BOSTON, Mass. - The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Field Hockey All-Conference Teams have been announced and Mount Holyoke College saw three student-athletes recognized. Earning First Team recognition was Ruvimbo Mushavi and Liz DiCesare, while Charlotte Wagner was a Second Team selection.
Earning First Team honors for the second straight season was Mushavi, a senior defender and captain who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe. She earned her spot after serving as a constant and powerful defensive presence for a Lyons squad that allowed just 30 goals on the season, ranking second in the NEWMAC in save percentage (.773). MHC also ranks 47th in all of Division III in goals against average (1.54).
Additionally, the former Arundel School standout also helped the Lyons rank fourth in the conference in defensive saves with eight, half of which she recorded (4). During her four year career, Mushavi started every game, playing in all 83 contests. She notched one goal, which came in a 1-0 double-overtime win at Babson in the 2015 NEWMAC semifinals, while also recording 16 defensive saves. She was a three-time All-Conference selection, including Second Team in 2014.
DiCesare, a senior goalie and captain out of Westford, Mass., posted a 10-7 record during the 2016 season. She owned a 1.53 goals against average with a .783 save percentage. Consistently one of the top keepers in the nation throughout her career, she currently ranks 37 in Division III in save percentage and is 47th overall in goals against average. DiCesare ranks second in the NEWMAC in victories, posting 94 saves over 1193:08 minutes of action to rank fourth in the conference in both categories.
The former Bishop Guertin High School graduate had a number of outstanding efforts on the season, including a 14-save performance in a 3-0 loss to nationally-ranked Babson during the regular season. She also backstopped the Lyons to their first win at Wellesley in over 20 years, making one save as MHC posted a 2-1 win over the Blue in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals.
DiCesare ranks among the all-time greatest in goaltenders at Mount Holyoke, appearing in 79 games with 78 starts. She has a lifetime 1.28 goals against average with a .825 save percentage. Owning a record of 58-21 with 13 shutouts, she made 454 saves in her career with 5243:43 minutes played. The 2015 NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, this is her second All-Conference First Team honor, having earned the distinction in 2014. She was a Second Team honoree in 2015 and 2013, as well as the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year in 2013.
Rounding out this year's honors was senior forward Charlotte Wagner. The West Chester, Pa., native led the Lyons in every offensive statistical category for the second straight season in 2016. A starter in all 19 contests, she posted 16 goals with eight assists for 40 points. She recorded 87 shots, including 57 on goal, and also added four game-winning tallies.
Highlighting Wagner's 2016 was 6-2 victory over Castleton in which she scored the game-winning goal, added two others and an assist in the Lyons victory. Wagner currently ranks 46th in Division III in points per game (2.11). She is also second in the NEWMAC in game-winning goals, third in shots and shots on goal, while posting fourth in points and shots.
The former Westtown School standout also started all 83 games of her career. She notched 58 goals with 44 assists for 160 points. In addition to recording 277 shots, 190 of which were on goal, she also posted 14 game-winning tallies. Among the best in program history, Wagner ranks second in career points, third in assists and fourth in goals.
In addition to the All-Conference honors, the Lyons also saw junior captain and forward Kaitlin Braz named to the field hockey All-Sportsmanship Team. The award, which was established this academic year, is intended to recognize one student-athlete from each team, in every sport that best demonstrates the ideals of the NEWMAC and its Code of Conduct, regardless of his/her overall performance or statistics for the season. Braz, along with eight other players from the conference field hockey teams were honored.
A native of Tolland, Conn., Braz posted three goals and three assists in 19 games this season. She recorded two game-winning goals, including the go-ahead tally that lifted the Lyons to a 2-1 win over Wellesley in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals.
Mount Holyoke concluded its season with a 12-7 overall record. The Lyons finished 5-3 in the NEWMAC, advancing to the conference tournament for the 18th straight season. MHC bested Wellesley in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals, advancing to the Semifinals for the fourth straight season. Despite a solid effort, the Lyons shouldered a 1-0 loss to nationally-ranked Babson, who went on to with the NEWMAC Championship.
