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Somerset, NJ — Monmouth senior attacker Jeanette Stott (Upper Darby, PA/Upper Darby) was selected the Northeast Conference Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year in a vote by league head coaches. Quinnipiac’s senior defender Vanessa Miranda (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) and freshman midfielder Tiffany Manzi (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam) were recognized as Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Sacred Heart head coach Laura Cook took home NEC Coach of the Year honors for the first time after leading the Pioneers to their best-ever NEC finish with a 7-1 league mark (7-9 overall) and second place standing to close out the regular season.

Stott, a two-time NEC Player of the Week in 2006, had an outstanding senior season, tying an NEC record for points in a single-season with 82 thus far. She tops the league in points per game (4.82 ppg), is tied for first in assists per game (2.12 apg) and ranks third in goals per game (2.71 gpg). Overall, she has netted 46 goals and handed out 36 assists and has been a driving force behind Monmouth’s undefeated (8-0) play in league action.

Miranda anchors one of the top defensive teams in the NEC as Quinnipiac leads the pack in ground balls (27.80 gbpg) and goals against average (9.69). On March 28, she became the first defensive player to land NEC Player of the Week honors in the history of the league. On the year, she has 17 ground balls, nine caused turnovers and 16 draw controls, and even managed to tally one goal and one assist from her defensive position. Manzi stepped right into a starting role for the Bobcats and contributed immediately, scoring 28 points on 19 goals and nine assists. The rookie midfielder also had 43 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers and 26 draw controls.

NEC regular season champion Monmouth had a league-high five players earn first team all-conference accolades. Joining Stott are midfielders Katie Degen (Glen Head, NY/North Shore), last year’s NEC Player of the Year, and Megan Nutter (Moorestown, NJ/Mooresetown), last year’s NEC Rookie of the Year, senior defender Andrea Denton (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) and freshman goalkeeper Monica Johnson (Radnor, PA/Archbishop Carroll). Degen, a junior midfielder, tallied 50 points on 29 goals and 21 assists this season to rank ninth in the NEC in scoring (2.94 ppg) and tied for fifth in assists (1.24 apg). She also led the team in ground balls (49), caused turnovers (32) and draw controls (31), and was tied for second in the league in draw controls per game (1.88). Nutter, a sophomore at midfield, had a hand in 35 points, netting 30 goals and assisting in five. She tallied 29 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers and 20 draw controls. Denton was a big part in helping the Hawks to an undefeated season in league play, posting 32 ground balls, 20 caused turnovers and six draw controls. Johnson, a rookier keeper, shut down opposing team offenses on a regular basis, leading the league with a .531 save percentage, ranking second with 11.59 saves per game and third in goals against average (10.71).

Quinnipiac landed three players on the all-conference first team. Along with Miranda at all-NEC defender for the third straight year and Manzi at midfield, senior attacker Danielle Mormile (Oceanside, NJ/Oceanside) makes the jump from earning all-NEC second team honors last season. Mormile tallied 46 points on 30 goals and 16 assists this season to rank among the league leaders in points per game (3.07 - seventh), goals per game (2.00 - tied for ninth) and assists (1.07 - seventh).

Long Island placed two players on the all-conference first team with junior attacker Amy Rizzo (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) making her third straight all-conference appearance and senior midfielder Nichole Lopez (Highland Mills, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) joining the ranks of two sport all-stars after being named to the all-NEC soccer team in 2004. Rizzo was a major offensive threat for the Blackbirds all season with 76 points on 54 goals and 22 assists. She ranked second in the conference in goals (3.18 gpg) and points (4.47 ppg) and fourth in assists (1.29 apg). Lopez was an all-around threat with 54 points on 44 goals and 10 assists and also contributed 70 ground balls, 61 draw controls and 32 caused turnovers. She led the league in ground balls (4.12 gbpg) and draw controls (3.59 dcpg), tied for second in caused turnovers (1.88 ctpg), stood sixth in goals (2.59 gpg) and seventh in points (3.18 ppg).

Rounding out the all-conference first team is senior defender Kelly Nangle (Glen Burnie, MD/Glen Burnie) of Mount St. Mary’s and junior midfielder Heather Gureckis (Nashua, NH/Nashua) of Sacred Heart. Nangle is making her second all-conference appearance after posting 63 ground balls (tied for fourth in the NEC with 3.71 pg), 24 caused turnovers and 15 draw controls. Gureckis had 27 goals and six assists for 33 points so far this season, and also added 37 grounders, 25 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers.

Mount St. Mary’s and Quinnipiac each had three players on the all-conference second team. The Mount is represented by junior attacker Casey Paris (Longwood, FL/Lake Brantley), senior midfielder Leeann Robustelli (Downington, PA/Bishop Shanahan) and senior defender Jen Davison (Riva, MD/South River), while the Bobcats all-NEC second team players are senior midfielder Melissa Jordan (Williston, NY/Herricks), junior defender Sophie Pantelides (Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) and junior goalkeeper Ashley Thompson (Hunt Valley, MD/Roland Park Country School). Davison makes her third appearance on the all-conference squad, while Paris and Robustelli are both making their second. Davison is a stalwart on defense for the Mount, ranking third in the league in draw controls (2.53 pg - 43 overall) and tied for fourth in caused turnovers (1.82 pg - 31 overall). Paris tallied 49 points on 34 goals and 15 assists this season, while Robustelli added 14 goals, two assists and 31 ground balls. Pantelides makes a return showing on the all-conference second team, while Jordan and Thompson both earn their first postseason honors. Pantelides had 28 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers and six draw controls, while also handing out an assist from her defensive position. Jordan had 31 grounders, 18 draw controls, 16 caused turnovers, four assists and four goals on the year. Thompson was a major factor in the Q’s success this season, and led the league in goals against average (10.38) and ranked second with a .525 save percentage.

Monmouth, Sacred Heart and Wagner each had two players named to the second team all-conference. Sophomore midfielder Ashley Waldman (Oceanport, NY/Shore Regional) and sophomore defender Jessica Picciuto (North Caldwell, NJ/West Essex Regional) represent the Hawks, junior attacker Brianna Bubeck (Bethlehem, NY/Bethlehem Central) and freshman midfielder Mary Montesarchio (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) are the Pioneers honorees, while Seahawks’ senior attacker Heather George (West Allenhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) and freshman midfielder Jessica Richmond(Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) round out the second team selections. George, a two-time all-NEC performer, led the league in goals per game with 3.47 and tied for third in points per game with 3.71. She closed her senior campaign with 63 points on 59 goals and four assists. Richmond made an immediate impact for Wagner, tallying 30 goals, two assists, 33 draw controls and 22 grounders. Bubeck paced the Pioneers with 38 points on 30 goals and eight assists, while Montesarchio was right behind with 33 points on on 21 goals and 12 assists. Waldman had 12 goals, three assists, 42 ground balls, 24 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers from her midfield position, while Picciuto had 29 grounders, 16 caused turnovers and 15 draw controls.