The Tusculum University women’s lacrosse team has been named as an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic Honor Squad for the 2024-25 academic year, the IWLCA announced Wednesday.
Two members of the Pioneer teams, senior attack Cassidy Bourne and junior midfielder Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg, were named to the Division II Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or greater. A total of 588 students from 84 different institutions earned Division II Academic Honor Roll honors for the 2024-25 year. Eligible nominees must be a junior, senior or graduate student.
Tusculum received IWLCA Academic Honor Squad honors for the fourth straight year and the eighth time in the program’s 11-year history. The women’s lacrosse team had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.41 for the 2024-25 academic year, which included 14 players on the South Atlantic Conference Commissioners Honor Roll for having a GPA of 3.30 or better during 2024-25.
Bourne led the Pioneers with 38 goals and was second on the team in both assists (20) and points (58) during the 2025 season. The Kent, Ohio native scored at least one goal in 15 of the Pioneers’ 17 matches, and had four goals or more in five different games. In two seasons, Bourne was 10th in career points at Tusculum with 96 and third in assists with 37, to go along with 59 goals in 33 career games. Bourne graduated cum laude from Tusculum in May with a bachelor of arts degree in sport science.
Carolin-Vandenberg led the Pioneers with 34 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers during the 2025 season, while adding career highs with 13 goals, four assists and 17 points in 17 matches. The Yarraville, Australia native caused at least one turnover in 13 of the Pioneers’ 17 games, and had a season-high six ground balls against North Greenville on Feb. 26. Carolin-Vandenberg currently ranks eighth in program history with 90 ground balls and fifth in caused turnovers with 50 in three seasons.
Last month, both Bourne and Carolin-Vandenberg were named to the 2025 NCAA Division II Women’s At-Large Academic All-District® 3 first team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Tusculum finished the 2025 season with an 8-9 overall record and a 4-7 mark in South Atlantic Conference play. The Pioneers’ eight victories were the most in a season for the program since 2016.
