The standard talk about adjusting to the college game apparently doesn't apply to Carthage's Katie Ferris.

The former high school standout for the Comets has made an unmistakable impact on the University at Massachusetts women's lacrosse team in her freshman season, culminating in her selection Thursday as the Atlantic 10 Conference's Rookie of the Year.

Ferris, who plays attack for UMass, is the first player from the school to win the conference's rookie of the year honor. She was also one of four UMass players named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference first team.

Ferris already is fourth all-time in school history in single-season goals with 47 through the regular season and needs five more to tie the record of 52 set by Kathleen Typadis four years ago.

Ferris is the top-scoring freshman player in the nation among NCAA Division I schools with 58 points (47 goals, 11 assists). She leads all Atlantic 10 players in goals per game (3.36) and shots per game (7.07). She is second in the league points per game (4.14) and game-winning goals (4).

Ferris is part of a three-play contingent on the league all-rookie team, a record for the program. She joined three teammates on the league's first team, and three more UMass players appear on the second team under first-year head coach Angela McMahon, who was named the conference's coach of the year.

UMass holds a 7-0 regular season mark, its first perfect mark in history and is 14-2 overall. The Minutewomen start the conference tournament today as the top seed. UMass will play No. 4 Duquesne at 3:30 p.m. at Temple's Geasey Field.

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