2007 LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE FIELD HOCKEY AWARDS ANNOUNCED
from the desk of Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Little East Conference announced its annual end of the season awards and all-conference teams this afternoon following a vote by the 12 head coaches. Keene State College sophomore midfielder Erin Dallas and Westfield State College senior forward Megan Wolski shared Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Owl junior back Alyssa Rowell earned Defensive Player of the Year praise. Framingham State College freshman forward Kristen Sacco was selected the Rookie of the Year, while University of Southern Maine Bonny Brown-Denico was tabbed Coach of the Year.

Dallas is just the fifth student-athlete in Keene State College history to be honored as the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, since Tanya Strong headlined the all-conference teams in 2003. The Marlow, N.H. product led the conference circuit in points (45) and assists (19), while ranking third in goals (13). She scored a season-high six points twice, most recently against Bridgewater State College on Sept. 22. Dallas was named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week three times.

Wolski became the first player in the Westfield State College program to earn Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Plymouth, Mass. product paced the conference circuit in goals (15) and game-winning goals (6), while second in scoring (33). Wolski recorded a season-high seven points, including three markers, at Elms College on Sept. 7. She is also making her third consecutive appearance on the all-conference, first-team. Wolski was named Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week once on the campaign.

Rowell anchored a stifling Keene State College defensive attack, recording a conference-high eight shutouts and allowing just 1.43 goals per game. The junior from Queensbury, N.Y. recorded 13 defensive saves, while contributing to the offensive rush with 10 points on four goals and two assists. She is making her second appearance on the all-conference teams, earning top honors in 2006. Rowell is the third student-athlete in Owl history to earned defensive player of the year honors. 

Sacco led all rookies in points (29) and goals (14), while ranking third in the conference in markers and fourth in scoring. The Mendon, Mass. product recorded at least two points in 11 of the 16 games this season, including a season-high four points against Anna Maria College and Wheelock College. She is the lone freshman to earn all-conference, first-team honors. Sacco is also the first student-athlete in Rams’ history to garner rookie of the year recognition.

Brown-Denico led the University of Southern Maine to a second place finish in the Little East Conference standings with an overall record of 15-7, including a program-best nine conference victories. She led her charges to the second-ranked offense in the League with 43 markers, averaging 1.95 goals per game. Southern Maine advance to the championship match of the Little East Conference Tournament and earned the top seed in the ECAC New England Tournament.

Keene State College placed a conference-high five student-athletes on the all-conference teams, including three first team selections, while Bridgewater State College was just one off the pace. The University of Southern Maine earned three all-conference selections, while Framingham State College, UMass Dartmouth, and Plymouth State University each had two honorees. Salem State College, Western Connecticut State University, Westfield State College, and Worcester State College each had a lone recipient.    

2007 Little East Conference Awards
			
Co-Offensive Player of the Year			
Erin Dallas		Soph.	Midfield	Keene State
Megan Wolski	Senior	Forward	Westfield State

Defensive Player of the Year			
Alyssa Rowell	Junior	Back	Keene State

Rookie of the Year			
Kristen Sacco	Fresh.	Forward	Framingham State

Coach of the Year			
Bonnie Brown-Denico	Southern Maine

First-Team	
Name		Class	Pos.	Institution		
Ashley Panzini	Senior	Forward	Bridgewater State
Karen Robinson	Soph.	Forward	Keene State 
Kristen Sacco	Fresh.	Forward	Framingham State
Megan Wolski	Senior	Forward	Westfield State
Erin Dallas		Soph.	Midfield	Keene State 
Caitlin DiCecca	Senior	Midfield	UMass Dartmouth
Erin Johnson		Senior	Midfield	Framingham State
Justene Dorr		Senior	Back	Southern Maine
Kelly Downs		Soph.	Back	Bridgewater State
Alyssa Rowell	Junior	Back	Keene State 
Allie Hill		Soph.	GK	Southern Maine

Second-Team	
Name		Class	Pos.	Institution			
Carly Benning	Soph.	Forward	Keene State
Bethany Bush	Fresh.	Forward	Bridgewater State
Cortney Romyns	Senior	Forward	Western Connecticut
Sara Winterbottom	Fresh.	Forward	Southern Maine
Katie Barany		Senior	Midfield	Plymouth State
Marissa Boccaccio	Senior	Midfield	Keene State
Courtney Sergio	Senior	Midfield	Bridgewater State
Stephanie Currier	Senior	Back	Salem State
Laurie David		Soph.	Back	UMass Dartmouth
Jillian Tamburro	Junior	Back	Worcester State
Leah Curtin		Senior	GK	Plymouth State

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