STANDISH, ME – The North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey All-Conference teams have been announced and Saint Joseph's College (13-5, 7-0 NAC), the top seed in the conference tourney, is well-represented.
The Monks, slated to host second-seeded Husson University in the NAC Championship at 1:00 PM on Saturday, feature five players on the All-NAC First Team, including Player of the Year Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME).
Head Coach Rupert Lewis has been selected as the NAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. All honors are voted upon by conference head coaches.
Senior forward Kayla Nowell (Bridgton, ME), senior defender Alyssa Dunn (Standish, ME), junior midfielder Sarah Bartell (Exeter, NH) and junior goalkeeper Meaghan Johnson (Portland, ME/Cheverus) join Rague on the 2010 NAC All-Conference First Team.
Rague has enjoyed the finest season of her career as a senior. She led the NAC with 27 points and 10 goals in conference play and played a hand in 17 of the Monks' 28 goals scored in NAC contests. Through 18 games, Rague leads the team in goals (14), assists (11) and points (39) – all of which rank as career-highs. The Monks' success depends highly on Rague, as the Royal Blue is a perfect 10-0 when the senior forward scores a goal.
Lewis, the most successful skipper in team history, garners Coach of the Year honors after leading the Monks to the program's second-straight undefeated conference season. Under Lewis' watch, St. Joe's has posted an incredible 19-1 (.950) regular-season conference record in three seasons as a member of the NAC. The Monks have not suffered a NAC setback since October 4th, 2008 – a span of 18 league games.
For Nowell, the First Team All-NAC selection is the third of her career. The senior attacker, who has battled through injuries this year, has managed to post yet another fine offensive season with 12 goals, six assists and 30 total points in 14 games. She leads the Royal Blue with five game-winning goals and became the Monks' all-time leader in goals and points earlier this fall. She heads into the NAC Championship this Saturday as the owner of 13 program records.
Dunn, a Second Team All-NAC choice in 2008, has tallied two goals and six assists for 10 total points with five defensive saves so far this season. One of the best defenders in the conference if not the region, Dunn's varied contributions don't necessarily register on the stat sheet. A fantastic two-sport athlete, two-team captain and academic standout, Dunn is certainly on the short list of top female athletes at Saint Joseph's.
For Bartell, the All Conference nod is the first of her career. An unsung player for the better part of three seasons, Bartell has burst onto the scene as a junior with seven goals and 15 total points this fall. In three years, the junior tri-captain has notched 14 goals, 12 assists and 40 total points.
The All Conference honor is also a first for Johnson, who has arguably been the team's Most Valuable Player this season. The junior tri-captain leads the conference in virtually every statistical category and ranked 12th in all of NCAA DIII Field Hockey with a .839 save percentage as of October 31st. Johnson, the Monks' all-time leader in wins and shutouts, goes into the NAC Championship with a 1.22 goals against average and a .848 save percentage with both numbers ranking as SJC single-season records.
