BABSON PARK, Mass. (Nov. 10, 2010) – The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) recently unveiled its field hockey award winners for the 2010 season. A total of four Mount Holyoke College juniors were honored for their outstanding play. Highlighting the group was forward Shara Robertson, who was named the All-Conference First Team. Meanwhile, midfielders Tricia Chase and Taylor Hedges were joined on the All-Conference Second Team by goalkeeper Katie Gibson.
No stranger to postseason recognition, Robertson grabbed NEWMAC All-Conference honors for the second year in a row. She was placed on the First Team this season after earning Second Team accolades last fall. In 2008, the forward became just the second player in program history to claim NEWMAC Rookie of the Year accolades. She was also named to the NFHCA All-Region Second Team at the conclusion of her sophomore season.
Robertson paced Mount Holyoke on the offensive end, pouring in team highs of 41 points and 19 goals. She also chipped in with three assists. Six of her tallies went down as match winners. The forward was the Lyons' injector on corners and their top offensive threat in front of the cage. She notched hat tricks in wins over Simmons College (9/11), Smith College (9/17), the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (10/27) and Springfield College (10/30). Her most dramatic goal of the season came in the waning minutes of double overtime against MIT, when she tapped in a pass from first year forward Stephanie Slysz to give her team a 3-2 victory (10/16).
In addition to earning NEWMAC Player of the Week honors for the week of week of September 13-19, Robertson was named to the womensfieldhockey.com national honor for the week of October 25-31. Over the course of her career, she has accumulated 91 points on 42 goals and seven assists. She has knocked in winners 13 times.
One year after earning a spot on the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team, Chase secured Second Team honors this year. The midfielder battled through a variety of injuries to post 10 points on three goals and four assists while also collecting three defensive saves. After scoring the lone goal in Mount Holyoke's season opening win over Washington College (9/5), she tallied a goal and an assist in its 5-0 triumph over Simmons (9/11). Chase also found the back of the cage in the Lyons' thrilling 3-2 overtime win over MIT (10/16).
Chase is an aggressive work horse, who leaves it on the field each time out. An outstanding athlete, she has served as Mount Holyoke's general on the field for the past three seasons. In addition to being her team's top defender, she has also become a go to player on the offensive side of the ball. Her great one on one moves and a lethal reverse stick sweep have made her a top threat on corner chances.
Over the course of her career, Chase has delivered six goals, 10 assists and 13 defensive saves. She was named to the NFHCA All-Region First Team last fall.
Hedges was voted to the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team for the second year in a row after piling up a squad best seven assists. After setting up Chase's winner in the Lyons' 1-0 victory over Washington College (9/5), she provided the assist for Robertson's clinching goal in their 2-1 triumph over WPI (10/19). The midfielder went on to record helpers in each of her team's final three matches.
Mount Holyoke's most complete player at both ends of the field, Hedges was Mount Holyoke's unsung hero this year. Armed with excellent stick skills, she has the ability to elude defenders and often serves as her team's table setter from the center midfield position. She has excellent anticipation in the open field and also owns a great jab and block tackle.
Joining Chase and Hedges on the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team was Gibson. The goalkeeper enjoyed a standout year between the pipes for Mount Holyoke. In addition to leading the NEWMAC with a goals against average of 1.37, her save percentage of .810 was also good for tops in the league. She registered shutouts in wins over Washington College (9/5), Simmons College (9/11), Smith College (9/17), Western New England College (9/21) and Castleton State College (10/13). Her 15 saves in the Lyons' 3-2 double overtime victory over MIT were a season high (10/16).
Gibson makes the most difficult saves look easy and kept Mount Holyoke in each of its matches this season. She has great anticipation, routinely makes point blank saves and has the ability to stop one on one chances. She has been one of Lyons' most improved players since joining the program two seasons ago. Over the course of her career, she has accumulated a goals against average of 1.52, 232 saves and 12 shutouts.
Babson College dominated the postseason awards after claiming its first ever NEWMAC Tournament Championship over the weekend. Midfielder Colleen Kelly was named NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, while forward Morgan Lockwood took home Rookie of the Year accolades. Fellow forward Sarah Fredlund claimed NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, and Julie Ryan was tabbed NEWMAC Coach of the Year. The NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award went to MIT.
Mount Holyoke closed out its 2010 campaign with an overall record of 11-6 and a league mark of 5-3. The Lyons suffered a heartbreaking 4-2 setback to Springfield College in the Quarterfinal Round of the NEWMAC Tournament. Their 11 wins were their most since the 2005 season, when they prevailed 14 times.
2010 Field Hockey All-Conference Teams and Award Winners
NEWMAC Athlete of the Year:
Colleen Kelly, Babson
NEWMAC Rookie of the Year:
Morgan Lockwood, Babson
NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player:
Sarah Fredlund, Babson
NEWMAC Coach of the Year:
Julie Ryan, Babson
NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award:
MIT
NEWMAC First Team All-Conference:
Sarah Fredlund, Babson, F
Colleen Kelly, Babson, M
Morgan Lockwood, Babson, F
Jess Pashos, Babson, GK
Mel Melkonian, Clark, F
Kameron Klauber, MIT, F
Molly McShane, MIT, M
Shara Robertson, Mount Holyoke, F
Kelly Gallo, Springfield, F
Katie Frett, Wellesley, M
Jessica Strock, Wheaton, M
NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference:
Anneliese Brosch, Babson, D
Courtney Weaving, Babson, F
Meghan Lennon, Clark, M/D
Tricia Chase, Mount Holyoke, M,
Katie Gibson, Mount Holyoke, GK
Taylor Hedges, Mount Holyoke, M
Phoebe Hopkins, Smith, Mid
Meg Bradley, Springfield, D
Kate Cushing, Wellesley, M
Margaux Bolte, Wheaton, M
Danielle Antonellis, WPI, M
