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South Easton, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Lowell junior forward Sammy Macy (Tewksbury, Mass) has been selected the Northeast-10 Field Hockey Player of the Year as voted by the conference’s head coaches.

Macy has been an offensive threat for UMass Lowell this season as the junior currently leads the Northeast-10 in goals (23) and points (53) and in addition is ranked in the top five nationally in both categories. The River Hawks are scoring a conference best 2.51 goals per game. Macy helped advance UMass Lowell to the Northeast-10 semifinals for the seventh time in program history after the 4-1 win over Southern Connecticut in the quarterfinals. In addition, Macy was named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team for the second time in her career (2008 and 2009).

Bentley University senior Alyssa Sliney (Brewster, Mass.) was named the 2009 Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year for the third time in her career and is the first to do so in Northeast-10 history. Patrice Mendoza from UMass Lowell (2002 and 2003) and Megan Scalley of Saint Michael’s (2000 and 2001) are the only other multiple winners of the award. Sliney helped lead Bentley to the Northeast-10 Championship for a conference record 14th time as the Falcons finished NE-10 play with an 8-2 record. She currently ranks among the conference leaders in goals against average (1.33), shutouts (4) and save percentage (.742). Sliney is also ranked nationally in all three categories as well. In addition, she was also named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team for the third time in her career.

Stonehill College senior defender Stephanie Kott (Rutland, Mass.) was selected the 2009 Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Kott helped lead Stonehill to a conference best five shutout victories and anchored a defense that surrendered only 21 goals this season. She also dished out eight assists and recorded one defensive save thus far. In addition, Kott was named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team for the first time in her career.

Bentley forward Nicole Dion (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Merrimack forward April Daugherty (Lincoln, R.I.) were named the 2009 Northeast-10 Co-Freshmen of the Year. In her first year of collegiate play, Dion has helped lead the Falcons back to the Northeast-10 Championship as she ranks third on the team with eight goals to go along with three assists for 19 points. Dion is the first Bentley player to receive Freshman of the Year honors since Sliney (2006). In addition, Dion was also named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team.

Daugherty is the first Merrimack player to earn Freshman of the Year honors in program history as she helped lead the Warriors to the Northeast-10 semifinals for the first time ever. Daugherty is among the conference leaders in a number of offensive categories including, points (39 – 4th), goals (12 – 7th) and assists (15 – 1st). She is also ranked nationally in points (8th) and leads all of Division II in assists. In addition, Daugherty was named to the All-Northeast-10 First Team and All-Rookie team.

Stonehill head coach Shelly Morris has been voted the 2009 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year by her peers. In just her second season at the helm at Stonehill, Morris guided the Skyhawks to the team’s first Northeast-10 Regular Season title since 2006 and a trip to the NE-10 semifinals. Stonehill is currently16-3 overall and finished conference play with a 9-1 record.

With 16 member institutions the Northeast-10 shares the distinction of being the largest Division II conference in the country along with the PSAC and WVIAC. Its 23 championship sports provide athletic opportunities for over 5,500 student-athletes, the largest such program of any Division II conference.

- NE-10 -

2009 Northeast-10 Field Hockey All-Conference Team

First Team
Julianne Gerbino - Adelphi
Linsey Fernandes - American Int'l
Courtney Bartlett - Bentley
Stephanie Sideris - Bentley
Alyssa Sliney - Bentley
Katie Enaire - UMass Lowell
Sammy Macy - UMass Lowell
Laura Sullivan - UMass Lowell
April Daugherty - Merrimack
Claire Hourihan - Stonehill
Stephanie Kott - Stonehill
Jackie Ladino - Stonehill

Second Team
Lucia Vigliotti - Adelphi
Nicole Murphy - Bentley
Jenna Panzone - Bentley
Kimberly Jaksina - Franklin Pierce
Molly Clay - UMass Lowell
Ashley Smith - UMass Lowell
Jaclyn Germano - Merrimack
Jen Otis - Merrimack
Kaitlin Koffink - Saint Michael's
Dieny Charlot - So. Connecticut
Lindsey Pinkham - Stonehill

All-Rookie Team
Danielle DeMola - Adelphi
Lisa Duckles - American Int'l
Nicole Dion - Bentley
Alyssa Juszczyk - Franklin Pierce
April Daugherty - Merrimack
Jen Otis - Merrimack