2010 All-Little East Field Hockey Teams Announced

Deanne Mastrocola named to First Team... Lauren Atkinson tabbed on Third Team

Official release from Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA (Nov. 8)— 2010 All-Little East Field Hockey Teams Announced The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Keene State College combined to earn four of the five major awards when the 2010 All-Little East Field Hockey Teams were announced by the conference office this afternoon. Corsair sophomore forward Eleanor Taylor (Fairhaven, Mass.) was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year and Nicole Castonguay was named the Coach of the Year after a vote by her 11 peers. Senior back Leigh Smith (Sanborton, N.H.) and freshman back Katlyn Simula (Bridgewater, N.H.) represented the Owls as the Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Worcester State University earned the annual Team Sportsmanship Award. In addition to the major awards, the conference honored a total of 34 student-athletes on the three All-Little East squads.

Taylor is just the third UMass Dartmouth field hockey player to be recognized as the top offensive player in the conference circuit and first since senior striker Stephanie Kinchla (Falmouth, Mass.) headlined the 2008 teams. The Fairhaven, Mass. product led the third-ranked team in the Little East in scoring, averaging 2.62 goals per game. She currently ranks among the national leaders in goals per game (17th, 1.16) and points per game (27th, 2.58), while pacing the conference individual standings in goals (24) and points (53). A prolific scorer, Taylor found the back of the net in 16 of her 22 matches. She recorded multiple markers in five matches, including a season-high four against Clark University (Mass.) on Sept. 7. The 2009 Little East Rookie of the Year was credited with the game-winning goal against the Cougars, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Southern Maine, and Worcester State. In just two seasons in North Dartmouth, Taylor has produced 34 goals and eight helpers for 76 career points.

Smith is the fifth consecutive and sixth overall Keene State player to earn the distinguished top defensive player award. The senior from Sanborton, N.H. is making her second appearance on the All-Little East teams, but her debut on the top squad. The Owls sported the 15th best defensive unit in Division III in goals against average (0.95) and 20th in shutouts (9). Keene State is perched atop the Little East team standings in goals against average (0.90) and shutouts, while ranking second in goals allowed (20). When the Owls limit their opponents to one or fewer goals, Keene State posted a 16-1 record. Smith and her teammates held their opponents scoreless for a season-high 268 minutes, and 25 seconds—a streak spanning five matches between Oct. 26 and Nov. 5. Smith also contributed to the offensive rush with two goals and four assists for eight points.

Simula is the first Owl student-athlete in conference history to be honored as the top rookie, while also earning a spot on the All-Little East, third-team. The freshman from Bridgewater, N.H. made her first collegiate marker count, scoring the game-winning goal against Western New England in her Keene State debut on Sept. 1. She continued her knack for delivering the decisive strike as each of her three markers on the campaign were game-winners. A starter in all 22 matches, Simula also dished out three assists for nine total points. She was credited with her lone defensive save in a victory over Castleton State on Sept. 20. Simula was just one of two rookies to make an appearance on the All-Little East teams, joining teammate Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, Mass.).

Castonguay has been voted the top coach in the Little East for the third consecutive season and fourth time in the past five years. Under her watchful eye, UMass Dartmouth won 11 of its final 14 matches to post an overall record of 15-7. The Corsairs earned the top seed and home field advantage throughout the Little East Field Hockey Championship with a 10-1 conference record. The 10 conference wins sets a new program standard, putting an additional victory between the 2009 squad. UMass Dartmouth raised its second straight Little East championship trophy this past weekend with a 3-1 win over second-seeded Bridgewater State University. Castonguay mentored six student-athletes on the All-Little East Teams, including three players on the first-team. She was also named the 2001 Little East Coach of the Year when she held the top position for the Bears.

2010 All-Little East Field Hockey Team

First Team

Name................ Position.... Class...... Institution
Bethany Bush........ Forward..... Senior..... Bridgewater State
Elizabeth Coffin.... Forward..... Junior..... Keene State
Stephanie Kinchla... Forward..... Senior..... UMass Dartmouth
Eleanor Taylor...... Forward..... Sophomore.. UMass Dartmouth
Rebecca Festinger... Midfield.... Senior..... UMass Dartmouth
Alicia Gardner...... Midfield.... Senior..... Westfield State
Aislynn Sherry...... Midfield.... Junior..... Keene State
Nicole Gagnon....... Back........ Junior..... Westfield State
Deanne Mastrocola... Back........ Sophomore.. Western Connecticut
Leigh Smith......... Back........ Senior..... Keene State
Katie Weber......... Goalkeeper.. Senior..... Bridgewater State

Second Team

Name................ Position.... Class...... Institution
Kailey Bubier....... Forward..... Sophomore.. Southern Maine
Kristina Conroy..... Forward..... Senior..... Plymouth State
Jessi Gould......... Forward..... Junior..... Westfield State
Megan Jacobs........ Forward..... Senior..... Fitchburg State
Bethany Bougie...... Midfield.... Junior..... Southern Maine
Kellie Finn......... Midfield.... Senior..... UMass Dartmouth
Mari Roma........... Midfield.... Senior..... Fitchburg State
Kerry Howe.......... Back........ Junior..... Keene State
Maille Lynch-Gilbert Back........ Junior..... UMass Dartmouth
Torey Van Ahnen..... Back........ Senior..... Fitchburg State
Meghan Ledoux....... Goalkeeper.. Senior..... Keene State

Third Team

Name................ Position.... Class...... Institution
Kaitlyn Aronian..... Forward..... Junior..... Salem State
Lauren Atkinson..... Forward..... Junior..... Western Connecitcut
Jamie Kelley........ Forward..... Sophomore.. Fitchburg State
Whitney McDaniel.... Forward..... Junior..... Southern Maine
Lauren Bergeron..... Midfield.... Junior..... Plymouth State
Aimee Donaruma...... Midfield.... Freshman... Keene State
Christina Parisi.... Midfield.... Junior..... Plymouth State
Liz Correia......... Back........ Senior..... Bridgewater State
Andrea DeTerlizzi... Back........ Senior..... Framingham State
Kate Dorrance....... Back........ Senior..... UMass Dartmouth
Katlyn Simula....... Back........ Freshman... Keene State
Allesha Kenyon...... Goalkeeper.. Senior..... Framingham State

Offensive Player of the Year
Eleanor Taylor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Defensive Player of the Year
Leigh Smith, Keene State College

Rookie of the Year
Katlyn Simula, Keene State College

Coach of the Year
Nicole Castonguay, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Team Sportsmanship Award
Worcester State University