Four Standouts Selected in WPLL Draft

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - After each being named Tewaaraton nominees earlier today, four standouts from the No. 1 Boston College women's lacrosse team have been selected in the 2019 Women's Professional Lacrosse League Spring Draft. In just the second year of the league, seniors Sam Apuzzo, Dempsey Arsenault and Kenzie Kent were taken as the first three selections while Elizabeth Miller was the first overall defender taken.

Apuzzo, the reigning Tewaaraton Award recipient, was selected by the WPLL Fight with the first overall pick. The attacker has been topping the ranks nationally throughout her collegiate finale, putting up 72 goals and 26 assists through 18 games this season as the Eagles have remained undefeated. Apuzzo holds three Boston College career records (points, goals and draw controls) and is currently one of just two players in the nation to be in the top-20 rankings of both shots per game and shooting percentage.

"We are thrilled to get Sam as the #1 pick in the WPLL Draft," shared Fight head coach Shannon Smith. "Sam is the best player in college lacrosse, she is going to automatically make our team that much better. She is a lethal goal scorer, she is tremendous on the draw, and she makes things happen with or without the ball in her stick. I am excited to watch her be able to play with fellow Fight attackers Kylie Ohlmiller and Kayla Treanor, it is going to be a fun dynamic out there. And most importantly I am excited to have the opportunity to go full-circle with Sam, and be able to coach her at the pro level. Our families are extremely close, we grew up with one another, so I am really excited to be able to go full-circle with her. She is going to do great things for us on the WPLL Fight."

Arsenault, a four-year starter for the Eagles, has been selected by the WPLL Brave with the second overall pick in the draft. A balanced threat both offensively and defensively, the midfielder has been a do-it-all athlete for the Eagles, ranking in the top-10 in program history for career points, goals, assists, ground balls and draw controls.
"Dempsey Arsenault has to be the best midfielder in the collegiate game currently. We couldn't be more thrilled to draft her to the Brave, to be able to utilize her versatility, her speed, her offensive skills, her defensive skills, this is a player that is just well-equipped from end to end", commented Brave head coach Sonia Lamonica. "To be able to integrate her into a midfield with Marie McCool, Amanda Johansen, Laura Zimmerman, among others, you're talking about a midfield that will do lots of damage.

With the third overall pick in the draft, Kent was selected by the WPLL Command. A dual-sport superstar for Boston College's lacrosse and women's hockey teams, Kent has racked up 229 points over her abbreviated 48-game career. Averaging 4.77 points per game through her career, the attack had led the nation in assists and been at the top in points throughout her final season with the Eagles. She shattered the single-season program record of 41 assists through just 12 games, as she currently has put up 58 assist through 18 games. Kent was also drafted as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NWHL Draft by the Boston Pride.

"We are thrilled to be able to add Kenzie Kent to the WPLL Command. She is so dynamic, both in ice hockey and lacrosse, it is absolutely unheard of in this day and age to see somebody excel and be so prolific in both sports at the D1 level. The transfer that she has from ice hockey to lacrosse, with her quick hands, her vision, how creative she is; she can score, she can assist, and she is tough to stop with her impressive field vision. We are excited to have someone of her caliber join us," commented Command head coach Amy Patton.

With the 16th overall pick, the WPLL Pride selected Miller as the first defender taken. Another four-year starter for the Eagles defensive core, Miller has been a vital part of gaining ball possession as a defender and draw winner. Her versatility has been a key to the Eagles' success over her career and earned her IWLCA Defender of the Year nods as a junior.

"Elizabeth is a strong and aggressive defender who does a fantastic job on BC's draw circle and team. Her ability to gain valuable possessions off the draw with be huge for our team this summer," added Katie Rowan, Pride head coach. "We look forward to the addition of Elizabeth to our team and defensive unit."

The group will join Eagle alums Kate Weeks, Kristin Igoe, Caroline Margolis and current BC assistant coach Kayla Treanor on the professional field as the teams begin their season on June 2.

Players Mentioned

Sam Apuzzo

Dempsey Arsenault

Kenzie Kent

Elizabeth Miller

Kate Weeks

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