CHANDLER, Ariz. – The 2017 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-Region Teams have been announced and three Mount Holyoke College student-athletes were recognized on the All-New England East Region squad. Sophie Perekslis was a First Team honoree, while Kaitlin Braz and Mirjam Keochakian were tabbed to the Second Team. This is the first All-Region honor for all three honorees who were among 196 student-athletes across six regions to be honored.
Perekslis, a senior forward and captain from Millerton, N.Y., earned First Team after leading Mount Holyoke in goals, points, shots, shots on goal and game-winning goals in 2017. Her 16 tallies rank her third overall amongst the NEWMAC's best, while she also sits fourth in points. Over eight conference games, Perekslis ranked first in game-winning goals (3) and was third in both goals (8) and points (17).
A former standout at the Berkshire School, Perekslis was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team, while also garnering NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Week on October 10 and her third straight NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honor. In 80 career contests at Mount Holyoke, which included 74 starts, Perekslis scored 51 goals with 12 assists for 114 points. She posted 223 shots, including 154 on goal, while adding 14 game-winning tallies. Amongst the Lyons all-time best, Perekslis ranks fifth in career goals and is sixth all-time in career points.
Braz, a senior forward and captain from Tolland, Conn., was one of the most dominant end-to-end players in the conference this season. She ranked second among the Lyons squad in both assists (8) and points (20). She also added six goals to go along with 49 shots (30 on goal). Amongst the NEWMAC leaders, she ranked fourth in overall helpers.
The former East Catholic High School standout, who is also a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection, played in 76 career contests for the Lyons. A starter in 42 of those matches, she scored 10 career goals with 13 assists for 33 points. Additionally, she added 113 total shots, including 78 on goal, with two game-winning markers. Braz was also named to the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team this season, while garnering conference All-Sportsmanship Team honors as a junior.
Rounding out this year's honors was Keochakian, a junior midfielder who hails from Hamburg, Germany, who was recognized after leading the Lyons in assists during the 2017 campaign with nine. She also notched nine goals for 27 total points, both of which ranked second overall on the squad. Keochakian finished the season tied for second overall in assists amongst the conference's best. Additionally, she also ranked fourth in eight conference games in both goals and assists.
A NEWMAC All-Conference First Team honoree in 2017 and a two-time Academic All-Conference selection, Keochakian also recorded a team-high three defensive saves this season, while three of her goals were game-winners. She has played in 57 career games for the Lyons, with 56 of those coming as a starter. During that time, Keochakian has scored 15 goals with 18 assists for 48 total points. In addition to 120 shots (78 on goal), she has three career game-winning goals to go with four defensive saves.
Mount Holyoke concluded its season with a 12-6 overall record. The Lyons finished 5-3 in the NEWMAC, advancing to the conference tournament for the 19th straight season. MHC shouldered a tough 3-2 loss in overtime to Springfield in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals.
