Four Named to GNAC All-Conference Team, Dalbec Player of the Year
WINTHROP, Mass.—Junior Kylie Dalbec (Portland, Maine) of the Anna Maria College field hockey team has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as announced by the league on Wednesday morning.
It marks the third major award for Dalbec in as many years, as she was the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Player of the Year last season and the NECC Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Dalbec highlights a long list of AMCATS garnering GNAC All-Conference recognition, as junior midfielder Kayla Lapierre (Worcester, Mass.) joins Dalbec on the First Team, and senior forward Nichole Lowe (Saugus, Mass.) and sophomore defender Kaitlyn Moran (Leicester, Mass.) were named to the league's Second Team.
The leading scorer in the GNAC's inaugural season, Dalbec has tallied 21 goals this season and also leads the league in total points with 48. She has tallied a league-leading nine game-winning goals in 2014, including three in conference play and the game-winner in Anna Maria's upset win against St. Joseph's in the GNAC Semifinals. Dalbec ranks among one of the best scorers in the country, as she ranks 29th in goals per game in all of Division III.
Lapierre repeats as an all-conference selection after being named to the NECC First Team a season ago. She totaled seven goals and seven assists for 21 points this season and was the third-best points-producer for the AMCATS.
Lowe also repeats as an all-conference selection after earning NECC First Team accolades last season. Lowe netted 13 goals for the AMCATS this season and dished out a team-best 10 assists for 36 points. The program's all-time leader in assists, Lowe also became the leader in career starts during the GNAC tournament.
The 2013 NECC Rookie of the Year, Moran has made her mark on the GNAC with a five goals, three assists, and a defensive save. She scored the team's lone goal in GNAC Championship game to total two goals and an assist in postseason play.
Sophomore midfielder Katherine Albro (Leicester, Mass.) was named to the league's All-Sportsmanship team.
In addition to Dalbec, the GNAC also recognized Theresa Hendrix of St. Joseph's as the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Julie Saltamartini of Simmons as the Rookie of the Year. Saltamartini's head coach Amanda Maxwell, was named the Coach of the Year.
First Team
F - Kylie Dalbec, Anna Maria
F – Effie Drew, Saint Joseph's (ME)
F – Julie Saltamartini, Simmons
F – Kelly Williamson, Simmons
M – Kayla Lapierre, Anna Maria
M – Theresa Hendrix, Saint Joseph's (ME)
M – Amy Wilson, Simmons
B – Kaylee Heath, Saint Joseph's (ME)
B – Meghan Williams, Saint Joseph's (ME)
B – Avery Hines, Simmons
GK – Brianna Rastello, Simmons
Second Team
F - Nichole Lowe, Anna Maria
F – Giovanna Ciavardoni, Johnson & Wales
F - Courtney McTeague, Johnson & Wales
F – Bailey Cutler, Saint Joseph's (ME)
M – Ali King, Johnson & Wales
M – Ashley Gleason, Lasell
M – Kelsey Dumond, Saint Joseph's (ME)
B – Kaitlyn Moran, Anna Maria
B – Brianna Robbins, Lasell
B – Veronica Jones, Rivier
GK – Makenzie Flagg, Rivier
Offensive Player of the Year – Kylie Dalbec, Anna Maria
Defensive Player of the Year – Theresa Hendrix, Saint Joseph's (ME)
Rookie of the Year – Julie Saltamartini, Simmons
Coach of the Year – Amanda Maxwell, Simmons
Institutional Sportsmanship Award – Rivier University
All-Sportsmanship Team
Katherine Albro, Anna Maria
Rachel Rice, Johnson & Wales
Shannon Motz, Lasell
Cregan Callahan, Mount Ida
Chelsea Gomes, Rivier
Emily Jordan, Saint Joseph's Maine
Kelly Williamson, Simmons
