Feb. 10, 2010

Seniors Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA), Nichole Rondeau (Dracut, MA) and Ryan Richards (Holden, MA) were among 10 UMass Lowell student-athletes named to the 2009 Northeast-10 Conference Fall All-Academic teams, released Tuesday.

Gillis and Richards, of the women’s and men’s soccer teams, earned the honor for the third time in their careers while Rondeau, a volleyball standout, was cited for the second time.

Senior Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) and juniors Angus MacDonald (Methuen, MA) and Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) of the cross country teams, were each named after earning spots on the NE-10 All-Academic Track and Field teams last spring.

Senior Molly Clay (Rockport, MA) and junior Amy Carbon (Bellingham, MA) were each named to the Field Hockey All-Academic Team while sophomore Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, MA) junior Brianne Bozzella (Wilmington, MA) joined Gillis on the Women’s Soccer All-Academic Team.

The NE-10 All-Academic Teams honored student-athletes, sophomores and older, who have maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.30 while displaying outstanding achievement on the playing field. The teams were voted upon by the Conference’s sports information directors.

Gillis, a business administration major with a 3.44 grade point average, Bozzella and Bissaillon guided UMass Lowell to a 12-5-4 record (10-3-2 in the NE-10), the NE-10 Tournament semifinal and the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years.

The honor is the latest of many this season for Gillis, who was named a first team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as well as the NE-10 Goalkeeper of the year for the season straight year.

Gillis ranked among NCAA leaders, including goals against average (fourth, 0.405) and save percentage (fifth, .889) and set the Division II record for consecutive shutout minutes (1,333). She played every minute of every match in her career (a school-record 7,453) and also shattered records for shutouts (38), matches played (79) and goals against average (.809).

Bozzella emerged among UMass Lowell’s biggest scoring threats with six goals and four assists (three game-winners) after two goals and two assists a year ago. An exercise physiology major, Bozzella maintains a 3.89 average.

Bissaillon, an undeclared health major with a 3.70, also enjoyed a special year. She joined Gillis on the NE-10 All-Conference First Team after earning All-Rookie/Third Team honors last year, and dished out a team-high six assists (along with two goals) this season.

Similar to Gillis, Richards left his name in several places in the men’s soccer record books. Despite the River Hawks struggling to a 4-12-0 season (3-10-0 NE-10), Richards compiled 21 shutouts for his career (second on the all-time list) and hold single season marks of minutes (2,022) and shutouts (nine, shared).

A chemistry major, Richards sports a 3.86 average.

Recognized throughout her career for her academic standing, Rondeau helped UMass Lowell to a special season, highlighted by winning the program’s first NE-10 Tournament championship – for which she earned Most Valuable Player honors – and its sixth NCAA bid of the decade.

Rondeau played a crucial roll throughout UMass Lowell’s most successful season in recent memory with averages of 8.31 assists, 1.93 digs and 35 service aces.

A mechanical engineering major, Rondeau has maintained a 3.70 grade point average.

Clay and Carbon each led the field hockey team to another special season, helping the River Hawks (18-6, 7-3 NE-10) to the NCAA Championship match for the third straight year (fifth in seven years).

Selected to the 2009 NE-10 Second Team, Clay registered five goals and three assists, starting all 24 matches. A chemical engineering major, Clay upholds a 3.59 average.

The River Hawks’ backbone in the cage, Carbon played over 1,332 minutes between the pipes this season and saw action in all 24 games (18 starts), compiling a 15-5-0 record. Her 1.63 goals against average pitted her fifth in the NE-10.

A business administration major, Carbon maintains a 3.80 average.

Leading the cross country team to another spectacular fall, MacDonald became UMass Lowell’s first All-American of the year when he placed 26th at the NCAA Championship and led the River Hawks to 16th in the team standings.

Prior to the NCAAs, MacDonald guided the River Hawks to their seventh NCAA East Region title in nine years and, perhaps more impressive, a third New England Championship (against Division I, II and III schools) in four years. He has twice been named to the NCAA East Region and NE-10 all-star teams.

Catarius and Clark led the women’s cross country team to a stellar fall, which included a runner-up showing at the NCAA East Region Championship and a seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAAs, at which it placed 23rd.

Along the way, Clark was named to both the NCAA All-East Region and NE-10 All-Conference First Team for the third straight year while Catarius earned NE-10 honors a second successive year.