Women's Soccer

POST-SEASON HONORS PILE UP FOR McKENNA

As the 2009 women's soccer season came to a close, Emmanuel's Kate McKenna received numerous accolades, including local, district and regional recognition.

Kate McKenna, ECAC New England 1st Team All-Star

Kate McKenna, ECAC New England 1st Team All-Star

Dec. 7, 2009

 

As the 2009 women's soccer season came to a close, Emmanuel's Kate McKenna received numerous accolades, including local, district and regional recognition.  McKenna, Emmanuel's top-scorer this season and the second leading scorer in program history, was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's Player of the Year, as well as being chosen to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team.  McKenna's most recent honors include spots on the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England All-Star Team, the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) All-New England 2nd Team, and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Women's NCAA Division III All-New England 4th Team.

The ECAC announced the Division III New England Women's Soccer All-Stars on December 2nd. Meg Gearin of Westfield State picked up Offensive Player of the Year honors. The senior forward scored 19 goals and tallied four assists for 42 points while leading her team to an NCAA Tournament berth. Defensive Player of the Year went to Middlebury's Lauryn Torch. Torch helped the No. 12 Panthers to an NCAA berth. She had a NESCAC leading eight shutouts, with a 0.81 goals against average. Nichols freshman Samantha Abro nabbed Rookie of the Year honors. Abro had an impressive collegiate debut, scoring 22 goals and five assists for 49 points.

This year's first team forward selections put up impressive numbers, with two players eclipsing the 60-point plateau. Lesley's Jodi Fralick led the charge with 32 goals and four assists for 68 points. The senior led her squad to an undefeated conference record, and an ECAC Championship berth. MCLA's Jess Tietgans was not far behind, tallying 30 goals and four assists for 64 points, also leading her squad to an ECAC Championship berth. Rounding out the forward selections is Castleton's Courtney Chadburn with 23 goals and six helpers for 52 points. Midfielder selections were Westfield State's Kate MacLellan, with eight goals and 15 assists for 31 points, Emmanuel's Kate McKenna with 21 goals and six assists for 48 points and Eastern Connecticut's Sarah Swann with 14 goals and five assists for 33 points.


Joining Torch as first team defensive selections are William's Kara Duggan, Wheaton's Lyndsey McManus, and Springfield's Courtney Price. Duggan helped the second-ranked Ephs hold opponents to a NESCAC best 0.45 goals per game. McManus helped the Wheaton College defense become the best in the NEWMAC, while also contributing seven goals and nine assists. Price led Springfield to the second best goals against average (0.86) in the NEWMAC, while chipping in offensively as well, with four goals and three assists.

2009 ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer All-Stars

Offensive Player of the Year - Meg Gearin, Senior, Forward, Westfield State

Defensive Player of the Year - Lauryn Torch, Junior, Goalkeeper, Middlebury         

Rookie of the Year  - Samantha Abro, Freshman, Forward, Nichols

First Team All-Stars
Meg Gearin, Senior, Forward, Westfield State
Jess Tietgens, Junior, Forward, MCLA 
Jodi Fralick, Senior, Forward, Lesley
Courtney Chadburn, Junior, Forward, Castleton
Kate MacLellan, Junior, Midfielder, Westfield State
Kate McKenna, Senior, Midfielder, Emmanuel 
Sarah Swann, Senior, Midfielder, Eastern Connecticut
Kara Duggan, Junior, Defender, Williams
Courtney Price, Junior, Defender, Springfield
Lyndsey McManus, Senior, Defender, Wheaton 
Lauryn Torch, Junior, Goalkeeper, Middlebury

Second Team All-Stars
Samantha Abro, Freshman, Forward, Nichols
Caitlin Flynn, Senior, Forward, Endicott
Lindsay D'Andrea, Junior, Forward, Emerson
Katie Bradford, Junior, Forward, Keene State
Meg Murphy, Senior, Midfielder, Amherst
Sara Wild, Junior, Midfielder, Williams
Lauren Hernley, Junior, Midfielder, MIT
Emily Hough, Junior, Defender, Wheaton
Alicia Chandler, Senior, Defender, Westfield State
Caitlin Peters, Freshman, Defender, Endicott
Cait Witham, Senior, Goalkeeper, St. Joseph (CT)

About the ECAC®
The ECAC is the nation’s largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference with approximately 300 Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois. Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors nearly 100 championships in 37 men’s and women’s sports, assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports, administers nine affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues and recognizes more than 2,000 student-athletes through the
public relations arm of the conference. The ECAC serves as the primary conference for select members in the sports of men’s and women’s ice hockey, and men’s lacrosse.