Shannon Von Kaenel is a college lacrosse player from Pennsylvania who set a Slippery Rock University single-season record with 193 draw controls in 2026. Playing as an attack and draw specialist, she helped the women’s lacrosse team win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship and earned national recognition for her individual performances.
Her development from a high school multisport athlete to a record-setting NCAA Division II player included a significant increase in playing time between 2024 and 2026. Alongside her athletic achievements, she has received academic recognition and has been listed as a coach with Steel City Lacrosse Club.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shannon Von Kaenel |
| Hometown | Sewickley, Pennsylvania |
| High school | Quaker Valley High School |
| University | Slippery Rock University |
| Sport | Women’s lacrosse |
| Playing position | Attack and draw specialist |
| Jersey number | 31 |
| Major | Early childhood and special education |
Who Is Shannon Von Kaenel in College Lacrosse?
Shannon Von Kaenel represents Slippery Rock University in NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse. Originally from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, she was listed as a junior on the university’s 2026 roster and wore jersey No. 31.
Her primary responsibilities involve draw controls, an important part of possession in women’s lacrosse. Draw specialists compete to gain control of the ball when play begins or resumes following a goal, helping their teams secure scoring opportunities.
Although her university roster identifies her as an attack and draw specialist, the PSAC has also classified her as a midfielder for conference awards. Her national and regional recognitions have primarily been associated with her work in the draw circle.
By the end of the 2026 season, she had accumulated 277 career draw controls, placing her second in Slippery Rock’s recorded career rankings at that time.
From Quaker Valley High School to Slippery Rock
Before entering college, Von Kaenel attended Quaker Valley High School, where she participated in several sports.
Her athletic background included four varsity letters in lacrosse, three in basketball and two in soccer. Slippery Rock’s official biography also credits her with earning high school lacrosse All-American recognition in 2023.
She began her collegiate career in 2024, making her debut during a victory over Lock Haven. Her freshman season consisted of four appearances without a start, during which she recorded six goals, three draw controls, three ground balls, and two caused turnovers.
One of her most productive early performances came against Edinboro on May 1, 2024, when she scored four goals.
Her responsibilities expanded during the following season. According to her updated university biography, she started 21 games in 2025 and recorded 81 draw controls, ranking second among her teammates in that category.
She also contributed one goal, one assist, five ground balls, and five caused turnovers.
The university’s separately accessible 2025 cumulative statistics display a smaller set of 10 games and 52 draw controls. However, its later career-total reporting is consistent with the 81 draw controls listed in her updated player biography.
After appearing in four games in 2024, Von Kaenel became a regular starter in 2025 before setting Slippery Rock’s single-season draw-control record in 2026.
How Von Kaenel Broke the Slippery Rock Draw-Control Record
The 2026 season marked Von Kaenel’s strongest statistical performance in college lacrosse.
Starting all 21 games, she collected 193 draw controls, surpassing Slippery Rock’s previous single-season program record. Her total represented an average of approximately 9.19 draw controls per game.
Her ability to win possessions was especially evident against Lock Haven on April 25, 2026, when she registered a career-high 17 draw controls.
The 17-draw-control performance was one of the individual results contributing to her season total of 193.
Although draw controls became her defining statistical contribution, she also participated in the team’s offensive and defensive play.
Across the 2026 season, her recorded statistics included:
- 193 draw controls
- Eight goals
- Seven assists
- Nine ground balls
- Nine caused turnovers
Her eight goals and seven assists gave her 15 offensive points for the season.
The record also changed her standing in the university’s career statistics. With three draw controls in 2024, 81 in 2025 according to her updated biography, and 193 in 2026, she reached 277 career draw controls.
Slippery Rock’s June 2026 reporting placed her second on the university’s all-time career list.
The 193 draw controls established a Slippery Rock single-season record, while her national statistical recognition concerned her performance among Division II players during the same season.
Her 2026 All-American and Conference Recognition
Von Kaenel’s individual performances received recognition from several collegiate lacrosse organizations during 2026.
On March 31, she was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week following Slippery Rock victories against Edinboro and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Across those two games, she recorded 19 draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. She added three goals and an assist to her performances across the two games.
Her season-long conference recognition followed on April 29, when PSAC coaches selected her for the All-PSAC West Second Team as a midfielder.
National recognition arrived in May.
On May 12, USA Lacrosse Magazine named her a Division II Third-Team All-American at the draw position. She was included among 73 players from 28 institutions selected for the publication’s 2026 All-American teams.
The following day, the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) recognized her as a First-Team Atlantic All-Region draw specialist.
Another NCAA Division II draw specialist, Kylee Pickens, earned USA Lacrosse All-American and IWLCA All-Region recognition in 2026.
These were separate honours awarded by different organizations, with USA Lacrosse recognizing her nationally and the IWLCA selecting her for its regional team.
Her individual achievements were part of a successful season for Slippery Rock’s women’s lacrosse program.
The team finished with a 20–1 record, claimed the outright PSAC championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Von Kaenel was also among six Slippery Rock players to receive USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American recognition that year.
The university reported in May 2026 that its six recognized players had another season of eligibility and planned to return in 2027.
Academic Achievements and Lacrosse Coaching
Alongside her collegiate lacrosse responsibilities, Von Kaenel pursued studies in early childhood and special education at Slippery Rock University, with a minor in global education.
According to a university announcement published on June 16, 2026, she had completed 108 academic credit hours and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.61 at that time.
Her academic performance earned her a place on the 2025–26 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District At-Large Team.
She was also included among Slippery Rock’s PSAC Scholar-Athletes for the 2025–26 academic year, as announced in July 2026.
Her involvement in the sport extends beyond competing for her university.
Steel City Lacrosse Club, an organization serving the Pittsburgh-area lacrosse community, lists Von Kaenel among its coaching staff. The club’s publicly available information establishes her coaching affiliation, although it does not specify her start date or individual responsibilities.
Her academic recognition and involvement with Steel City Lacrosse Club add to a collegiate profile defined by her achievements in the draw circle.