Five Bears Named to CSC Academic All-District® One At Large Team

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Five members of the Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team have been selected to the 2025-2026 Academic All-District® One Division III Women's At Large Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).

Earning the honor from the Bears are senior attack Ashley Silva, senior midfielder Meredith Sylvia, sophomore defender Abbey Benotti, sophomore midfielder Taylor Carter and sophomore goalkeeper Sara Skaff.

The 2025-2026 Academic All-District® Women's At Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

To be eligible for all-academic honors, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution and be nominated by her sports information director. A student-athlete must have also competed in 90% of her team's total games played or started 66% of her team's total games for the 2025-2026 season.

Silva, who hails from Rowley, Massachusetts, sports an impressive 3.927 grade point average. She graduated summa cum laude in May at the Xfinity Center with a degree in health science.

Silva notched 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points to go along with 45 ground balls and ten caused turnovers in 57 games (42 starts) over four seasons with the Bears. 

Sylvia, who resides in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, boasts a 3.637 GPA as she graudated magna cum laude last month with a degree in physical education.

In 73 games (67 starts) over four seasons at BSU, Sylvia registered 156 goals and 35 assists for 191 points as well as 174 ground balls, 166 draw controls and 111 caused turnovers. She ranks fourth all-time in program history in caused turnovers, fifth in ground balls and seventh in draw controls.

Sylvia was named the MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2026 and garnered All-MASCAC First Team honors each of the last two seasons.

A native of Nashua, New Hampshire, Benotti is majoring in physical education and checks in with a terrific 3.82 GPA.

In 27 games (20 starts) over her first two seasons with the BSU women's lacrosse team, Benotti has recorded 12 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. She started all 19 games in 2026.

An East Walpole, Massachusetts product, Carter is a health science - pre-occupational therapy major with a marvelous 3.797 GPA.

In 37 games (36 starts) over her first two seasons with the Bears, Carter checks in with 20 goals and 11 assists for 31 points to go along with 60 ground balls, 64 draw controls and 40 caused turnovers.

Skaff rounds out the Bears' five representatives on the 2025-2026 Academic All-District® One Division III Women's At Large Team. The Lowell, Massachusetts native is majoring in cybersecurity and digital forensics and has a splendid 3.752 GPA.

In 37 career games (36 starts) between the pipes, Skaff is 21-15 with 271 saves, a .455 save percentage and a 10.50 goals against average. She also has 61 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers to her credit.

Silva, Sylvia, Benotti, Carter and Skaff are five of 20 student-athletes from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to garner the honor.