Nov. 4, 2010

All-Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Teams

PHILADELPHIA - Five La Salle field hockey players were honored on the All-Atlantic 10 Conference teams in voting conducted by the league's head coaches, it was announced today. Seniors Beth Carey and Emma Ruth and sophomores Rebecca Chylack and Neelam Kumar were named to the All-A-10 second team. Freshman Mariel Papa was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team, while Chylack and Ruth earned Academic All-A-10 recognition.

"Beth, Becca, Neelam, Emma and Mariel are all very deserving of their selection to All- Conference teams," head coach Michelle Marks said. "I am very proud of their accomplishments this year and glad that their hard work throughout the season has been recognized. It is great for our program."

Carey earned second team honors for the second straight year after scoring four goals and dishing five assists for 13 points. She finished the season third on the team in assists and fourth in goals and points.

A four-year starter, Carey finishes her career fourth on La Salle's all-time assist list (22) and seventh on the school's all-time points list (52).

Ruth finished third in the Atlantic 10 in saves (139), saves per game (7.32) and save percentage (.747) while playing every minute in the cage for the second straight season. She also ranks 11th nationally in saves per game and 19th in save percentage.

The Lewisberry, PA native had two shutouts, bringing her career total to nine which ranks second on the school's all-time list. Ruth is also second all-time in goals against average, fifth in minutes and sixth in saves.

Also an Academic All-Atlantic 10 selection, Ruth owns a 3.64 GPA as an economics and international studies major. It is the third straight year she has earned academic all-conference recognition.

Chylack, last year's Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, was also named to the second team this season. She led the Explorers with points (18) and was second with six goals and was eight in the conference in points and ninth in goals. After just two seasons, Chylack ranks 10th in points (43) at La Salle.

Like Ruth, Chylack was an Academic All-Atlantic 10 honoree. She owns a 3.87 GPA as a nursing major.

Kumar led the team with seven assists, good for third in the A-10, and had 15 points. She also added four goals, bringing her career total to six.

Papa picks up all-rookie honors after a successful rookie campaign. She started 14 games, scoring two goals and dishing an assist. The Berlin, NJ native was named the A-10 Rookie of the Week on October 19 after scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Temple.

Saint Joseph's Nicole McCreight was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year and Massachusetts' Makaela Potts repeated as the league's Defensive Player of the Year in voting conducted among the Conference's head coaches.

In that same vote the coaches tabbed Richmond's Chelsea Davies Rookie of the Year and Massachusetts' fourth-year head coach Justine Sowry as Coach of the Year. UMass' Alesha Widdall was named the Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year.