Annapolis, Md. - University at Albany's Nikki Branchini and Taylor Frink have been named to the Synapse Sports Division I Women's Lacrosse All-America Team. UAlbany's John Battaglino was chosen Synapse Sports (formerly womenslacrosse.com) National Coach of the Year. Branchini was a first-team selection, while Frink made the second team. Ariana Parker earned a spot on the national all-rookie team.
     Branchini, a senior defensive midfielder, led the Great Danes to the NCAA quarterfinal round where they lost to eventual national champion Northwestern. The 2011 America East Conference Co-Player of the Year and a first-team All-Northeast Region performer totaled 21 goals and three assists and finished second nationally in draw controls at 5.26 per game. A native of Guilderland, N.Y., Branchini is the first UAlbany player to be voted all-region three times and all-conference on four occasions.
     Frink, who previously was chosen to the WomensLax.com All-America squad, led the nation in assists (2.58 pg) and was tenth in scoring at 4.76 points per game as a senior. The Tewaaraton Award nominee established school single-season records for assists (49) and points (83). A native of Baldwinsville, N.Y., Frink was also a member of the IWLCA All-Northeast Region squad.
     Battaglino received his second national award during the current postseason, as WomensLax.com also named him as Division I's top coach. The America East Conference Coach of the Year guided the Great Danes to the conference's regular-season and tournament championships, plus a school record for single-season victories. UAlbany (18-1) made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the program became a varsity sport in 1992. In addition, the Great Danes earned a national top-10 ranking in both the IWLCA and deBeer/Inside Lacrosse polls.
     Parker, who hails from Kingston, N.Y., was fifth in the America East in goals (2.32 pg) and led the conference in game-winning goals with five. She scored 44 goals, the sixth-highest single-season mark and the second-best total by a UAlbany freshman. Parker, who received national rookie-of-the-week honors twice, was picked to the IWLCA All-Northeast Region first team and All-America East first team.
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Synapse Sports Women's Lacrosse Division I All-America Team
First Team - Nikki Branchini, Albany; Ally Carey, Vanderbilt, Kitty Cullen, Florida; Brittany Dipper, Maryland; Corey Donohoe, North Carolina; Lauren Dykstra, Lehigh; Alex Frank, Northwestern; Katie Gallagher, Maryland; Grace Gavin, Loyola; Emma Hamm, Duke; Mia Hurrin, North Carolina; Christie Kaestner, Duke; Sarah Mollison, Maryland; Katie Schwarzmann, Maryland; Shannon Smith, Northwester; Taylor Thornton, Northwestern

Second Team - Shaylyn Blaney, Notre Dame; Erin Brennan, Penn; Kat Collins, Dartmouth; Lindsey deButts, Princeton; Lizzy Drumm, Princeton; Sam Farrell, Florida; Taylor Frink, Albany; Kristen Giovanniello, Dartmouth; Grace Golden, William & Mary; Kristen Igoe, Boston College; Sarah Jonson, William & Mary; Shannie MacKenzie, Dartmouth; Colleen Magarity, Northwestern; Alayna Markwordt, Ohio State; Kat Thomas, Duke; Jennifer Vandermeulen, Harvard

Third Team - Casey Ancarrow, James Madison; Ashley Bruns, Florida; Cally Chakrian, James Madison; Jackie Doherty, Notre Dame; Liz Downs, Virginia; Allie Emala, Virginia Tech; Mary Flowers, Richmond; Leslie Foard, Stanford; Becky Lynch, North Carolina; Laura Merrifield, Maryland; Logan McCraw, Georgetown; Abby Rehfuss, Loyola; Erin Tochihara, Princeton; Michelle Tumolo, Syracuse; Kim Wenger, Duke; Brittany Wilton, Boston College

All-Rookie - Taylor Blazer, Richmond; Kaitlyn Brosco, Notre Dame; Brandi Byner, Vanderbilt; Taylor D'Amore, Johns Hopkins; Katie Ferris, Massachusetts; Abbey Friend, North Carolina; Kristen Giovanniello, Dartmouth; Maddy Keeshan, Virginia; Alyssa Leonard, Northwestern; Sydney Mas, Vermont; Lydia Miller, Penn; Ariana Parker, Albany; Marlee Paton, Loyola; Taylor Virden, Duke; Katie Webster, Syracuse; Ana White, Lafayette

Goalie of the Year: Brittany Dipper (Maryland)
Defender of the Year: Taylor Thornton (Northwestern)
Midfielder of the Year: Katie Schwarzmann (Maryland)
Attacker of the Year: Shannon Smith (Northwestern)
Rookie of the Year: Kristen Giovanniello (Dartmouth)
Unsung Hero of the Year: Colleen Magarity (Northwestern)
Coach of the Year: John Battaglino (Albany)