ARLINGTON, Va. -- Kelsey Winters was named the Virginia State Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year, while Emma Jackson and Kendall Krause joined her on the first-team All-State squad after starring for Christopher Newport throughout the 2022 campaign.

With her award, Winters became just the second player in program history to earn the state's highest honor, joining former legend Meaghan Galvin, who was celebrated in 2016 and 2017. The junior juggernaut also hauled in first-team All-State accolades for the third straight year.

Along with Winters, Krause received a spot on the All-Virginia team for the second time in her tenure, while Jackson was honored for the first time. Overall, the three first-team selections equaled the most in program history, matching the 2014, 2016, and 2018 squads.

The All-State awards are voted on by the Virginia Sports Information Directors.

Honored as an IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American, Winters pieced together a record-setting season in 2022. During the year, she set a new school standard with 66 assists. That also placed her first in the league and eighth in the entire NCAA. Meanwhile, her 95 points led all conference competitors and marked the fifth-highest total in program lore.

Dominating the opposition, Winters had at least two points in 15 of her 19 appearances. Against Moravian on February 26, she established a new school record with 13 points, while her 10 assists against the Greyhounds equaled the program record. Her 12-point explosion against Virginia Wesleyan on February 18 also marked the most by a Captain in a road tilt.

Winters also registered double-digit point totals against Kean on March 5 and Illinois Wesleyan on April 10, becoming the first Captain to eclipse 10 points on four different occasions in a single season. Fittingly, for her work, the Harwood, Maryland native was celebrated as the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week four times in 2022.

In her career, Winters already ranks second in school history with 136 assists, while her 207 points place her seventh on the all-time charts.

Equally impactful during her second year with the Captains, Jackson previously earned first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Region nods for her work on the defensive unit. Excelling on the back line, she eventually led the conference with 36 ground balls while slotting third overall with 23 takeaways.

In addition to her defensive efforts, Jackson also collected 101 draw controls, which led the conference and ranked third in school history. Among her finest moments, the Mount Airy, Maryland native collected 14 draws in a win over Illinois Wesleyan on April 10, which set a new single-game program standard.

During her fourth season at Christopher Newport, Krause continued to serve as a mainstay on the midfield unit. A USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American and first-team All-Conference and All-Region selection, she flashed her versatility throughout the year. Overall, she ranked second in the league with 33 ground balls, sixth with 38 goals, and ninth with 18 caused turnovers.

Starring on both ends of the field, Krause recorded at least one point in 14 of her appearances, including six hat-tricks. Meanwhile, on the other side, the Ellicott City, Maryland native blanketed the opposition with consistent pressure while notching a takeaway in 13 of her outings, including three in a duel against Lebanon Valley on March 12.

Aided by the efforts of the All-State honorees, Christopher Newport advanced to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship for the second straight year while climbing as high as 22nd in the IWLCA National Coaches Poll.

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