Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams accounted for two members of the 2013 All-Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools first team.

Senior defender Lindsay Elliott and senior midfielder Harris Howell received the honor for the first time in their careers.

“It’s a great way to close out our five years of playing lacrosse, for both of us,” Elliott said.

“Especially making varsity since the eighth grade, it shows, for me, a status of accomplishment for what I want, so I’m very happy to have it,” Howell said.

“It’s a great goal to have been reached,” Elliott added.

NSA girls’ lacrosse head coach Mary Flowers spoke highly of Elliott on several levels.

“A lot of girls are athletic or they’ve got the mental capacity to play defense, but she’s just got it all,” Flowers said. “She’s the full package, and I just started to notice after the first game, that players would just look at her for leadership.”

Elliott led the team in both ground balls and caused turnovers. She averaged four ground balls a game and had caused 26 turnovers by the time nominations were submitted. Flowers noted her ability to anticipate the pass and think one step ahead.

“I was looking at her film, and I’ve noticed that attackers on other teams, they wouldn’t attack where she was defending,” Flowers said. “She was like a brick wall. She really made an impact on this team this year.”

Elliott demonstrated maturity as a player and also as a person.

“She pointed out things that sometimes I wouldn’t see, and I’d notice them, and she was dead on,” Flowers said. “She was very smart and knows the game very well, and she was also extremely coachable. I’d tell her to do something, and she wouldn’t think twice. She’d do it, and it’d work in her favor, and it benefited everyone.”

Sophomore midfielder Jessie Lerner was named to the All-TCIS second team.

Harris Howell was a pivotal element for the boys’ team this season.

“Harris is our team leader. He embodies the spirit of the team,” NSA boys’ lacrosse head coach Jeff Forman said. “He has the capacity with his abilities to really put the team on his shoulders and carry them. He controls the ball, he’s very good on scoops, very good on face offs. He has great stick work.”

Howell scored 21 goals, had 17 assists and his record in face offs was 130-96, giving him a .575 winning percentage in 14 games.

Forman also highlighted Howell’s shot, his quickness, his moves and his ability to handle the ball both left- and right-handed.

“He’s certainly one of the best players to come out of NSA in many years,” Forman said.

Like Elliott, Howell made things easy and fun for his coach.

“He has just a very good attitude; it was a true pleasure to coach him this year,” Forman said.

Junior attackman Jacob Edwards and sophomore defender David Gough each made the All-TCIS second team.