Nov. 5, 2009

Complete All-Atlantic 10 Teams

PHILADELPHIA - Freshman Rebecca Chylack was named the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Rookie of the Year in voting conducted by the league's head coaches, it was announced today. Chylack was also a First Team All-Atlantic 10 pick, while junior Beth Carey was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team and senior Haley Froshour received honorable mention accolades.

The Explorers also placed three players on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team -- Chylack, Neelam Kumar and Janel Paukovits. The three all-rookie team members were tied for tops in the conference.

Additionally, three La Salle players were named to the Academic All-Atlantic 10 team. Carey and Froshour joined junior Emma Ruth on the 11-member academic team, which was voted on by the league's sports information directors. The three all-academic team members were also tied for tops in the conference.

Chylack had a breakout freshman campaign, leading the Explorers in goals (11), shots (64), game-winning goals (three) and defensive saves (three). She also tied Carey for the team lead in points (25).

The Souderton, PA native led all Atlantic 10 freshmen in points, goals and shots. She is the first Explorer to receive A-10 Rookie of the Year honors since Colleen Bolger in 2001. She was one of two freshmen on the Atlantic 10 First Team, joining West Chester's Melissa LeNoir.

Chylack also set a program record for points and goals by a freshman. Her 11 goals were the most by an Explorer since 1990 and her 25 points, third all-time in a season at La Salle, are the most since 1980.

Carey led the Atlantic 10 with 11 assists and added seven goals for 25 points. Her 11 assists are third on the single-season list, while her 17 career assists rank fourth. The junior came on strong in the final weekend, scoring eight points in a pair of games. Also a member of the Academic All-A-10 team, Carey owns a 3.50 grade point average as a nursing major.

Froshour earns Atlantic 10 accolades for the second straight season. A starter in every game of her career, she anchored the Explorer defense that finished third in the league in goals against average. She also had a career-high eight assists and was second on the team with a pair of defensive saves. Like Carey, she earned academic all-conference honors with a 3.98 GPA as a secondary education/Spanish major.

Ruth was the third and final member on the academic team. She led the Atlantic 10 in saves (138) and was second in save percentage (.758). The junior also posted four shutouts and had a 2.13 GAA. The Lewisberry, PA native carried a 3.64 GPA as a economics and international studies major.

Kumar scored two goals and assisted on another in 11 starts for the Explorers. Paukovits added four goals and one assist for nine points. Both joined Chylack on the all-rookie team.

Richmond senior forward Sarah Blythe-Wood was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and junior defender Makaela Potts of Massachusetts earned Defensive Player of the Year. Richmond head coach Gina Lucido earned the Coach of the Year honors. In a vote of the A-10's sports information directors, Temple's Charise Young repeated as the Student-Athlete of the Year.

For the complete All-Atlantic 10 team, download the attached PDF.