Kara Kruczkiewicz Named to Little East Conference All-Star First Team
Caitlin Everin honored on Second Team

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Southern Maine each earned two of the end of the season awards as the Little East Conference announced the 2008 women’s lacrosse all-conference teams this afternoon. The Warriors dynamic midfield duo of Megan Gloster (Agawam, Mass.) and sophomore Taylor MacDonald (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) were named Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Huskies freshman Kristy Kendrick (Waterboro, Maine) was selected the Rookie of the Year, while Sue Frost was tabbed Coach of the Year.

Gloster is the first student-athlete in the program’s history to be honored as the Offensive Player of the Year. The Agawam, Mass. product sits atop the conference standings in game-winning goals (4), while ranking third in assists per game (1.59) and sixth in points (3.53). A starter in all 17 games, Gloster paced the Eastern Connecticut squad in points (60) and assists (27), while second in goals (33). She scored multiple points in 15 contests this season, including a season-best seven points at Western Connecticut on April 2.

MacDonald became the second Warrior player to be honored as the top defender in the Little East Conference and first since Kara Bradley ’07 earned praise in 2005. She rankings among the conference leaders in draw controls (2nd, 3.88), caused turnovers (3rd, 33), ground balls (3rd, 3.76), and assists (7th, 1.12).  MacDonald won at least two draw controls in 16 of her 17 games on the campaign, including a season-high eight at Western Connecticut on April 2. The 2008 Little East Conference Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player collected a season-best seven ground balls against the University of Southern Maine on May 3. On the season, she provided a balance scoring attack, netting 20 markers and dishing out 19 helpers. MacDonald was named the 2007 Little East Conference Co-Rookie of the Year.

For the season straight season, the University of Southern Maine boasts the top rookie in the conference circuit. Kendrick completed her first campaign on the pitch leading the Huskies in draw controls (55), while ranking second in points (39) and goals (36). The native of Waterboro, Maine scored a season-high seven markers and collecting a season-best nine draw controls against Keene State College on April 26, while netting six goals at St. Joseph’s (Maine) earlier in the season.
 
Frost led the University of Southern Maine to the 2008 Little East Conference Championship Tournament finals this past weekend, marking the first time in the program’s history the Huskies made an appearance in the championship round. She led her charges to an overall record of 8-9, including a 5-1 mark in conference play, to earn the second seed and the right to host a home field game in the Little East Tournament. Frost’s five conference victories are even more impressive considering Southern Maine had two or fewer league contests over the past six seasons. She mentored four student-athletes on the all-conference teams, including first-team selection at midfield for Jessica Knight.

2008 Little East Conference Women’s Lacrosse Awards

First Team
Name			Position	Class		Institution
Lily Anderson		Attack		Senior		Eastern Connecticut
Jill Kirk		Attack		Freshman	Keene State College
Brooke Wayte		Attack		Sophomore	Eastern Connecticut
Megan Gloster		Midfield	Senior		Eastern Connecticut
Kalie Judd		Midfield	Sophomore	Plymouth State University
Jessica Knight		Midfield	Sophomore	University of Southern Maine
Kara Kruczkiewicz	Midfield	Sophomore	Western Connecticut
Taylor MacDonald	Midfield	Sophomore	Eastern Connecticut
Marie Spang		Midfield	Senior		UMass Dartmouth
Larissa Basque		Defense		Freshman	UMass Dartmouth
Jackie Bivona		Defense		Junior		Eastern Connecticut
Erica Robertson		Defense		Sophomore	University of Southern Maine
Katie Quartuccio	Goalie		Senior		University of Southern Maine

Second Team
Name			Position	Class		Institution
Caitlin Albert		Attack		Junior		University of Southern Maine
Justene Dorr		Attack		Senior		University of Southern Maine
Michelle Mazzotta	Attack		Senior		Keene State College
Kerry McDevitt		Attack		Senior		Rhode Island College
Sydney Culbertson	Midfield	Senior		Rhode Island College
Caitlin Everin		Midfield	Senior		Western Connecticut
Kristy Kendrick		Midfield	Freshman	University of Southern Maine
Sara Barrett		Midfield	Junior		Eastern Connecticut
Jenny Lillis		Midfield	Freshman	Keene State College
Annie Brown		Defense		Freshman	Keene State College
Erin Duffy		Defense		Senior		Rhode Island College
Meghan Harris		Defense		Senior		Eastern Connecticut 
Erin Doherty		Goalie		Senior		UMass Dartmouth

Offensive Player of the Year
Megan Gloster, Midfield, Eastern Connecticut State University

Defensive Player of the Year
Taylor MacDonald, Sophomore, Midfield, Eastern Connecticut State University

Rookie of the Year
Kristy Kendrick, Freshman, Midfield, University of Southern Maine

Coach of the Year
Sue Frost, University of Southern Maine

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s women’s lacrosse team scored nine goals in each half and defeated visiting Western Connecticut State, 18-10, in a first round Little East Conference playoff game at Cressy Field Tuesday evening.

Senior attacker Susie Nearhoof (Frederick, MD/Governor Johnson HS/Frederick CC) and freshman midfielder Larissa Basque (Plainville, MA/King Phillip Regional HS) led the attack for the Corsairs with five goals each. Nearhoof added two assists, and sophomore midfielder Kara Basque (Plainville, MA/King Phillip Regional HS), senior attacker Marie Spang (Wakefield, MA/Wakefield HS) and sophomore attacker Samantha Wonson (Lowell, MA/Lowell HS) each scored a pair of goals.

Junior attacker Whitney Fairchild (New Milford, CT/New Milford HS) scored three goals for Western Connecticut, while sophomore attacker Jessica Majeski (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon HS) and senior midfielder Caitlin Everin (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury HS) each scored twice. The Corsairs scored the final three goals of the first half to take a 9-5 halftime lead, scored four of the first five goals in the second half to claim a 14-6 advantage, and then scored the final three goals of the game after the Colonials had cut their lead to 15-10 with 9:50 remaining.

“Our offense worked very well as a unit, “said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jerry Jennings. “We scored on set plays, and took advantage of our opportunities. We made a smooth transition from defense to offense, and our shots were on the mark. We also played well defensively, which was a big part of our game plan. We’re glad to move on, and are looking forward to playing Eastern Connecticut Thursday.”

UMass Dartmouth out shot WCSU, 30-20. Senior goalkeeper Erin Doherty (West Newbury, MA/Pentucket HS) made 10 saves for the Corsairs, while sophomore goalie Angela Vargas (Stonington, CT/Stonington HS) made 12 saves for the Colonials.

The Corsairs improved to 9-5 with the victory, while Western Connecticut dropped to 4-14 with the defeat. UMass Dartmouth will visit Eastern Connecticut State in a Little East Conference semi-final match Thursday afternoon. The loss was the final action of the season for Western Connecticut.

UMASS DARTMOUTH LACROSSE

GOALIES - WCSUWL: Angela Vargas 3-14-0 (60:00 minutes, 30 shots-12
saves, 18 GA); UMDWL: Erin Doherty 9-5-0 (60:00, 20-10, 10).