)
Elizabeth Shean (at Louisville)
• First goal with the Cards (vs. Duke March 14)
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/ Women's LacrosseWednesday, March 25
Saturday, March 21
Saturday, March 21
Thursday, March 12
