SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Nov. 3, 2011) – Tricia Chase and Shara Robertson have been selected to represent Mount Holyoke College at the 2011 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Senior All-Star Game. They were among the 57 players from around the nation to be chosen for the match, which will take place in conjunction with the NCAA Division III National Championship at Nichols College on Saturday, November 19 at 5:00 p.m.
Chase has been an anchor in Mount Holyoke's defensive backfield for the past four years and is currently serving as a captain for the second straight season. She is an aggressive work horse, who leaves it on the field each time out. An outstanding athlete, she has served as the Lyons' general on the field throughout her career. 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 lethal reverse stick sweep have made her a top threat on corner chances.
Throughout her career, Chase has been an All-Conference and All-Region performer. The defender was named NEWMAC Player of the Week on two occasions and was also selected as the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2009. In 65 career matches, she has delivered eight goals, 13 assists and 19 defensive saves. Her three defensive saves at Amherst College during her sophomore season were a career high (09/30/09). After scoring the lone goal in Mount Holyoke's season opening win over Washington last fall (09/05/10), she racked up a career best three points on a goal and an assist in her team's 5-0 triumph over Simmons later that week (09/11/11).
This season, Chase leads the NEWMAC with six defensive saves and has also recorded two goals and three assists.
Arguably the top offensive player in program history, Robertson has racked up 144 points on 61 goals and 22 assists over her four seasons in South Hadley. With her dramatic tally against Springfield College earlier this week, she became the program's all-time leader in career points and goals. Throughout her career, Robertson has been an All-Conference and All-Region performer. The forward became just the second player in program history to earn the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year Award in 2008. She was also named NEWMAC Player of the Week on two occasions.
Gifted with great speed, a tenacious work ethic and excellent moves, she has continually found a way to put the ball in the cage despite constant pressure. In 67 career matches, she has piled up eight hat tricks and 11 winners. The forward was at her best in the Lyons' 16-1 triumph over Elms College during her rookie campaign, when she exploded for nine points on four goals and an assist (09/28/09). Her point and goal totals both tied previous school records held by Bridget Gunn '95 and Krista Lindquist '02, respectively.
Robertson has been particularly impressive this season, recording a program-record 53 points on 19 goals and 15 assists. The forward notched hat tricks in wins over Regis College (09/09/11) and Smith College (09/17/11). Her three assists in a 5-3 triumph over Wellesley College were a career high (09/24/11).
Mount Holyoke (12-4, 6-2 NEWMAC) is in the midst of one of its greatest seasons in program history. With their win over Springfield on Tuesday, the Lyons secured their first NEWMAC Regular Season Championship since the 2001 season. They went 6-2 in league play and finished in a tie with MIT atop the final standings. Both squads earned first round byes in this week's NEWMAC Tournament.
MIT entered the tournament as the top seed by virtue of its 3-2 victory over Mount Holyoke on October 15. The Engineers will host both semifinals on Saturday and the championship on Sunday. In yesterday's quarterfinal round matches, sixth-seeded Babson College upset third-seeded Wellesley 1-0, and fourth-seeded Springfield held on for a 2-1 win over fifth-seeded WPI.
Mount Holyoke will begin its quest for conference supremacy with a semifinal round contest against Babson on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The Lyons cruised to a 5-0 triumph over the Beavers at home on October 8. They will enter the tournament as the second seed, riding a four-match winning streak. On the other side of the bracket, MIT will face off against Springfield at 11:00 a.m. The NEWMAC Championship is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
