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Oct. 31, 2009
Seniors Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA) and Kathleen Strazzere (Wilmington, MA), along with head coach Elie Monteiro, each earned special honors as the Northeast-10 Conference Women’s Soccer All-Conference Teams were announced Friday afternoon. Gillis and Strazzere were among seven UMass Lowell players – more than any NE-10 team – cited to the first, second and third teams as well as the All-Rookie Team. Gillis was named the NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight year while Strazzere earned Co-Defender of the Year honors (with Franklin Pierce’s Rachel Smith). Monteiro, in his eight year as head coach, was named the NE-10 Coach of the Year for the second time in five years. Gillis and Strazzere were named to the First Team, alongside sophomore M Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, MA), while four River Hawks graced the Third Team: juniors Ella Merullo (Wakefield, MA) and Michelle LaMar (Billerica, MA), senior Colleen Fitzpatrick (Tewksbury, MA) and freshman Taylor Hartmann (Feeding Hills, MA). Hartmann was also cited to the All-Freshman Team along with Jenna Costa (North Attleboro, MA). UMass Lowell (11-4-3 overall, 10-3-2 in the NE-10), ranked No. 23 in the latest NSCAA Division II Poll, hosts Stonehill Sunday (1:00) in the NE-10 Tournament Quarterfinal round at Cushing Field. Gillis, who recently set an NCAA Division II record for consecutive shutout minutes (1,333), made her second straight appearance on the First Team in what has been a milestone season. Gillis is tops among NE-10 goalkeepers in shutouts (12) and also ranks second in goals against average (0.37) and save percentage (.901, 64 saves, seven goals conceded). Among national leaders, Gillis is currently sixth in goals against average and seventh in save rate. As a team, the River Hawks rank fifth in Division II in shutout percentage (.706) and sixth in goals against. Those numbers can also be attributed to Strazzere and LaMar, both Third Team selections last year, and Fitzpatrick, who is making her first appearance on the All-Conference teams. Each has started every match this season.Bissaillon is also a repeat honoree, having earned a spot on both the Third Team and the All-Rookie Team in 2008. She has resumed from last year, registering two goals and setting up five others, starting all but one match. Merullo, who has played both midfield and defense this year, has been a catalyst with three goals and four assists, including a pair of goals and one assist in a 3-0 win over Saint Anselm. One of the top freshmen in the Conference, Hartmann leads all River Hawk scorers with seven goals and two assists, including four game-winners. She gave a hint of things to come in her first collegiate game with one goal and one assist in a pivotal 3-1 victory over Franklin Pierce. An attacking midfielder, Costa has also adapted quickly with one goal and two assists, appearing in all 18 matches with seven starts. Monteiro, who has a career won-loss record of 67-60-14, has compiled a 52-30-14 clip over the last fiver seasons. He was first named NE-10 Coach of the Year in 2005. |
