Macomber, Butler, Cumberbatch All Earn Conference's Top Awards

Westfield, MA --- Junior Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, MA) has been named MASCAC Player of the Year as she highlights four all-conference selections for Worcester State in a vote by the leagues eight head coaches as announced by Emily Diekelmann.

Joining Macomber on the First-team include senior teammates Shelby Archer (Dayville, CT) and Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) as junior Kiley Hardy (Pepperell, MA) earned a spot on the Second-team

Head coach Kevin Cumberbatch also earned the Champions Choice MASCAC Coach of the Year award while freshman Justine Butler (Marlboro, MA) earned the league's Rookie of the Year award.

Macomber, who receives her second career all-conference nod, has been instrumental to the success of the women's soccer team this season as the squad's go-to striker.

Entering this week's league playoffs, Macomber is tied for fourth in the MASCAC in both goals (15) and assists (6) while she eclipsed the school-record for points in a season with the fifth highest sum in the conference this past week with 36. She is just two markers away from setting the single-campaign mark of 16 held by Vanessa Vallee (1998).

In conference-only games, Macomber has recorded a remarkable nine goals and three helpers with the match clinching tallies against MCLA, Salem State, Westfield State and Fitchburg State. The last MASCAC Player of the Year was former All-New England honoree Danielle Clifford.

Archer, who has played nearly every minute of every game at center midfield this season, earns her second consecutive all-conference plaque. In 16 starts, she has contributed three goals and four helpers for a total of 10 points.

Among program leaders in assists, Archer is tied for fifth on the all-time list and she is four away from the top spot held by Lancer Hall of Famer Maura Cushing (1993-97).

Sawyer has shown her versatility throughout the course of the season, playing up top as a forward or in the middle as a center midfielder. With one goal and three assists to her credit, she has moved into 27th on the all-time scoring list with seven tallies and 12 helpers in her four years wearing a Lancer uniform.

The dynamic duo of Archer and Sawyer have helped the Blue and Gold record 35 team assists on the campaign, which is currently second in the MASCAC and the second-most in program history, just three off from the school record.

From their center back position, Butler and Hardy have been instrumental in helping lead the charge defensively for WSU this season.

The Worcester State back line led the MASCAC with the fewest goals allowed (15) while tying for the best goals against average (0.93). In league play alone, the Lancers allowed just three goals to pass between the pipes as they have blanked four conference opponents including Mass Maritime, Fitchburg State, Bridgewater State and MCLA.

Butler is the league's first conference Rookie of the Year since former standout Michelle Astuccio earned the accolade in 2005. She has one goal and one assist on the season with the helper on the match clinching marker in the regular season finale against Fitchburg State.

Cumberbatch has now been recognized as the MASCAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career as the Lancers (12-3-1) went unbeaten for the third time in program history (7-0), claimed their fourth regular season title and the top seed in this week's conference tournament.

Boasting an overall record of 75-40-17 (.633), Cumberbatch has led Worcester State to the league playoffs in every season at the helm, with MASCAC tournament finals appearances on three occasions. Under his watch the Lancers have also claimed the 2010 Tournament title and won the 2011 ECAC Division III New England crown.

Rounding out the list of major award winners was junior Mackenzie Foye (Ludlow, MA) who earned a spot on the MASCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Worcester State makes a run at their sixth MASCAC Tournament Championship this Friday when they host fifth-seeded Bridgewater State in a 7 o'clock matchup.