Four Women's Soccer Players Honored by NECC
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Mitchell College women's soccer program took home a pair of major awards and had four players receive all-conference recognition, as announced by the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) on Monday afternoon.
Sophomore Kaylee Woodford was named NECC Goalkeeper of the Year while freshman forward Maariyah Lombardo was tabbed NECC Rookie of the Year. It marked the first time in the conference's four-year history that a Mitchell women's soccer player had won each award.
Joining Woodford on the NECC All-Conference First Team was sophomore defender Nina Giansanti. Lombardo and senior midfielder Angie Smith were selected to the NECC All-Conference Second Team. All selections were determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches.
Woodford played every minute in goal for the Mariners and finished with a 9-4-3 record with seven shutouts. In conference play she led the NECC in save percentage (.877) and ranked second in goals against average (0.72), posting five shutouts and holding opponents to a goal or less in eight of nine games.
Lombardo had a huge impact in her first season at Mitchell, leading the team in scoring with 15 goals and one assist for 31 points. She played in all 16 games and made 11 starts, and she was a three-time NECC Rookie of the Week selection during the regular season. In NECC play she ranked sixth in scoring with nine goals—including three game winners—for 18 points.
Giansanti was the anchor of a defense that allowed only 1.18 goals per game. She played in 15 games and made 14 starts and scored her first career goal in a win over Southern Vermont College. She was also a NECC All-Tournament Team selection for the second consecutive season.
Smith earned all-conference honors for the first time in her career. She played in every game and made 15 starts, ranking second on the team in scoring with five goals and eight assists for a career-high 18 points. In conference play she ranked second in the NECC in assists (6) and eighth in scoring (16).
Mitchell completed the season with an overall record of 9-4-3 and finished second in the NECC standings with a 6-1-2 mark. The Mariners advanced to the semifinals of the NECC Championship before being eliminated by Elms College in penalty kicks.
2011 NECC Women's Soccer All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year
Veronica Halen, Lesley (So, Forward - San Diego, Calif.)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Kaylee Woodford, Mitchell (So, GK - Niantic, Conn.)
Rookie of the Year
Maariyah Lombardo, Mitchell(Fr, F - Middletown, Conn.)
Coach of the Year
Paul Vascancelos, Lesley
Team Sportsmanship Award
Bay Path College
All-Conference First Team
F Jenna Fralick, Lesley (Senior, Forward - Woburn, Mass.)
F Veronica Halen, Lesley (So, Forward - San Diego, Calif.)
F Jennifer Killion, Elms (Sr, F - Cambridge, Mass.)
F Briana Tomaselli, Newbury (So, F - Warwick, R.I.)
M Gianna Gorneault, Elms (So, MF - Springfield, Mass.)
M Jackee Sanchez, Lesley (Sophomore, MF - Santa Clarita, Calif.)
M Jodi Theriault, Becker (Jr, N/A - Woodstock, Conn.)
D Nina Giansanti, Mitchell (So, D - Montville, Conn.)
D Tracy Potter, Lesley (Sr, D - Acton, Mass.)
D Brianna Valente, Elms (Sr, MF - Springfield, Mass.)
GK Kaylee Woodford, Mitchell (So, GK - Niantic, Conn.)
All-Conference Second Team
F Maariyah Lombardo, Mitchell (Fr, F - Middletown, Conn.)
F Caroline Plunkett, Becker (Jr, N/A - Rockaway, N.Y.)
F Erica Griffo, Elms (Sr, MF - Syracuse, N.Y.)
F Kristen Abreu, Regis (Mass.) (Fr, F - Woburn, Mass.)
F Adena Joseph, Regis (Mass.) (Fr, F - Stoughton, Mass.)
M Kate Ryder, Lesley (Jr, MF - Glastonbury, Conn.)
M Angie Smith, Mitchell (Sr, M - Meriden, Conn.)
M Christina Goodchild, Elms (So, F - East Longmeadow, Mass.)
D Keri Richardson, Becker (Jr, Defense - Douglas, Mass.)
D Alysha Giulietti, Becker (Jr, N/A - Uncasville, Conn.)
D Kristina Almeida, Newbury (Fr, D - Coventry, R.I.)
GK Amy Waller, Daniel Webster (Sr, GK - Berlin, Mass.)
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Sarah Apgar, Lesley (Sophomore, F - Andover, N.J.)
Joellen Demers, Southern Vt. (Sr, D - Middlesex, Vt.)
Kara Donovan, Regis (Mass.) (Jr, D - Woburn, Mass.)
Rachel Wyszynski, Newbury (Sr, GK - Wilbraham, Mass.)