NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - For the first time in program history, College of Saint Benedict lacrosse was recognized by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) for academic excellence. Saint Benedict hauled in four academic honors, as three Bennies were named to the academic honor roll while the team earned academic squad honors, announced by the organization Wednesday, July 22.
Seniors Grace Fitzgibbons (Minneapolis, Minn./Academic of Holy Angels) and
Sami Hackley (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), and junior
Tess Cavanaugh (Edina, Minn./Visitation) represented CSB on the academic honor roll in its inaugural appearance after completing the program's fourth season of collegiate competition.
The IWLCA Honor Roll recognizes junior, senior, and graduate student-athletes that have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher. In total, the IWLCA honored 1,350 student-athletes from 174 institutions at the Division III level.
In order for a program to qualify for the Academic Squad Award, the team must have posted a 3.20 GPA or better for the academic year. Saint Benedict was one of 357 teams across Division I, II, III and NAIA to receive the team award.
Fitzgibbons, a double major in global business and computer science, appeared in eight games for the Bennies during the 2026 campaign. She recorded two goals and a pair of assists for four points, 19 draw controls, and five ground balls as a midfielder for CSB. Over the course of her career, Fitzgibbons reeled in First Team All-Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) honors (2023 & 2024), Academic All-MWLC Squad honors (2024), College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors (2024), was named to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Scholastic Honor Roll (2025) and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society in 2025.
Majoring in biology, Hackley hauls in her first IWLCA honor after a decorated career for CSB. The senior led the team with 37 goals and 47 points after appearing in 12 games this season. Hackley tacked on 10 assists, 23 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers, and one draw control to her loaded stat line. The Plymouth, Minn. native stacks the academic honor roll award to her list of CSB Athlete of the Year finalist (2023 & 2026), All-WIAC (2026), Second Team All-MWLC (2024), WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll (2025), Second Team All-WIAC (2025), Academic All-MWLC (2024), MWLC Offensive Player of the Week (April 29, 2024), St. Cloud Orthopedics/CSB Athlete of the Week (March 18, 2024), CSB Rookie of the Year Finalist (2023), MWLC Rookie of the Year (2023), First Team All-MWLC (2023), and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society in 2026.
An economics and theology double major with a minor in Hispanic studies, Cavanaugh collects the academic accolade after appearing in all 13 games this past season. She recorded seven goals and three assists for 10 points, 19 draw controls, 16 ground balls, and six caused turnovers. Cavanuagh has previously been named CSC Academic All-District (2026), CSB Scholar-Athlete of the Year Finalist (2026), WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll (2025), recipient of the MWLC sportsmanship honor (2024 & 2025), Academic All-MWLC (2024), and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society in 2026.
The Bennies were one of three WIAC institutions to earn the academic squad honor, as they were joined by Colorado College and University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Fitzgibbons, Hackley, and Cavanaugh were three of 28 WIAC student-athletes to be named to the academic honor roll, as Colorado College, UW-River Falls, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Augsburg University were also represented. CC led the way with 11 honorees.
