Swiderski, Lawrence, Sirchia and Stonehouse Nab Major NECC Awards

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - All five field hockey sponsored programs were represented on 2008 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Field Hockey All-Conference Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. In addition to the All-NECC honors, four separate major individual award winners and the team sportsmanship award were also voted upon and selected this week.

The Becker College Hawks swept all four major awards as they finished a perfect 8-0 in conference play.  Becker sophomore forward Kristal Swiderski (Warren, Mass.) was named the 2008 NECC Field Hockey Player of the Year. The Criminal Justice Major played in all eight conference games tallying nine goals and 18 points, overall she had 13 goals and 26 points.

Fellow Hawk senior Ciara Lawrence (Costa Mesa, Calif.) was named the 2008 NECC Field Hockey Goalie of the Year. Lawrence, a sports management major, played and started in goal for all eight conference games with 15 saves, 0.48 goals against average, a.822 save percentage and five NECC shut-outs. Overall she has played all 1328:32 minutes while notching a 104 saves with a .743 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average and six shut-outs.

Becker freshman midfielder Victoria Sirchia (Goshen, Conn.) nabbed the 2008 NECC Field Hockey Rookie of the Year for her first year. Sirchia, a design major,  led the NECC in scoring with 13 goals, three assists for 31 points. In conference play, she tallied 12 goals, three assists and 27 points playing in all eight contests.

Swiderski, Lawrence and Sirchia were joined by their head coach Tanya Stonehouse for top conference honors. Stonehouse was named the 2008 NECC Field Hockey Coach of the Year. She led the Hawks to a 10-9 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 in conference play this season.

The Wildcats of Bay Path, coached by head coach Alison Rosenblat, were honored as the 2008 NECC Team Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Wildcats joined the NECC as a first year field hockey program.

Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among all NECC field hockey coaches.

Joining Swiderski, Sirchia and Lawrence on All-NECC First Team in the forward positions were Daniel Webster's freshman Natalie Bates (North Kingstown, R.I.), Elms' sophomore Denise Perks (Blackstone, Mass.) and Becker's freshman Nicole Lijana (Moorestown, N.J.); in the midfielder position were Wheelock's freshman Kylie Hefford (Exeter, Mass.) and Elms' senior Ellen Silva (Palmer, Mass.); in the defender position were Becker's sophomore Carrie Ann Hart (Belfast, Maine), a freshman duo from Daniel Webster Sarah Steves (North Granville, N.Y.) and Heather Chaney (Jay, Maine.).

Six players received honorable mention honors including four Elms Blazers in junior midfielder Kaitlyn Graham (Paxton, Mass.), sophomore forward Courtney Gilmore (Mansfield, Mass.), junior defender Danielle Gero (Holyoke, Mass.) and senior forward Sarah LaPolice (West Springfield, Mass.); one Bay Path Wildcat freshman defender Maegan Whitcomb (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) and finally a Becker Hawk sophomore defender Jessica Provencher (Berwick, Maine).

2008 ALL-NECC FIELD HOCKEY FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Kristal Swiderski, Becker, Sophomore
Natalie Bates, Daniel Webster, Freshman
Nicole Lijana, Becker, Freshman

Denise Perks, Elms, Sophomore

Midfielders
Victoria Sirchia, Becker, Freshman

Kylie Hefford, Wheelock, Freshman
Ellen Silva, Elms, Senior
Defenders
Heather Chaney, Daniel Webster, Freshman

Carrie Ann Hart, Becker, Sophomore
Sarah Steves, Daniel Webster, Freshman

Goalkeeper
Ciara Lawrence, Becker, Senior

2008 ALL-NECC FIELD HOCKEY HONORABLE MENTION

Forwards
Courtney Gilmore, Elms, Sophomore

Sara LaPolice, Elms, Senior

Midfielder

Kaitlyn Graham, Elms, Junior

Defenders

Danielle Gero, Elms, Junior
Jessica Provencher, Becker, Sophomore

Maegan Whitcomb, Bay Path, Freshman