STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College Women's Soccer Head Coach Jenelle Harris has announced the 2016 team award recipients. Six different awards were bestowed upon deserving individuals, with the Offensive Player, Defensive Player, Most Valuable, Unsung Hero, Rookie of the Year, and Monk Award honors were given out during the program's annual end-of-year banquet.
Offensive Player: Haley DaGraca
DaGraca is the logical choice for the team's Offensive Player of the Year award after leading the team – by wide margins, despite missing two games – in goals (21), points (45), shots (90), and game-winning goals (5) en route to becoming the first Saint Joseph's player to garner GNAC Offensive Player of the Year honors
The two-time First Team All-GNAC honoree tied for the conference lead in goals, ranked second in points, and third in game-clinchers and now ranks second in SJC program history in single-season goals, points, shots, and winners. DaGraca accounted for 49% (21/43) of the Monks' scoring this fall and heads into her junior campaign with 33 goals and 72 total points in 36 NCAA contests.
Defensive Player: Emily DeLuca
DeLuca claims Defensive Player of the Year acclaim after starting all 20 games as a senior captain and backline anchor for the Monks. She tallied five assists and led the team in corner kick attempts (16) and earned GNAC All-Tournament and Second Team All-Conference accolades last fall.
Most Valuable Player: Brooke Troup
Troup, a two-time All-Conference goalkeeper, was named as the Monks' Most Valuable Player after posting a 1.63 goals against average with a 10-6-3 record and three shutouts along with a .782 save percentage in 1654 minutes of play. A team captain, she ranked third in the conference in minutes and victories, fifth in goals against average, and eighth in saves (93) and goals allowed (30) and was chosen as the GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week on September 25th.
Unsung Hero: Colleen Sheehan
Sheehan is the Monks' Unsung Hero award recipient after netting three goals – including two game-winners – with six assists in 18 games as a sophomore forward. An unselfish player with a positive attitude and a tremendous work ethic, Sheehan will be a mainstay on the offensive end for the Monks for the next two seasons.
Rookie of the Year: Abby Sweeney
With a number of talented first-year players in the running for the Rookie of the Year honor, Sweeney was tabbed as the award winner after starting 19 games on the Monks' backline as a freshman. An athletic and intelligent player, Sweeney filled a huge role on the defensive end while taking on many of the best strikers in the conference.
Monk Award: Des Parent
Parent embodies the team's Monk Award, which recognizes the tenets of strong leadership and work ethic qualities as well as the ability to serve as a positive example, on and off the field, for other players in the program. As a senior, she earned her first All-GNAC honor after tallying three goals and two assists for eight total points in 16 games last fall.
#GOMONKS
Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram!
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
