University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Seven Tar Heels Named USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America
January 17, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Seven University of North Carolina women's lacrosse players earned preseason All-America honors from USA Lacrosse ahead of the 2024 campaign, as announced by the organization Wednesday afternoon.Â
Receiving preseason praise is Brooklyn Walker-Welch on the first team, Emily Nalls on the second team and Caitlyn Wurzburger on the third team. Reilly Casey, Alyssa Long, Alecia Nicholas and Marissa White were named honorable mention.Â
Carolina's seven preseason selections are tied for the second most in the country. UNC was also picked third in the USA Lacrosse preseason poll last month.Â
One of the best defenders in the country, Walker-Welch anchored a Carolina defense that limited opponents to an ACC-leading 8.4 goals per game in addition to recording 29 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers last year. The now-junior garnered ILWomen First Team All-America, All-South Region First Team and All-ACC First Team accolades.
Nalls, also an elite defender, returns to Chapel Hill for her fifth year after earning IWLCA First Team All-America, All-South Region First Team and All-ACC First Team selections a year ago. The Tewaaraton Award Top-25 nominee led the roster with 30 caused turnovers and 33 ground balls, also finishing the 2023 season with 48 draw controls.
Entering her senior campaign, Wurzburger capped off the 2023 season with 37 goals as well as a team-leading 35 assists and 72 points. The attacker, who was an Honorable Mention All-America and All-ACC Second Team pick, currently ranks fourth in program history with 94 career assists and 13th with 201 career points.
Capping off a breakout redshirt-sophomore season at attack, Casey tied for a team-leading 72 points behind 38 goals and 35 assists. She set single-season career highs in all statistical categories, even receiving All-ACC Second Team and Honorable Mention All-America praise by USA Lacrosse Magazine and ILWomen.
Long, a senior midfielder, is coming off a stellar junior season that saw her earn Third Team All-America honors from IWLCA as well as an honorable mention from USA Lacrosse Magazine. She was also tabbed to the IWLCA All-South Region First Team and All-ACC Second Team after tallying 19 goals, eight assists and 34 draw controls.
Nicholas assumed the role of starting goalkeeper as a sophomore, finishing the year with a .466 save percentage and 8.51 goals-against average while tying for the team lead with 33 ground balls. She was named the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 14, was tabbed to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and collected Honorable Mention All-America praise by USA Lacrosse Magazine.Â
Helping lead the Tar Heels offensively was White, who ended her freshman campaign with a team-high 46 goals, also adding three assists for 49 points last year. She had 14 multi-point games, was picked to the ACC All-Freshman Team and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors by USA Lacrosse Magazine.Â
UNC's 2024 USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America Selections:
First Team
Brooklyn Walker-Welch
Second Team
Emily Nalls
Third Team
Caitlyn Wurzburger
Honorable Mention
Reilly Casey
Alyssa Long
Alecia Nicholas
Marissa White
The Tar Heels begin their season on Feb. 10 at James Madison before the 2024 home opener on Feb. 13 against Liberty. The complete schedule can be found here.
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Receiving preseason praise is Brooklyn Walker-Welch on the first team, Emily Nalls on the second team and Caitlyn Wurzburger on the third team. Reilly Casey, Alyssa Long, Alecia Nicholas and Marissa White were named honorable mention.Â
Carolina's seven preseason selections are tied for the second most in the country. UNC was also picked third in the USA Lacrosse preseason poll last month.Â
One of the best defenders in the country, Walker-Welch anchored a Carolina defense that limited opponents to an ACC-leading 8.4 goals per game in addition to recording 29 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers last year. The now-junior garnered ILWomen First Team All-America, All-South Region First Team and All-ACC First Team accolades.
Nalls, also an elite defender, returns to Chapel Hill for her fifth year after earning IWLCA First Team All-America, All-South Region First Team and All-ACC First Team selections a year ago. The Tewaaraton Award Top-25 nominee led the roster with 30 caused turnovers and 33 ground balls, also finishing the 2023 season with 48 draw controls.
Entering her senior campaign, Wurzburger capped off the 2023 season with 37 goals as well as a team-leading 35 assists and 72 points. The attacker, who was an Honorable Mention All-America and All-ACC Second Team pick, currently ranks fourth in program history with 94 career assists and 13th with 201 career points.
Capping off a breakout redshirt-sophomore season at attack, Casey tied for a team-leading 72 points behind 38 goals and 35 assists. She set single-season career highs in all statistical categories, even receiving All-ACC Second Team and Honorable Mention All-America praise by USA Lacrosse Magazine and ILWomen.
Long, a senior midfielder, is coming off a stellar junior season that saw her earn Third Team All-America honors from IWLCA as well as an honorable mention from USA Lacrosse Magazine. She was also tabbed to the IWLCA All-South Region First Team and All-ACC Second Team after tallying 19 goals, eight assists and 34 draw controls.
Nicholas assumed the role of starting goalkeeper as a sophomore, finishing the year with a .466 save percentage and 8.51 goals-against average while tying for the team lead with 33 ground balls. She was named the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 14, was tabbed to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and collected Honorable Mention All-America praise by USA Lacrosse Magazine.Â
Helping lead the Tar Heels offensively was White, who ended her freshman campaign with a team-high 46 goals, also adding three assists for 49 points last year. She had 14 multi-point games, was picked to the ACC All-Freshman Team and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors by USA Lacrosse Magazine.Â
UNC's 2024 USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America Selections:
First Team
Brooklyn Walker-Welch
Second Team
Emily Nalls
Third Team
Caitlyn Wurzburger
Honorable Mention
Reilly Casey
Alyssa Long
Alecia Nicholas
Marissa White
The Tar Heels begin their season on Feb. 10 at James Madison before the 2024 home opener on Feb. 13 against Liberty. The complete schedule can be found here.
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Attacker
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Goalkeeper
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Defender
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Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attacker
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