Conference

Somerset, NJ -- Rider junior forward Christina Ang (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) was named the Northeast Conference Field Hockey Player of the Year in a vote by league head coaches. A two-time all-conference pick, Ang led the Broncs to the NEC regular season title, as well as the top seed in this weekend’s NEC Tournament. Sacred Heart freshman forward Becky Ford (Salem, NH/Salem) was selected the league’s Rookie of the Year, while Rider’s Lori Hussong was awarded NEC Coach of the Year honors. Hussong’s squad set a new school record by winning eleven straight games at one point during the year on its way to posting a 13-4 overall record. She also led Rider to its second NEC regular season crown, as the Broncs posted an unbeaten record in NEC play (5-0).

The 2003 NEC Field Hockey Championship will be hosted by Rider this weekend in Lawrenceville, NJ. On Friday, October 31, #1 seeded Rider will face #4 Siena at 11:00 am, while #2 Sacred Heart meets #3 Quinnipiac at 1:30 pm in the semifinal round. The championship game will be held on Sunday, November 2 at 12:00 pm, with the winner moving on to face the Patriot League champion in an NCAA Tournament play-in match on Tuesday, November 11.

Ang, a three-time recipient of the NEC Player of the Week award, was the most dominant offensive player in the league this season. Ang currently leads the NEC in goals (15/0.88 per game), game-winning goals (7), scoring (32 pts./15 g/2 a) and points per game (1.88). The junior from Somers Point, NJ enters play this weekend ranked fourth on the all-time Rider list in both goals (42) and scoring (92 pts./42 g/8 a). Ang was also named ECAC Player of the Week on October 13th, after her scoring exploits helped the Broncs clinch their first-ever unbeaten record in NEC regular season play, as well as the #1 seed in the league tournament.

One of Sacred Heart’s most highly touted recruits this season, Ford more than lived up to her advance billing. A two-time Rookie of the Week honoree, Ford led all NEC newcomers this season in goals (7/0.39 per game) and shots (44/2.44 per game). She currently ranks sixth in the NEC in scoring (15 pts./7 g/1 a) and seventh in points per game (0.83). Ford’s offensive skills also helped her earn second team all-NEC honors at forward.

Three other Rider standouts garnered all-league honors along with Ang. Junior forward Maddy Boulden (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester), sophomore forward Courtney Bertos (Morris Knolls, NJ/Morris Knolls) and junior back Stephanie Corradino (Oceanport, NJ/Shore Regional) were all key contributors to the Broncs’ success this year. Boulden leads the NEC in assists with nine (0.56 per game), while her 25 points (8 g/9 a) ranks third on the circuit. Bertos, the 2002 NEC Rookie of the Year, once again put up some big offensive numbers this season as she ranks among the league’s top-10 in goals (6/0.35 per game), assists (5/0.29 per game), scoring (17 points) and points per game (1.00). Corradino’s stellar work on defense has helped Rider pace the NEC in goals against average (1.46).

Monmouth, which just missed out on an NEC Tournament berth, had senior midfielders Kristen Hulmes (Montville, NJ/Montville) and Katie Niemczyk (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock), as well as junior back Kelly Balady (Lansdale, PA/Methacton), receive first team honors this year Hulmes led the Hawks in both goals (4) and scoring (11 pts./4 g/2 a), while Niemczyk ranks fifth in the NEC in assists (5/0.31 per game). Balady, a three-time all-NEC first teamer, was a stalwart on defense for a young Monmouth squad.

Quinnipiac had two players earn first team recognition in junior back Jill DiSanti (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) and sophomore goalkeeper Erin McKay (Norwood, MA/Norwood). DiSanti provided the Bobcats with a versatile threat on defense as she ranked third on the squad in scoring (8 pts./3 g/2 a). McKay was outstanding between the pipes for Quinnipiac this year, as she led the NEC in shutouts (7) and ranked second in the league in both saves (135) and goals against average (1.71). Perhaps her finest performance of the year came in QU’s 1-0 victory over then #16 Hofstra on September 24, as she piled up 14 saves on the afternoon to help the Bobcats register their first-ever win versus a nationally ranked opponent.

Sacred Heart junior forward Julie Messenger (Hinsdale, NH/Hinsdale) earns all-NEC accolades for the fourth time in her illustrious career, as she led the Pioneers in goals (12/0.67 per game), assists (7/0.39 per game) and scoring (31 pts./12 g/7 a). A two-time NEC Player of the Week, Messenger also becomes one of just two players in NEC history to earn all-conference accolades four times in her career. Rounding out the all-NEC first team is Sacred Heart freshman midfielder Colleen Carney (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland). Carney scored nine points (3 g/3 a) on the year and quickly established herself as a mainstay in the Pioneers’ lineup during her rookie campaign.

Quinnipiac placed a league-high four players on the all-NEC second team, including junior forwards Meredith Klein (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) and Chelsea Osbrey (North Kingstown, RI/North Kingstown), senior midfielder Eileen Gallagher (Drexel Hill, PA/CDS of the Sacred Heart) and sophomore back Kara Weber (Washington Crossing, PA/Council Rock). Klein provided the Bobcats with a reliable veteran up front, while Osbrey, a 2002 first teamer, tallied eights points (2 g/4 a) on the season. Gallagher was one of the NEC’s top defensive midfielders this season, as she currently ranks #1 nationally in defensive saves with 14. Weber’s solid work on defense helped QU rank second in the NEC in goals against average at just under two per game (1.96). Joining NEC Rookie of the Year Becky Ford as second team honorees from Sacred Heart are senior back Andrea Marsden (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union) and junior goalie Robyn Breer (Montpelier, VT/Montpelier). Marsden scored six points (1 g/4 a) on the year, and also ranks among the national leaders in defensive saves with nine. Breer leads the NEC in saves with 144 (8.47 per game) and ranks second in the NEC in goals against average (1.96). Rider had a pair of midfielders, sophomore Ally Hunter (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro North) and junior Katie Sebastian (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls), receive second team accolades. Hunter and Sebastian provided the Broncs with a versatile duo in the midfield that helped the squad earn the #1 seed in this weekend’s NEC Tournament. Rounding out the all-NEC second team are a pair of Siena seniors, forward Lacee Iselo (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) and defender Michelle Dorscheid (Penfield, NY/Penfield). Iselo, who is one of just two players in league history to earn all-NEC recognition four straight seasons (along with SHU’s Julie Messenger), led the Saints in both goals (5) and scoring (12 pts./5 g/2 a) this year. Dorscheid, a two-time second team pick, provided key leadership to a Siena squad that earned its first-ever NEC Tournament berth this year.