SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 30, 2010) - Student-athletes from ten different institutions in The Commonwealth Coast Conference were represented on the 2010 All-TCCC Women’s Lacrosse Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. In addition to the all-conference team, winners of five major individual awards and the team sportsmanship award were also selected.

Curry senior Ashley Hansbury was named TCCC Offensive Player of the Year, Western New England junior Nicole Poli was picked as TCCC Defensive Player of the Year, New England College freshman Katie Palasz was chosen TCCC Rookie of the Year, Roger Williams’ Jessie Alden was honored as TCCC Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, Endicott’s Meghan Fitzgerald was honored as TCCC Coach of the Year, and Anna Maria College was the recipient of the Team Sportsmanship Award.

Voting for the All-TCCC team and each of the major awards was conducted among TCCC women’s lacrosse coaches.

Joining Hansbury (attack) and Poli (defense) on the first team were attackers Danielle Cate (U. of New England), Morgan DeShaw (Endicott), and Valerie Feldman (Endicott), midfielders Lindsey Fenton (Western New England), Claire Halliday (Roger Williams), and Katie Knaus (Gordon), defenders Ginny Lee (U. of New England) and Nicole Papasergiou (Roger Williams), and goalkeeper Amanda Magee (Roger Williams).

Second-team selections included attackers Sarah Baker (Salve Regina), Jeanmarie Barbato (Western New England), and Kristin Micho (Endicott), midfielders Kasey Beckwith (Roger Williams), Brittney Murphy (Colby-Sawyer), and Rachel Robichaud (Curry), defenders Emily Harvey (U. of New England), Molly Lawry (Gordon), Kendahl Light (Endicott), Allison Murray (U. of New England), and Danielle O’Leary (New England College), and goalkeeper Leah Neff (Endicott).

Receiving honorable mention were Palasz (attack) and Alden (midfield), attackers Krista-Jean Forand (Nichols) and Jesse Koffman (Curry), midfielders Megan Doyle (Western New England), Mallory Long (U. of New England), and Amanda Naime (New England College), defenders Lauren Carelli (Endicott), Hannah Cullen (Colby-Sawyer), Nicole Fratto (Curry), and Deb MacEachern (Colby-Sawyer), and goalkeeper Alexandra DiRico (New England College).

Hansbury, a senior from Chelmsford, Mass., continued her prolific career in a Colonel uniform with another stellar campaign. Hansbury led the league in goals (51) and points (86), while tallying 35 assists (2nd) in conference-only play. The senior was also a standout on the national scene, leading the country in points with 120 entering TCCC tournament play. On April 13, Hansbury put her name in the NCAA record book with a 16 point (nine goal, seven assist) effort which tied for the most points scored in a single game. The senior was also honored as 2009 Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the 2008 TCCC Rookie of the Year, and is a three-time First team selection.

Poli, a junior from Medfield, Mass., was once again a dominant force on defense for the Golden Bears. Poli ranked second in the league in ground balls per game (4.0) with 36 total, and caused turnovers with an average of 2.89 (26 total) per league contest. Poli, who was also honored as the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, led WNEC with 46 ground balls and 37 caused turnovers on the season. The Golden Bears finished the year at 8-3 in conference, securing the #4 seed in the upcoming TCCC women’s lacrosse championship.

Palasz, a freshman from Granby, Mass., made an immediate impact for the Pilgrims in her first season. Palasz led NEC in goals (24), assists (12), and points (36) in conference-only play this year. She also led the way in our of conference action, tallying a team-high 46 goals, 20 assists, and 66 points in her freshman campaign. Palasz also contributed with 53 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers for the Pilgrims.

Alden, a senior from Cataumet, Mass., was a key contributor on the field for the Hawks earning a spot on the Honorable Mention in midfield. In conference play, Alden tallied eight goals and eight assists, while contributing 32 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers on the defense end. In the classroom, Alden was honored as the top chemistry major at Roger Williams as she achieved an impressive 3.84 cumulative GPA.

In her second season as head coach of the Endicott Gulls, Fitzgerald has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success. Under her guidance, the Gulls are a perfect 20-0 over two seasons in conference play. Four-time defending TCCC champions, the Gulls enter the upcoming 2010 women’s lacrosse championship as the top overall seed.

2010 ALL-TCCC WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM

FIRST TEAM

A - Danielle Cate, U. of New England, Junior
A - Morgan DeShaw, Endicott, Sophomore
A - Ashley Hansbury, Curry, Senior
A - Valerie Feldman, Endicott, Senior
M - Lindsey Fenton, Western New England, Senior
M - Claire Halliday, Roger Williams, Junior
M - Katie Knaus, Gordon, Senior
D - Ginny Lee, U. of New England, Senior
D - Nicole Papasergiou, Roger Williams, Junior
D - Nicole Poli, Western New England, Junior
GK - Amanda Magee, Roger Williams, Senior

SECOND TEAM 

A - Sarah Baker Salve Regina Senior
A - Jeanmarie Barbato Western New England Junior
A - Kristin Micho Endicott Senior
M - Kasey Beckwith Roger Williams Senior
M - Brittney Murphy Colby-Sawyer Sophomore
M - Rachel Robichaud Curry Senior
D - Emily Harvey U. of New England Senior
D - Molly Lawry Gordon Senior
D - Kendahl Light Endicott Senior
D - Allison Murray U. of New England Sophomore
D - Danielle O’Leary New England College Senior
GK - Leah Neff Endicott Sophomore

HONORABLE MENTION 

A - Krista-Jean Forand, Nichols, Sophomore
A - Katie Palasz, New England College, Freshman
A - Jesse Koffman, Curry, Senior
M - Jessie Alden, Roger Williams, Senior
M - Megan Doyle, Western New England, Freshman
M - Mallory Long, U. of New England, Senior
M - Amanda Naime, New England College, Sophomore
D - Lauren Carelli, Endicott, Senior
D - Hannah Cullen, Colby-Sawyer, Junior
D - Nicole Fratto, Curry, Senior
D - Deb MacEachern, Colby-Sawyer, Junior
GK - Alexandra DiRico, New England College, Senior

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Ashley Hansbury, Curry
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Nicole Poli, Western New England
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Katie Palasz, New England College
SENIOR SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Jessie Alden, Roger Williams
COACH OF THE YEAR - Meghan Fitzgerald, Endicott
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Anna Maria College

Note: To view the complete news release, please visit http://www.thecommonwealthcoastconference.com/sports/releases0910/alltcccwlax10.pdf  You will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer to view the file.