STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College Women's Soccer Head Coach Michael Bolanz '00 has announced his team awards for the 2010 campaign.
Six players were honored as six awards were given to 2010 side members. Yearly team accolades include Most Improved, Golden Boot, Unsung Hero, Rookie of the Year, Impact Player and Most Valuable Player honors.
The 2010 Most Improved Player honor has been given to Caitlin Schrum '12 (Littleton, NH). Schrum, a midfielder, played in 12 games and started against Bates College on October 19th.
"Caitlin had to step up big time for us and play in a lot of crucial moments this season," adds Coach Bolanz. "I think she did an outstanding job, every time we called on her, including a game in which she earned a start this season. A true testament to the work she put in this offseason. Caitlin came back a different player this year. More intense, more fit, and better technically and tactically than before, she worked so hard on her game that she earned every minute she played for us this year. Caitlin played in almost twice as many games for us this season than last. We hope this trend continues for Caitlin."
The Golden Boot Award, bestowed annually to the Monks' leading goal scorer, goes to Mikayla Call '11 (Portland, ME/McAuley). Call, a three-time Golden Boot honoree, netted eight goals this season and 42 in four years as a starter for the Royal Blue.
Jennifer Keaney '13 (Scituate, MA) has been named as the team's Unsung Hero, an award given to the player that goes under the radar for the most part but is consistently one of the best players at her position. Keaney, who shared the team's 2009 Rookie of the Year honor with Casey Monaghan '13 (Portland, ME), tallied a goal and an assist in 14 starts last fall.
"She is always one of the hardest workers on the field and at a position where a lot of work needs to be done, the center of the midfield," says Coach Bolanz. "Jen stepped up big time for us because of a series of injuries and was able to stabilize our midfield and our team. A player that does not always gets recognized for everything she does; Jen is surely one of the most fun players to watch."
The Rookie of the Year honor goes to the team's starting goalkeeper this season, Jaci Lorenzen '14 (Windham, ME). The first-year keeper started all 17 games between the pipes last fall and notched a 1.67 goals against average with a .746 save percentage and four shutouts in 2010.
"Jaci stepped up into one of the hardest positions for a first year player to be in," comments Coach Bolanz. "As the starting goalkeeper she kept us in many games as well as making big time saves in some of our crucial victories this season. Jaci has the ability to be a very good goalkeeper at this level and she is off to a very good start. I am excited to see what she will be able to accomplish in the next couple of years."
The Impact Player of the Year honor goes to the individual(s) who have the most important impact on the field. This year, two players – Elizabeth Theberge '11 (Danvers, MA) and Jessica Needham '11 (East Bridgewater, MA) – share the honor.
Theberge started all 17 games for the Royal Blue and tallied two goals and two assists in 2010. Needham netted seven goals and five assists in five tilts before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
"This year we felt we were lucky enough to have two players that brought such a huge impact to our team and our program," says Coach Bolanz. "I don't think it is more fitting for these two players to win this award in the same year as they have consistently been an inseparable duo in their four years here together. Liz has brought a consistent toughness to the center of the field for us over the last four years and brought her game to a new level this past season as a player and as a leader. I thought she was one of the best holding mid-fielders in the league which reflects her Second Team All-Conference selection. A tough, spirited player that no team wanted to play against but we loved having her on ours. Liz will be sorely missed in our midfield and in our program going forward."
"Needham's accomplishments define impact," adds Coach Bolanz. "Jess, the career leader in SJC history in game-winning goals, lost two thirds of her senior year to a knee injury, but her impact in the time she spent on the field was immeasurable. In the five games that she played, the team was 5-0 and outscored teams 19-2, including a victory over the eventual conference champs, Lasell College. A true impact player, her loss was felt throughout the remainder of the season as the team's go-to goal scorer and emotional spark plug. Jess had a fantastic career here at Saint Joseph's College and as unfortunate as the end of the career was, Jess will always be one of the best players to play here and her impact will definitely be missed."
Mikayla Call, a two-year team captain, collects the Most Valuable Player honor for the second year in a row after leading the team in goals, assists, and points during her senior season.
"Mikayla had an outstanding season for the Monks," says Coach Bolanz. "Her ability to be a motivating factor both on and off the field made her an outstanding leader for the younger players in the program and someone they all looked up to. Her success always came through her work ethic. Games, practices, team work-outs, and off season work-outs; Mikayla was always giving it her all."
