ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Two Mountaineers on the women's soccer team received recognition from the NECC this fall. Shawnee Webster was named to the Second-Team and Catrina Cecchini was named to the Honorable-Mention Team.
"These awards are great, considering how our season went," said Head Coach Shawn Holcombe. " It means that other coaches in our conference recognize the quality and hard work that Webster and Cecchini put in all season. It is also recognition of where we as a team are going- forward. "
Eight of the nine sponsored programs were represented on 2010 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Women's Soccer All-Conference Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. In addition to the All-NECC honors, four separate major individual award winners and the team sportsmanship award were also voted upon and selected this week.
Second team honors went out to twelve student-athletes. Representing Southern Vermont was sophomore midfielder Shawnee Webster of Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
"Individually, Webster played tough every game," said Coach Holcombe. "If she didn't end every game sore and exhausted, she didn't play. This was a kid who put her heart into making the best shot we had each match, trying to make those around her better. And that she was recognized by the coaches is an honor."
Five players received honorable mention to round out the NECC accolades. Representing Southern Vermont was freshman goalkeeper Catrina Cecchini of Montville, Connecticut.
"As for Cecchini, here was a goalkeeper whose talent showed through in the season," said Coach Holcombe. "Single-handedly, she kept us in many games, and to handle that pressure with the grace she did as a freshman, this honor does her justice."
The Mitchell College Mariners took top honors as they were crowned the 2010 NECC Champions this past weekend. Mitchell finished conference play in second place with a 6-1-1 record, while they are currently 10-7-1 overall. The Mariners junior forward Nikki Hoxie (Winsted, Conn.), a sports and fitness management major, was named the 2010 NECC Women's Soccer Player of the Year. In conference play, Hoxie finished third in four categories points (22), points per game (2.75), goals (10) and goals per game (1.25). She was first in the NECC in game winners with two. Overall, Hoxie currently has eleven goals, two assists for 24 points.
Elms College Blazer junior Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.) was awarded the 2010 NECC Women's Soccer Goalie of the Year. Callahan, an education major, tallied 26 saves (5.20 saves per game), an .839 save percentage and a 1.06 goals against average. She leads the conference in save percentage. Overall she has played 1025:40 minutes while notching 101 saves with a .863 save percentage, a 1:40 goals against average and two shut-outs for the Blazers.
Newbury College Nighthawk freshman forward Brianna Tomaselli (Warwick, R.I.) nabbed the 2010 NECC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year award for her first season of collegiate play. Tomaselli, undecided in her major, led the NECC in points per game (3.57), goals (12), and goals per game (1.71). She was second in points (25), third in shots per game (5.43) and fourth in shots (38) in conference play. Overall, she finished with 22 goals, one assist for 45 points.
Lesley University Lynx head coach Paul Vasconcelos was named the 2010 NECC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year, for the third straight season. He led the Lynx to a 11-6-3 overall record and 7-0-1 record in conference play this season. Lesley was the #1 seed in the 2010 NECC Women's Soccer Championship.
The Wildcats of Wheelock College, led by head coach Stephanie Smyrl, were honored as the 2010 NECC Team Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Wildcats finished 1-15 and 1-7 in NECC play.
Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among all NECC women's soccer coaches.
Eight other student-athletes joined Hoxie, Callahan and Tomaselli on All-NECC First Team in the forward position.
2010 NECC WOMENS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nikki Hoxie, Mitchell, JR (Winsted, Conn.)
2010 NECC WOMENS SOCCER GOALIE OF THE YEAR: Kelly Callahan, Elms, JR (Monson, Mass.)
2010 NECC WOMENS SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Brianna Tomaselli, Newbury, FR (Warwick, R.I.)
2010 NECC WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR: Paul Vasconcelos, Lesley
2010 NECC WOMENS SOCCER TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Wheelock College
2010 ALL-NECC WOMENS SOCCER FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Nikki Hoxie, Mitchell, Sophomore
Brianna Tomaselli, Newbury, Freshman
Caroline Plunkett, Becker, Sophomore
Jennifer Killion, Elms, Junior
Midfielders
Alyson Durben, Lesley, Senior
Theresa DiSantis, Daniel Webster, Junior
Jacqui Siddle, Bay Path, Senior
Defenders
Paige Ehnot, Mitchell, Senior
Jamie Coyne, Lesley, Sophomore
Keri Richardson, Becker, Sophomore
Goalkeeper
Kelly Callahan, Elms, Junior
2010 ALL-NECC WOMENS SOCCER SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Keelin Dougherty, Bay Path, Freshman
Leslie Briggs, Mitchell, Junior
Caley McClendon, Mitchell, Freshman
Ashley Greene-Allen, Newbury, Senior
Midfielders
Jackee Sanchez, Lesley, Freshman
Kate Ryder, Lesley, Sophomore
Shawnee Webster, Southern Vermont, Sophomore
Defenders
Allyson Witaszek, Elms, Freshman
Kacie Lang, Daniel Webster, Junior
Brianna Valente, Elms, Junior
Goalkeeper
Amy Waller, Daniel Webster, Junior
Kaylee Woodford, Mitchell, Freshman
2010 ALL-NECC WOMENS SOCCER HONORABLE MENTION
Jessica Graus, Newbury, Junior
Gianna Gorneault, Elms, Freshman
Alysha Giulietti, Becker, Sophomore
Sarah Blanchard, Daniel Webster, Sophomore
Catrina Cecchini, Southern Vermont, Freshman