BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons first year midfielder Jenna Gagnon (Waterville, Maine) has been named North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Rookie of the Year after earning a pair of Rookie of the Week honors this season and ranking among the league's top rookies in scoring announced Wednesday by the conference.
Simmons Field Hockey Head Coach Amanda Maxwell was honored as Coach of the Year after leading Simmons to a seven-win improvement from a season ago as the Sharks tied for the third-best conference winning percentage in 2013. Maxwell, who took helm of Simmons Field Hockey in 2010, steered the Sharks to their best conference finish and the team's first winning season since 2005. The Sharks ranked in the top 50 nationally in Division III in save percentage, goals against average, shutouts per game and penalty corners per game.
Castleton senior forward Rachel Preusser was selected as the NAC Field Hockey Player of the Year in a vote of the league's coaches. Preuesser led the conference with 43 points and 17 assists, while ranking second with 13 goals in nine conference games for the league's most prolific offense.
Preusser's classmate, Stephanie Bardell, was voted the conference's top defensive player, helping the Spartans to a perfect 9-0 mark in league play. Bardell led a Castleton defense that was tops in the conference with a 0.55 goals against average, allowing just five markers in nine games.
The Sharks landed four spots on the 2013 NAC Field Hockey All-Conference teams. Senior midfielder Seneca Martensson (East Longmeadow, Mass.) received First Team honors, while Gagnon, junior defender Avery Hines (Newburyport, Mass.) and first year goalkeeper Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.) received Second Team honors.
2013 Field Hockey All-Conference Teams
First Team |
|||
Effie Drew |
Jr. |
F |
St. Joseph's (Me.) |
Rachel Preusser |
Sr. |
F |
Castleton |
Sabrina Vaillancourt |
Sr. |
F |
Husson |
Blake Wardwell |
Sr. |
F |
Castleton |
Sr. |
M |
Simmons |
|
Liz Noddin |
Jr. |
M |
Husson |
Kristy Pinkham |
Sr. |
M |
Castleton |
Stephanie Bardell |
Sr. |
D |
Castleton |
Shannon Burns |
Sr. |
D |
Castleton |
Annika Durell |
Jr. |
D |
Husson |
Emma Astbury |
Fr. |
GK |
St. Joseph's (Me.) |
Second Team |
|||
Rachelle Messuri |
Sr. |
F |
St. Joseph's (Me.) |
Brittany Premo |
Jr. |
F |
Thomas |
Nikita Soares |
Jr. |
F |
Lasell |
Kashley Weymouth |
Sr. |
F |
UMaine-Farmington |
Carley Denis |
Sr. |
M |
St. Joseph's (Me.) |
Chelsea Morley |
Jr. |
M |
UMaine-Farmington |
Fr. |
M |
Simmons |
|
Renee Despres |
Sr. |
D |
UMaine-Farmington |
Lauren Hachey |
Sr. |
D |
Thomas |
Jr. |
D |
Simmons |
|
Kate Storey |
Sr. |
D |
UMaine-Farmington |
Fr. |
GK |
Simmons |
|
Player of the Year |
|||
Rachel Preusser |
Sr. |
F |
Castleton |
Defensive Player of the Year |
|||
Stephanie Bardell |
Sr. |
D |
Castleton |
Rookie of the Year |
|||
Fr. |
F |
Simmons |
|
Coach of the Year |
|||
Amanda Maxwell |
Simmons |
||
Team Sportsmanship Award |
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Rivier College |