Five Women's Soccer Players Earn NECC Honors, Hoxie Named POY
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Mitchell College junior Nikki Hoxie was named NECC Women's Soccer Player of the Year and joined four of her teammates as all-conference selections, as announced by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday afternoon.
Hoxie and senior co-captain Paige Ehnot were selected to the NECC All-Conference First Team while junior Leslie Briggs, freshman Caley McClendon and freshman Kaylee Woodford all earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team. Mitchell's five all-conference representatives were the most of any school in the conference. All awards were determined by a vote of the conference's nine head coaches.
Hoxie, a first team pick for the second straight season, becomes the first Mitchell player to earn the conference's top award. The forward led the Mariners in scoring during the regular season with 11 goals and two assists for 24 points. In conference play she ranked third in the NECC in points (22), points per game (2.75), goals (10) and goals per game (1.25).
Ehnot earned all-conference honors for the third time in her career. She was a first team pick in 2008 and second team selection last year. Ehnot has started and played in 16 games as a defender and recorded a pair of goals with three assists for seven points.
Briggs, a forward, takes home all-conference honors for the second consecutive year. She has started and played in 17 games and ranks third on the team in scoring with four goals and seven assists for 15 points. All four of her goals and all but two assists came during conference play.
McClendon has enjoyed a stellar rookie season in which she is leading the Mariners in scoring with 12 goals and three assists for 27 points. In conference play she finished with five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points, and her game-winning goal against Lesley University in the NECC title game was her team-leading fourth of the season.
Woodford was one of two goalkeepers selected to the all-conference second team. She has played all but 48:00 in goal for the Mariners and leads the NECC with six shutouts on the season. In six conference games she posted a goals-against average of 0.91 and a save percentage of .792.
The Mariners (10-7-1 overall, 6-1-1 NECC) won the 2010 NECC Championship this past weekend and will represent the conference at the 2010 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship. Mitchell, which will be making its NCAA debut, will face Wheaton College (Mass.) on Saturday, November 13 at 2:30 p.m. on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University.
2010 NECC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nikki Hoxie, Mitchell, JR (Winsted, Conn.)
2010 NECC WOMEN'S SOCCER GOALIE OF THE YEAR: Kelly Callahan, Elms, JR (Monson, Mass.)
2010 NECC WOMEN'S 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 WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Wheelock College
2010 ALL-NECC WOMEN'S 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 WOMEN'S 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 WOMEN'S 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
