SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Nov. 9, 2011) – Seniors Shara Robertson, Tricia Chase and Katie Gibson were named to the NEWMAC Field Hockey All-Conference First Team as a result of their outstanding production during the 2011 season. All three players were instrumental in leading the Lyons to a share of the NEWMAC Regular Season Championship.
No stranger to postseason recognition, Robertson grabbed NEWMAC All-Conference honors for the third year in a row. She was placed on the First Team for the second straight year after earning Second Team accolades as a sophomore. In 2008, the forward became just the second player in program history to claim NEWMAC Rookie of the Year accolades.
Arguably the top offensive player in program history, Robertson has racked up 146 points on 62 goals and 22 assists over her four seasons in South Hadley. With her dramatic tally against Springfield College last week, she became the program's all-time leader in career points and goals.
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 69 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 55 points on 20 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) and helped her secure the NEWMAC Player of the Week Award honors for the second time in her career.
Like Robertson, Chase also earned NEWMAC All-Conference honors for the third season in a row. After grabbing Second Team honors last fall, she returned to the First Team this year. The senior currently leads the league with six defensive saves and has also chipped in with two goals and three assists. She was named NEWMAC Player of the Week for the second time in her career on October 10.
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.
In 67 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).
One year after earning a spot on the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team, Gibson made her way to the First Team this season. The senior has been outstanding between the pipes for the Lyons all season long. In addition to leading all NEWMAC starters with a goals against average of 1.27 and a save percentage of .802, she has also piled up five shutouts. Gibson has surrendered just 23 goals en route to an overall record of 13-5 in 1,269 minutes played. She came up with a season-best 17 saves in Mount Holyoke's thrilling 2-1 triumph over Castleton State College (09/10/11). That performance helped her land NEWMAC Player of the Week honors for the first time. She also earned the award after allowing just one goal in wins over WPI (10/18/11) and Clark University (10/22/11).
Despite her quiet demeanor, Gibson has developed into one of the top goalkeepers in the region. She makes the most difficult saves look easy and can always be counted on to keep the Lyons in each of their matches. The senior has great anticipation, routinely makes point blank saves and has the ability to stop one-on-one chances.
Gibson has been one of Mount Holyoke's most improved players since joining the program three seasons ago. Her career goals against average of 1.27 is the third lowest in program history, and her 17 shutouts are the second most. Over the course of her career, she has come up with 10 saves or more on 11 occasions. Her 18 stops in the Lyons' thrilling 2-1 triumph over Springfield College during her sophomore year were a career high (10/13/09). She has spent over 4,000 minutes protecting her team's cage.
The Lyons are in the midst of one of their greatest seasons in program history. After securing their first regular season title since the 2001 season, they advanced to their fourth NEWMAC Championship over the weekend. They enjoyed a 1-0 advantage over top-seeded MIT until the final seconds of regulation, when Molly McShane scored a dramatic goal to send the contest to overtime. Tournament Most Outstanding Player Anna Teruya knocked in the winner 1:51 into the first extra session to seal things for the Engineers.
Mount Holyoke (13-5, 6-2 NEWMAC) has earned the third seed in this year's ECAC Division III New England Tournament and will host a quarterfinal match against sixth-seeded Worcester State University this evening at 7:00 p.m. The Lyons will be participating in the ECAC Tournament for the fifth time in program history. They were crowned champions in 2002 and also made appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2005.
2011 NEWMAC All-Conference Teams and Awards
Athlete of the Year - Kameron Klauber, MIT
Rookie of the Year - Nathalie Gruet, Wellesley
Coach of the Year - Cheryl Silva, MIT
Tournament Most Outstanding Player - Anna Teruya, MIT
Sportsmanship Award - Wellesley College
First Team All-Conference
Anneliese Brosch, Babson, M
Morgan Lockwood, Babson, F
Mel Melkonian, Clark, F
Kameron Klauber, MIT, F
Molly McShane, MIT, M
Tricia Chase, Mount Holyoke, D
Katie Gibson, Mount Holyoke, GK
Shara Robertson, Mount Holyoke, F
Kelly Gallo, Springfield, F
Nathalie Gruet, Wellesley, M
Emily Asack, Wheaton, F
Second Team All-Conference
Jess Pashos, Babson, GK
Kimberly Barker, MIT, F
Molly Duffy, MIT, F
Anna Teruya, MIT, D
Phoebe Hopkins, Smith, M
Allie Stein, Smith, F
Kayla Sokol, Springfield, M
Emily Lewis, Wellesley, F
Whitney Reid, Wellesley, M
Katelyn Comeau, WPI, D
Becca Sharpe, WPI, D
