FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2017
NE10 Lands Five on Longstreth/NFHCA All-America First Team
Longstreth/NFHCA All-America | Regional Awards
CHANDLER, Ariz. – Twelve Northeast-10 Conference field hockey student-athletes were recently recognized with All-America honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), including five first team selections.
Stonehill's Kacie Smith, LIU Post's Emily Miller, Saint Anselm's Elizabeth Alie, Merrimack's Mary McNeil and Adelphi's Lena Pollich all landed on the Longstreth/NFHCA All-America First Team.
Smith, the NE10 Player of the Year, was also honored as the Longstreth/NFHCA East Region Player of the Year after guiding the Skyhawks to their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Only a sophomore, Smith led the NE10 with 49 points and 22 goals this season, ranking second in the country in both categories.
Miller, another sophomore standout, led LIU Post to an NE10 title and an appearance in the finals of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship. She finished the season ranked third nationally in goals (21) and fourth in points (47). Miller scored 10 game-winning goals, including the winner in both the NE10 title game and NCAA semifinals.
Alie, the NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, helped lead Saint Anselm to its first-ever NE10 regular season title and championship game appearance, as well as the program's first NCAA tournament appearance and win. McNeil, also just a sophomore, was tied for sixth in the nation with seven assists this season to go with seven goals for 21 points. Pollich led the NE10 and was second in the country with nine assists, while she added nine goals for 27 points on the year.
The NE10 had seven second team All-Americans: Adelphi's Rachel Colvin, Saint Anselm's Erin Collins and Katherine Sears, Stonehill's Shea Healy and Sarah Morse, Assumption's Andrea Koslowski, and LIU Post's Stephanie Mocerino. Saint Anselm and Stonehill had the most All-Americans with three apiece.
NE10 Coach of the Year Carolyn King-Robitaille was also honored, earning Front Rush/NFHCA East Region Coach of the Year accolades. King-Robitaille guided Saint Anselm to the NE10 title game as well as the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, finishing the season 17-5 overall and 10-2 in the NE10.
Lastly, the league had 24 honored with postseason laurels from Synapse Sports. Five picked up first team All-America, 10 more claimed second team honors, while nine earned spots on the All-Rookie Team. Additionally, Adelphi's Elissa Frein was selected as the Synapse Sports Rookie of the Year after finishing the year ranked seventh in the country with 29 points.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.