NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 29, 2026) – Wilmington University senior Ella Royer has been voted the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year. Royer, who was also named to the All-CACC First Team at midfield, headlines the all-conference teams and major award winners announced today by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara. The voting was conducted by the conference’s 10 head coaches.
University of Bridgeport freshman attack Payton Noack was selected as the 2026 CACC Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year. Jenna Rigo, a senior defender from Dominican University New York, repeated as Defensive Player of the Year honors, as did Thomas Jefferson University junior Kalyn Ammerlaan as the Goalkeeper of the Year. Noack, Rigo and Ammerlaan also nabbed All-CACC First-Team honors. Chestnut Hill College head coach Liz Martin was voted the 2026 Athletic Solutions CACC Coach of the Year by her peers, and Caldwell University is the winner of the Women’s Lacrosse Team Sportsmanship Award.
Royer, from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, is the CACC Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. During the 2026 campaign, she became the all-time leading goal scorer in NCAA Division II history, currently with 360. On the season, she owns 83 goals and 22 assists for 105 points, and is ranked fourth nationally in Division II with 4.61 goals per game. Additionally, Royer tops the CACC with 80 draw controls. Royer has helped lead the Wildcats to a spot in Thursday’s CACC semifinals.
Noack tops all CACC freshmen in scoring. The Center Moriches, N.Y., native has 45 goals and seven assists in 15 games. She ranks sixth in the CACC with 3.00 goals per game and 10th with 3.47 points per game. Noack also leads the conference with 5.07 draw controls per contest. The Purple Knights reached the CACC playoffs, falling in Tuesday’s first round.
Rigo, of East Islip, N.Y., has helped nationally-ranked Dominican to own the No. 6 scoring defense in Division II. The Chargers allow just 6.56 goals per game. Individually, she tops the CACC with 52 caused turnovers and is third with 46 ground balls. Rigo is the CACC’s career leader in caused turnovers with 190. Rigo and the Chargers are the No. 1 seed in the CACC playoffs and host Georgian Court on Thursday.
Ammerlaan has started all 17 games in goal for the Rams, backing the nation’s No. 7 defense. The Branchburg, N.J., native is 12-4 with a 6.82 goals-against average (3rd in the CACC), a .520 save percentage (3rd), and 7.00 saves per game (5th). Ammerlaan and Jefferson will host Wilmington during Thursday’s semifinal round.
Martin led Chestnut Hill (8-7, 4-5 CACC) to a five-victory improvement from 2025. The Griffins made their first CACC playoff appearance since 2019 and finished with an overall winning record for the first time since 2018.
Caldwell, guided by head coach Amanda Picozzi, was the coaches’ choice for demonstrating class and character throughout the regular season.
The 2026 CACC women’s lacrosse major award winners and all-conference teams are listed below.
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ella Royer (Wilmington University)
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Payton Noack (University of Bridgeport)
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jenna Rigo (Dominican University)
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kalyn Ammerlaan (Thomas Jefferson University)
2026 ATHLETIC SOLUTIONS CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR
Liz Martin (Chestnut Hill College)
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Caldwell University
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE FIRST-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
GK – Kalyn Ammerlaan (Thomas Jefferson University)
A – Meaghan Avanzato (Thomas Jefferson University)
A – Madelyn Grella (Dominican University)
A – Madison Mileti (Dominican University)
A – Payton Noack (University of Bridgeport)
A – Alexa Preston (Dominican University)
M – Tara Dimaio (University of Bridgeport)
M & DRAW – Iris Gluck (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Nena Menard (Georgian Court University)
M – Caitlin Petrellese (Georgian Court University)
M – Ella Royer (Wilmington University)
D – Audrey Cashin (Thomas Jefferson University)
D – Jenna Rigo (Dominican University)
D – Addison Rivera (Georgian Court University)
D – Ava Sztenderowicz (Thomas Jefferson University)
2026 CACC WOMEN’S LACROSSE SECOND-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
GK – Daniela Parisi (Dominican University)
GK – Ashleigh Lawry (Wilmington University)
DRAW – Payton Noack (University of Bridgeport)
DRAW – Caitlin Petrellese (Georgian Court University)
A – Gabrielle Battle (Georgian Court University)
A – Tristan Holdsworth (Wilmington University)
A – Alea Javorowsky (Wilmington University)
A – Lilly Lutz (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Dani Cox (Dominican University)
M – Kirra Crowley (Wilmington University)
M – Reagan Rogers (Thomas Jefferson University)
M – Leah Rycroft (Wilmington University)
D – Caryss Kehl (Post University)
D – Payton LaVallee (Dominican University)
D – Kaley Maxwell (University of Bridgeport)
D – Caitlyn Welker (Wilmington University)
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.