Nov 6, 2007

2007 Little East All-Conference Field Hockey Teams

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Little East Conference announced its annual end of the season awards and all-conference teams this afternoon following a vote by the 12 head coaches. Keene State College sophomore midfielder Erin Dallas and Westfield State College senior forward Megan Wolski shared Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Owl junior back Alyssa Rowell earned Defensive Player of the Year praise. Framingham State College freshman forward Kristen Sacco was selected the Rookie of the Year, while University of Southern Maine Bonny Brown-Denico was tabbed Coach of the Year.

Dallas is just the fifth student-athlete in Keene State College history to be honored as the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, since Tanya Strong headlined the all-conference teams in 2003. The Marlow, N.H. product led the conference circuit in points (45) and assists (19), while ranking third in goals (13). She scored a season-high six points twice, most recently against Bridgewater State College on Sept. 22. Dallas was named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times.

Wolski became the first player in the Westfield State College program to earn Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Plymouth, Mass. product paced the conference circuit in goals (15) and game-winning goals (6), while second in scoring (33). Wolski recorded a season-high seven points, including three markers, at Elms College on Sept. 7. She is also making her third consecutive appearance on the all-conference, first-team. Wolski was named Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week once on the campaign.

Rowell anchored a stifling Keene State College defensive attack, recording a conference-high eight shutouts and allowing just 1.43 goals per game. The junior from Queensbury, N.Y. recorded 13 defensive saves, while contributing to the offensive rush with 10 points on four goals and two assists. She is making her second appearance on the all-conference teams, earning top honors in 2006. Rowell is the third student-athlete in Owl history to earned defensive player of the year honors.

Sacco led all rookies in points (29) and goals (14), while ranking third in the conference in markers and fourth in scoring. The Mendon, Mass. product recorded at least two points in 11 of the 16 games this season, including a season-high four points against Anna Maria College and Wheelock College. She is the lone freshman to earn all-conference, first-team honors. Sacco is also the first student-athlete in Rams’ history to garner rookie of the year recognition.

Brown-Denico led the University of Southern Maine to a second place finish in the Little East Conference standings with an overall record of 15-7, including a program-best nine conference victories. She led her charges to the second-ranked offense in the League with 43 markers, averaging 1.95 goals per game. Southern Maine advance to the championship match of the Little East Conference Tournament and earned the top seed in the ECAC New England Tournament.

Keene State College placed a conference-high five student-athletes on the all-conference teams, including three first team selections, while Bridgewater State College was just one off the pace. The University of Southern Maine earned three all-conference selections, while Framingham State College, UMass Dartmouth, and Plymouth State University each had two honorees. Salem State College, Western Connecticut State University, Westfield State College, and Worcester State College each had a lone recipient.

Name Class Pos. Institution
First-Team      
Ashley Panzini Senior Forward Bridgewater State College
Karen Robinson Soph. Forward Keene State College
Kristen Sacco Fresh. Forward Framingham State College
Megan Wolski Senior Forward Westfield State College
Erin Dallas Soph. Midfield Keene State College
Caitlin DiCecca Senior Midfield UMass Dartmouth
Erin Johnson Senior Midfield Framingham State College
Justene Dorr Senior Back Southern Maine
Kelly Downs Soph. Back Bridgewater State College
Alyssa Rowell Junior Back Keene State College
Allie Hill Soph. GK Southern Maine
       
Second-Team      
Carly Benning Soph. Forward Keene State College
Bethany Bush Fresh. Forward Bridgewater State College
Cortney Romyns Senior Forward Western Connecticut
Sara Winterbottom Fresh. Forward Southern Maine
Katie Barany Senior Midfield Plymouth State University 
Marissa Boccaccio Senior Midfield Keene State College
Courtney Sergio Senior Midfield Bridgewater State College
Stephanie Currier Senior Back Salem State College
Laurie David Soph. Back UMass Dartmouth
Jillian Tamburro Junior Back Worcester State College
Leah Curtin Senior GK Plymouth State University