ECAC Announces 2016 DIII New England Women's Lacrosse All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III New England Women's Lacrosse All-ECAC Selections and major award winners.
Trinity College's Martha Griffin capped her senior season by earning ECAC DIII New England Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, while Bridget Munnelly of Lasell College was voted defensive player of the year. Alyssa Kelly from Mount Ida College received the honor for top rookie, with Brett Allen of Bates College rounding out the major awards with the coach of the year accolade.
Offensive Player of the Year
Martha Griffin - Trinity College, Sr., Midfield
Griffin led the Bantams in points in 2016, recording 38 goals and 13 assists for 51 points during the regular season, earning her second-straight New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Year Award in the process. The senior would close the year with 53 goals and 22 assists for 75 points in 23 games, including postseason play, as Trinity advanced to the national championship game before succumbing to Middlebury College. In addition to ECAC honors, Griffin was recently named a 2016 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) DIII First Team All-American.
Defensive Player of the Year
Bridget Munnelly - Lasell College, Sr., Defense/Midfield
Munnelly played a pivotal role in a stingy Lasell defense in 2016. During the regular season, the senior scooped up a team-high 54 groundballs and caused 30 turnovers, while also controlling 63 draws in 16 tilts as the Lasers held opponents to just 8.15 goals per game. Munnelly made her mark on offense as well, finding the net on 18 occasions to go along with four assists for 22 points.
Rookie of the Year
Alyssa Kelly - Mount Ida College, Fr., Attack
Kelly captures the ECAC Rookie of the Year Award after receiving the same honor in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). The freshman was the focal point of the Mount Ida attack in 2016, leading the Mustangs in goals (52), assists (22) and points (74) in 16 regular-season game. The Massachusetts native operated with impressive consistency in her inaugural collegiate campaign, picking up at least one point in each of Mount Ida's regular-season contests and scoring a goal in all but one outing. Kelly also chipped in defensively, leading the team in draws controlled (61), groundballs (57) and caused turnovers (27).
Coach of the Year
Brett Allen - Bates College
Allen takes home the award for ECAC Coach of the Year after receiving the corresponding award in the NESCAC for the first time in his 11-year tenure at Bates. Under Allen, the Bobcats went 11-4 in the regular season and earned their highest-ever seed in the NESCAC Championship as the No. 5 seed. Bates would receive an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament, its first berth since 1994 and second overall.
All-ECAC First Team
A: Moriah Greenstein - Bates College, Sr.
A: Taylor Scialdone - Western New England University, Sr.
A: Kaelin Hogan - Roger Williams University, So.
A: Kaila Chase - Worcester State University, Sr.
M: Martha Griffin - Trinity College, Sr.
M: Lauren Geary - Bridgewater State University, Sr.
M: Jackie Connors - Worcester State University, Sr.
D: Jolena Lampron - University of New England, So.
D: Alexis Cran - Curry College, Sr.
D: Carrie Long - Fitchburg State University, So.
D: Delaney Carroll - Babson College, Jr.
G: Hannah Jeffrey - Bates College, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team
A: Bridget Instrum - Middlebury College, Sr.
A: Caroline Ross - Tufts University, Sr.
A: Brianna MacKay - Castleton University, Sr.
A: Heather Raniolo - Springfield College, Sr.
M: Laurel Pascal - Middlebury College, Sr.
M: Rachel Passarelli - Amherst College, Sr.
M: Lydia Knapp - Johnson & Wales University, Jr.
D: Jackie Brokaw - Colby College, So.
D: Evie Keating - Middlebury College, So.
D: Ashley Stewart - Trinity College, Sr.
D: Christine Jiang - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sr.
G: Mimi Khampaeng - Westfield State University, Sr.
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In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female Players. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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