BENNINGTON, Vt. – The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced on Monday its major award winners and all-conference teams for the 2016 women's soccer season with Southern Vermont College taking claim to the Rookie of the Year honor for the third season in-a-row as another three Mountaineers were voted onto All-NECC squads.

Freshman Danielle Biggers (Bronx, N.Y.) was named the NECC Rookie of the Year after an outstanding performance through the league schedule, that accolade marking the third-straight season that SVC has taken the honor (Molly Madore- 2015, Melissa Mascari- 2014).

Sophomore captain Molly Madore (Higganum, Conn.) was chosen to the All-NECC First Team for the second-straight season while freshman Taylor Mallett (Berwick, Maine) collected Second Team honors. Additionally, junior goalkeeper Melissa Mascari (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) was selected to the All-NECC Third Team, that being her third career all-conference decoration.

Biggers scored seven goals in 2016, six of those coming against league opponents. She had one game winner while also registering an assist on the campaign. Her scoring mark tied for the sixth highest in the Conference.

"I'm thrilled that Danielle was named Rookie of the Year," commented sixth-year SVC head coach Michael Zauzig. "Despite battling injuries the entire season, she found a way to have an impact in matches.  She was especially important in helping us get back into the playoffs. I'm proud of her accomplishments and look forward to seeing what she can do when healthy in 2017. I believe she has another gear, and we can't wait to see it."

Madore had a record-setting year, breaking the SVC career scoring mark while notching 13 goals on the season to rank tied for fourth in the NECC. That helped make her the all-time leading scorer in Southern Vermont history, surpassing Kaitlyn Forant '14 with a current total of 28 goals after just two years. She also had four assists in 2016 to give her 66 career points, breaking that program record as well (Eva Graham '01- 65). Two of her goals were game winners, giving her five in her tenure as a Mountaineer.

"There's no doubt Molly is deserving of this award," said Zauzig of his sophomore captain. "She played as a center back, center mid, and center forward throughout the season. She is the engine of our team, and her heart can't be questioned. She played the majority of the season with a variety of injuries, but her toughness and work rate set a standard for her teammates and our program."

Mallett was extremely important in Southern Vermont making it into the NECC playoffs for the sixth-straight year, playing a multitude of positions as needed throughout the season. She registered nine goals and tied for the team lead of six assists, giving herself 24 points on the season to rank 11th in the league. Three of her scores were game winners as she also helped the SVC defense tally a 1.66 overall goals against average and a 0.97 GAA versus Conference opponents.

"Taylor has had an impact at SVC since her first day on campus," Zauzig noted. "She works very hard and is willing to play any position that helps the team succeed. Her transition to center back was critical to our success; once we found the right center back pairing with Taylor, the defense was much more effective."

Mascari was solid in net once again for the Mountaineers, taking claim to that 1.66 GAA for her to now have a career mark of 1.52 that still stands atop the program's record chart for keepers who have played at least 20 games. She posted five shutouts during the season to give her 16 in her SVC career, breaking the team record of 12 set by Hall of Famer Thalia Smith '00. Her 25 career victories places her at second on that all-time Southern Vermont record list, sitting just five shy of breaking the team's wins mark. Her .805 save percentage ranked second in the Conference this year.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment that Melissa has received all-conference honors three years in-a-row," Zauzig said. "There is no denying her ability in goal. People don't see the extra hours she puts in on the field or in the MAC-- improving her knowledge of the game. Melissa has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league since her arrival at SVC, and that trend won't change going into her senior year."

Sophomore Sydnee Julian (Mexico, N.Y.) was also selected by Zauzig to represent Southern Vermont on the NECC All-sportsmanship Team after playing with honor and integrity throughout the season.

"Sydnee is a compassionate, caring, and respectful athlete," the Mountaineer head coach commented. "She treats her coaches, teammates, and opponents with respect at all times. We consistently talk about respecting the game within our program; Sydnee does that day in and day out. We are extremely proud that she is our sportsmanship recipient."

The league's top awards and all-conference teams are determined by voting from each of the NECC coaches.

 

2016 NECC Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams and Major Awards

Player of the Year: Brie Voight, Elms (Jr., F, Springfield, Mass.)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Rebecca Molin, Elms (Fr., GK, West Hartford, Conn.)
Rookie of the Year: Danielle Biggers, Southern Vermont (Fr., M/F, Bronx, N.Y.)
Coach of the Year: Sean Milbier, Elms

All-Conference First Team
Rebecca Molin, Elms (Fr., GK, West Hartford, Conn.)
Jackie Soucia, Elms (Jr., M, Belchertown, Mass.)
Silvana Tellerico, Elms (Jr., D, Southington, Conn.)
Kathleen Tuechler, Elms (Sr., D, Farmingdale, N.Y.)
Brie Voight, Elms (Jr., F, Springfield, Mass.)
Samantha Bessey, Lesley (So., F, Algonquin, Ill.)
Jordan Mitchell, Lesley (So., M, Sachse, Texas)
Karlie Rubin, Lesley (Jr., M, San Diego, Calif.)
Hope Seasholes, Lesley (Fr., M, Tucson, Ariz.)
Samantha Turnbull, Lesley (Jr., D, Holtsville, N.Y.)
Molly Madore, Southern Vermont (So., M, Higganum, Conn.)

All-Conference Second Team
Lindsey Keith, Becker (So., F, Sutton, Mass.)
Ciara McKissick, Becker (So., M, Charlton, Mass.)
Stephanie Evans, Daniel Webster (So., GK, Washington, Iowa)
Mackenzie Larochelle, Elms (Jr., M, Chicopee, Mass.)
Maddy Kelly, Lesley (Jr., D, San Jose, Calif.)
Tori Ramirez, Lesley (Sr., M/F, Redwood City, Calif.)
Tiana Edwards, Mitchell (Jr., D, Hartford, Conn.)
Shannon Walsh, Newbury (Jr., F, Massapequa, N.Y.)
Hannah Bouvette, Regis (Sr., D, Mattapoisett, Mass.)
Rachel Kelly, Regis (Fr., M, Whitman, Mass.)
Taylor Mallett, Southern Vermont (Fr., D/M, Berwick, Maine) 

All-Conference Third Team
Jailinne Ruiz, Bay Path (So., F, Hadley, Mass.)
Kyrsten Thibodeau, Bay Path (Jr., D/M, Dalton, Mass.)
Meghan Bealka, Becker (Jr., M/D, Freetown, Mass.)
Maria Colon, Becker (Jr., M, Wharton, N.J.)
Angelina Estrada, Elms (Jr., F, Springfield, Mass.)
Rachel Mick, Elms (Sr., M, Granby, Mass.)
Kelsey Shea, Elms (So., M, Belchertown, Mass.)
Elizabeth Kia, Newbury (Sr., D, Kea'au, Hawaii)
Noelle Garcia, Regis (Fr., D/M, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Jenna Novio, Regis (So., D, Rockland, Mass.)
Melissa Mascari, Southern Vermont (Jr., GK, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) 

All-sportsmanship Team
Jailinne Ruiz, Bay Path (So., F, Hadley, Mass.)
Jordyn Martel, Becker So., GK, Chicopee, Mass.)
Amanda Dargie, Daniel Webster (Jr., M, Melbourne, Fla.)
Antriese Suarez, Elms (Fr., GK, Amherst, Mass.)
Kyra Harbus, Lesley (So., D, Ventura, Calif.)
Lindsay Noble, Mitchell (Sr., D, Cromwell, Conn.)
Elizabeth Kia, Newbury (Sr., D, Kea'au, Hawaii)
Kara Carchedi, Regis (Fr., D, Quincy, Mass.)
Sydnee Julian, Southern Vermont (So., D/M, Mexico, N.Y.)
Rachael Simpson, Wheelock (Jr., M, Littleton, Mass.)

 

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