PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Worcester State University's freshman forward Olivia Antonelli (Westford, Mass.) has been named the Little East Conference (LEC) Rookie of the Year as the conference announced the All-Conference teams and major awards voted by the league's 12 head coaches Tuesday (Nov. 8) afternoon.
Antonelli was named the LEC Rookie of the Week three times this season (9/12, 9/19, 10/3). Antonelli helped the Lancers reach new heights in 2016, winning 13 games (the most since 2002), including a 9-2 LEC record. Antonelli led the Lancers with 13 goals scored and finished second on the team with 30 total points.
The LEC coaches selected Worcester State's Interim Head Coach Alexa Carlson as Coach of the Year for the 2016 season. Carlson was named interim in August and led the Lancers to 13 victories, which are the most wins for the program since they finished 13-9 in 2002.
The Little East Conference compiles three All-Conference teams as voted on by the field hockey head coaches from our 12 institutions. The teams are comprised of four forwards, three midfielders, three defenders and concludes with one goalkeeper. The All-Conference teams consist of 19 student-athletes earning All-LEC honors for the first time.
Worceser State's Hayley Sutherland (Tewksbury, Mass.) earned a spot on the first team as a defender as she scored five goals and assisted three. Her highlight of the year was when she was featured on ESPN's top-10 sports for a spectacular arching shot off a penalty corner. The LEC Rookie of the Year, Antonelli, was slotted on the second team along with teammates Michaila Parent (Westborough, Mass.), Meghan Pini (Natick, Mass.), and Kathryn Salemme (Acton, Mass.). Worcester State's senior forward, Kayla Quinn (Sutton, Mass.) earned a spot on the third team All-Conference as a midfielder.
2016 Offensive Player of the Year
Sami Smith
Keene State College
2016 Defensive Player of the Year
Marita Brothers
Keene State College
2016 Rookie of the Year
Olivia Antonelli
Worcester State
2016 Coach of the Year
Alexa Carlson
Worcester State
2016 Little East Conference | First Team All-Conference
|
Forward |
Sami Smith |
Keene State College |
|
Forward |
Holly Brouillette |
Westfield State |
|
Forward |
Brittany Cullinane |
Bridgewater State |
|
Forward |
Nicole Burgess |
Plymouth State |
|
Midfielder |
Brittney Cardente |
Keene State College |
|
Midfielder |
Meg Doherty |
Westfield State |
|
Midfielder |
Kayla Renaud |
Keene State College |
|
Defender |
Marita Brothers |
Keene State College |
|
Defender |
Worcester State |
|
|
Defender |
Alexa Whitney |
Westfield State |
|
Goalkeeper |
Megan Fountaine |
Westfield State |
2016 Little East Conference | Second Team All-Conference
|
Forward |
Molly Richard |
Fitchburg State |
|
Forward |
Worcester State |
|
|
Forward |
Erica Stauffer |
Keene State College |
|
Forward |
Worcester State |
|
|
Midfielder |
Maddie Hoffman |
Fitchburg State |
|
Midfielder |
Katie Martin |
Plymouth State |
|
Midfielder |
Worcester State |
|
|
Defender |
Maddy Beatrice |
Plymouth State |
|
Defender |
Hunter Carden |
UMass Dartmouth |
|
Defender |
Nicole Fors |
Fitchburg State |
|
Goalkeeper |
Worcester State |
|
|
|
|
2016 Little East Conference | Third Team All-Conference
|
Forward |
Jensyn Dandeneau |
Keene State College |
|
Forward |
Erin Morrissey |
Fitchburg State |
|
Forward |
Tayla Smedberg |
Fitchburg State |
|
Forward |
Alex Kallgren |
Eastern Connecticut State |
|
Midfielder |
Worcester State |
|
|
Midfielder |
Samantha Hayes |
Bridgewater State |
|
Midfielder |
Michaela Demers |
Southern Maine |
|
Defender |
Katherine McKenna |
Bridgewater State |
|
Defender |
Delaney Gembis |
Westfield State |
|
Defender |
Rachel Bunce |
Westfield State |
|
Goalkeeper |
Gwendolyn Thayer |
Keene State College |
Portions of this Release Courtesy of LEC Media Relations