Field Hockey Racks Up NEWMAC Postseason Accolades

BABSON PARK, Mass. (Nov. 10, 2008) – The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) recently announced its women’s field hockey award winners for the 2009 season. Senior Jess Paladino of Babson College earned the Athlete of the Year Award for the Conference, while Clark University first year Mel Melkonian claimed NEWMAC Rookie of the Year honors. After guiding her squad to the NEWMAC Tournament Championship over the weekend, MIT’s Cheryl Silva garnered NEWMAC Coach of the Year honors. Babson received the league’s Sportsmanship Award.

Three Mount Holyoke College sophomores were honored by the NEWMAC. Highlighting the group was defender Tricia Chase, who was named to the All-Conference First Team. Midfielder Taylor Hedges and forward Shara Robertson earned Second Team All-Conference recognition.

Chase earned NEWMAC All-Conference First Team honors for the first time in her career. Mount Holyoke’s most complete player, she amassed nine points on two goals and five assists. In addition to finishing among the NEWMAC leaders in defensive saves with eight, the defender also stepped up her offensive game to the point where she became one of the league's top threats in the circle this season. As a result of her outstanding play during the week of October 12-18, Chase earned both NEWMAC Player of the Week and ECAC Division III New England Defensive Player of the Week accolades and was named to the womensfieldhockey.com national honor roll for Division III. During that week, she made a key defensive save at the end of regulation in the Lyons 2-1 overtime triumph over Springfield College (10/13).

No stranger to postseason recognition, Robertson grabbed NEWMAC All-Conference honors for the second year in a row. She was placed on the Second Team this season after becoming just the second player in program history to claim NEWMAC Rookie of the Year accolades last fall. The forward paced Mount Holyoke on the offensive end, pouring in team highs of 25 points and 12 goals. Five of her tallies went down as match winners. She exploded for a hat trick in the Lyons 4-0 victory over Western New England College (9/22) and later found the back of the cage twice in their 3-0 win over Hendrix College (10/18). Two days later, she figured in on all three of her team’s goals in their thrilling 3-2 triumph over Clark, scoring two and assisting on the other (10/20). Robertson was the Lyons injector on corners and their top offensive threat in front of the cage.

Hedges was also voted to the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team after an outstanding sophomore campaign. She collected three assists while serving as Mount Holyoke’s table setter from the midfield position. The Lyons most skilled player, she was involved in all offensive and defensive corners and was truly the team's most unsung player. Hedges posted helpers in Mount Holyoke’s victories over both Springfield (10/13) and Babson (10/16). She also collected an assist in the Lyons heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to WPI (10/10).

Mount Holyoke posted an overall record of 10-8 and went 4-4 in NEWMAC play. The Lyons season came to a close on Saturday at Wellesley College, when they suffered a 2-0 setback to eventual champion MIT in the Semifinal Round of the NEWMAC Tournament.

2009 Field Hockey All-Conference Team and Award Winners

NEWMAC Athlete of the Year:
Jess Paladino, Babson

NEWMAC Rookie of the Year:
Mel Melkonian, Clark

NEWMAC Coach of the Year:
Cheryl Silva, MIT

NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award:
Babson College

First Team All-Conference
Sarah Fredlund, Babson, F
Colleen Kelly, Babson, M
Jess Paladino, Babson, F
Keri Dixon, MIT, GK
Molly McShane, MIT, M
Anna Teruya, MIT, D
Tricia Chase, Mount Holyoke, D
Morgan Rein, Springfield, F
Katie Frett, Wellesley, F/M
Callie Lekas, Wellesley, F
Kelly Johnson, WPI, D

Second Team All-Conference
Lauren Blake, Clark, F
Kathryn Dawsey, Clark, GK
Mel Melkonian, Clark, F
Kimberly Barker, MIT, F
Taylor Hedges, Mount Holyoke, M
Shara Robertson, Mount Holyoke, F
Phoebe Hopkins, Smith, M/F
Meg Bradley, Springfield, M
Julie Hoppmann, Springfield, D
Kate Cushing, Wellesley, M/F
Cassie Abel, Wheaton, D