Stonehill’s Smith Named Player of the Year as NE-10 Announces Field Hockey All-Conference Teams and Awards

Stonehill’s Smith Named Player of the Year as NE-10 Announces Field Hockey All-Conference Teams and Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2, 2016

Saint Anselm Lands Three Major Awards

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Stonehill sophomore Kacie Smith has been named the 2016 NE-10 Field Hockey Player of the Year, it was announced on Wednesday as the league released its all-conference teams and major award winners.

Smith, who is among the nation's leaders in both goals and points, led the NE-10 with 21 goals and 47 points during the regular season. She had six game-winning goals and added five assists to lead the nationally ranked Skyhawks to the No. 3 seed in the NE-10 Championship. Smith, an All-Conference Second Team selection last season, was tabbed as the Longstreth/NFHCA Division II Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21 after scoring four goals and two assists over two Stonehill victories the week prior.

For a complete list of all-conference members and award winners, as voted upon by the league's coaches, please see below.

Adelphi's Elissa Frein was selected as the NE-10 Rookie of the Year after a stellar freshman campaign for the nationally ranked Panthers. Frein ranks third in the conference with 29 points this season and is tied for fourth with 11 goals. She contributed seven assists and tallied three game-winning goals for Adelphi.

NE-10 Regular Season Champion Saint Anselm was awarded with three major individual honors as the Hawks claimed the NE-10 Defensive Player, Goalkeeper and Coach of the Year awards.

Elizabeth Alie collected top defender honors, while Katherine Sears landed top goalkeeper accolades after the two anchored one of the nation's top defenses. Alie picks up first team all-conference honors for the second consecutive season, as she led the Hawks' stifling defense while adding an assist as well. Sears, a second team all-conference selection a year ago, started every game between the pipes for the Hawks and led the league with 15 wins. Sears was second in the conference with a 1.07 goals-against average and posted a save percentage of .804 with four shutouts.

Carolyn Robitaille was selected as the league's Coach of the Year after guiding Saint Anselm to the NE-10 regular season title and top seed in the NE-10 Championship. Robitaille's Hawks, who rank third in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II Coaches Poll, went 15-3 overall and 10-2 in conference play this season. 

Saint Anselm led the way with five total student-athletes honored, while Adelphi and Stonehill each had four. Stonehill had the most first team selections with three, followed by Adelphi, Assumption and Saint Anselm with two apiece.

2016 NE-10 Field Hockey All-Conference
First Team
Rachel Colvin, D, Adelphi *
Lena Pollich, F, Adelphi *
Andrea Koslowski, M, Assumption
Allison Sheahan, M, Assumption
Tori Ellis, D, Bentley ^ %
Emily Miller, F, LIU Post
Mary McNeil, M/F, Merrimack *
Elizabeth Alie, D, Saint Anselm *
Katherine Sears, GK, Saint Anselm ^
Shea Healy, M, Stonehill
Sarah Morse, M, Stonehill *
Kacie Smith, F, Stonehill ^ 

Second Team
Elissa Frein, M, Adelphi
Jamie Ahrens, D, Adelphi
Chelsea Davis, D, American International
Steph Mocerino, M/D, LIU Post
Arantxa Rosainz Caloca, D, LIU Post
Rylie Hammond, F, Merrimack ^
Halley Rose, M/F, Pace
Erin Collins, D, Saint Anselm
Allia Connolly, F, Saint Anselm
Jenna Deschaine, D, Saint Michael's ^
Maddy Dobecki, D/M, Saint Michael's
Abby Dusha, F/M, Saint Michael's
Zoe Fanolis, M, Southern Connecticut ^
Sara Freedman, GK, Stonehill 

* - First Team in 2015
^ - Second Team in 2015
% - All-Conference in 2014 

All-Rookie Team
Elissa Frein, M, Adelphi
Chelsea Davis, D, American International
Enara Foncea, D, American International
Kristen McCarthy, F, Assumption
Sam Pavano, M, Bentley
Arantxa Rosainz Caloca, D, LIU Post
Katharina Ohmen, GK, Merrimack
Louisa Wegener, D, Pace
Hannah Friend, F, Saint Anselm
Laura van der Doorn, F, Southern New Hampshire
Maaike Gerkema, D, Southern New Hampshire
Melanie Rennie, GK, Southern New Hampshire 

Player of the Year – Kacie Smith, Stonehill
Rookie of the Year – Elissa Frein, Adelphi
Defensive Player of the Year – Elizabeth Alie, Saint Anselm
Goalkeeper of the Year – Katherine Sears, Saint Anselm
Coach of the Year – Carolyn Robitaille, Saint Anselm 

ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference 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 NE-10 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 Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.