Field Hockey | November 6, 2014

PHILADELPHIA - Four Explorers earned a total of five Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors, announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. Colleen Kempf earned both All-Conference Second Team and Academic All-Conference recognition, Devin Muracco was named to the Second Team, and Eileen Dzwill and Kendall Kreider were named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team.

The All-Conference team is voted on by the league's nine coaches, and the Academic All-Conference team is voted on by the league's sports information directors from among qualifiers with at least a 3.20 GPA.

The quartet of Kempf, Muracco, Dzwill and Kreider led the team to its best overall (11-7) and conference (5-3) record since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1995.  The Explorers silenced the preseason pundits, finishing fifth in the A-10 including a huge upset of perennial league leader Richmond after being selected eighth out of nine in the preseason poll.

"On behalf of the La Salle field hockey family, I would like to congratulate Colleen, Devin, Eileen and Kendall on their well-deserved A-10 honors," Head Coach Michelle Marks said. "We are incredibly excited and proud of their recognition. They have all contributed tremendously to the success we had as a team this season and happy for the acknowledgement. Any time you have players named all-conference, let alone four, it is wonderful for the players, team and program."

Kempf scored a career-best seven goals this season to earn her first career all-conference recognition. She was the squad's leading scorer in A-10 play, garnering seven points against league opponents. She scored two game-winning goals, including the overtime game winner in the Explorers' overtime comeback win at Saint Louis and in the Senior Day win over Bryant. Kempf concluded her La Salle career with 36 career points on 15 goals and six assists. The two-time NFHCA Academic Squad member also picked up Academic All-Conference recognition for holding a 3.80 GPA in the five-year speech pathology program.

Muracco was honored by the A-10 for the second straight season after an All-Rookie campaign last year. She earned Second Team honors this year as the sophomore tied for the team scoring lead with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. She drained three game-winning goals, including two in A-10 play against Davidson and Saint Joseph's along with a nonconference win over Towson. She was the team's striker on attacking penalty corners as well. 

Kreider was the team's top goal scorer in her rookie season, leading all Explorers with eight goals while adding one assist for a team-high-tying 17 points. She led all players with four game-winning goals, draining the game winners against Villanova, VCU, Missouri State and Lehigh. She recorded a pair of two-goal games, including both scores in the 2-1 win over VCU and two of the Explorers' four scores in the 4-3 win at Missouri State. She earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors following the VCU win.

Dzwill was a key defender on a squad that posted a 1.89 goals against average while recording upsets over Villanova and Richmond. She was a striker on the penalty corner unit, connecting for her first career goal against then-No. 15 Temple. She also recorded two assists on the season, one of which was on the Explorers' first of three straight goals in a comeback overtime win over Rider. She also assisted on the Explorers' third goal in the 4-3 win at Missouri State. Dzwill also recorded her first career defensive save at Lock Haven.

2014 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Awards

First Team
Amy Cooke, Richmond
Autumn Pellman, Saint Francis
Carissa Makea, Saint Francis
Jordan Martin, Saint Joseph's 
Lauren Allymohamed, UMass 
Melanie Kreusch, UMass 
Nakira Downes, Lock Haven 
Rebecca Barry, Richmond 
Samantha Ostoich, Richmond 
Selena Adamshick, Saint Francis 
Sam Carlino, UMass

Second Team
Allison Haas, Richmond
Brooke Sabia, UMass 
Devin Muracco, La Salle 
Izzie Delario, UMass 
Kendell Combs, VCU 
Megan Wenrich, Lock Haven 
Nicole Gerdes, Saint Joseph's 
Sarah Hawkshaw, UMass 
Colleen Kempf, La Salle 
Melissa Funsten, Davidson 
Kelley Wentling, Richmond 

All-Rookie Team
Devyn Barry, Lock Haven 
Eileen Dzwill, La Salle 
Hannah Fisher, Davidson
Kasey Gilbride, Richmond
Kendall Kreider, La Salle 
Megan Miller, Richmond 
Melanie Kreusch, UMass 
Melissa Herd, Saint Joseph's 
Sarah Hawkshaw, UMass 
Shannon Pereira, Saint Francis 
Spencer Tossone, VCU 

All-Academic Team
Colleen Kempf, La Salle
Nikki Snyder, Saint Francis
Lydia George, Lock Haven
Eliana White, Lock Haven
Jenna Felice, Lock Haven
Sam Carlino, UMass
Carly Gromel, Saint Francis
Lauren Allymohamed, UMass
Kristen Moisey, Saint Joseph's
Nicole Barry, VCU
Helen Warner, Richmond

Offensive Player of the Year
Rebecca Barry, Richmond

Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Allymohamed, UMass

Rookie of the Year
Melanie Kreusch, UMass

Coach of the Year
Stacy Bean, Saint Francis