CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Boston University, the America East regular-season champion in women’s soccer, has been honored with three major postseason awards, which were determined in a vote by the league’s head coaches and released today. The Terriers’ Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schneley) has been named Midfielder of the Year, while teammate Casey Brown (Natick, Mass./Natick) was chosen Defender of the Year and head coach Nancy Feldman and her staff were selected Coaching Staff of the Year. Additionally, New Hampshire’s Michelle Sheehan (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) repeated as Striker of the Year and Stony Brook’s Marisa Viola (Cutchogue, N.Y./Mattituck) and Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) were tabbed Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year, respectively.
Schumacher-Hodge, the 2006 Midfielder of the Year, is tied for her team lead with 10 points on four goals and a pair assists. A three-time first-team all-conference selection, Schumacher-Hodge was selected as one of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award and chosen the inauguaral Fans’ Choice Player of the Year.
Brown, a junior back, earns Defender of the Year honors for the second straight year. The Most Outstanding Player at the 2007 America East Championship, Brown has anchored a Terrier back line which has allowed just 11 goals all year, including three in eight conference contests.
Head coach Nancy Feldman, who is in her 14th season as Boston University head coach, leads a staff that earns the America East Coaching Staff of the Year. The Terriers compiled 13 wins during the regular season and became the first team to complete the season unbeaten and untied in America East play since 2000. A six-time Coach of the Year, Feldman also received the honor in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005. She is assisted by Liz Driscoll and Jessica Clinton.
Sheehan, the 2007 Striker of the Year, has tallied six goals and one assist in just 10 games after missing seven contests due to injury. She ranks second in points per game (1.30) and goals per contest (0.60). Sheehan, a senior, was named Player of the Week on October 14 for the third time in her career.
Viola, a junior goalkeeper who was also the first-team all-conference choice, leads America East with 7.5 saves per game and ranks second with a .854 save percentage. Her 0.89 goals against average in conference play was good for third in the league. Viola also recorded four shutouts on the season, including the final game of the season in which she made nine saves in a 5-0 win over Maine to give the Seawolves the No. 2 seed for the championship.
McKenna, a three-time Rookie of the Week, leads the league in goals and points per game (0.62, 1.46 pg) and is tied for the league lead in overall goals (8) and points (18). Most of McKenna’s output came in conference play, where she tallied seven goals and 16 points, including three goals and two assists in her final two games of the season.
Sheehan and McKenna are joined at forward on the all-conference first team by Boston University’s Mara Osher (Ellington, Conn./Ellington/Sacred Heart), who ranks among league leaders with four assists and has 10 points on the season.
Schumacher-Hodge is joined in the midfield by Hartford’s Kacey Busque (Manchester, Conn./Manchester), New Hampshire’s Caitlin Whelan (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth), the 2007 Midfielder of the Year and Stony Brook’s Brooke Barbuto (Syracuse, N.Y./Corcoran).
Brown is joined at defender on the league’s top team by teammate Angelina Cords (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) and Hartford’s Lauren Aldred (Manchester, England/Oklahoma Baptist U.), who is tied for the league lead with eight goals and tied for third with 16 points despite playing in the back.
The second-team forwards consist of Boston University’s Farrell McClernon (West Chester, Pa./Merion Mercy), a second-team selection each of the past two years, Binghamton’s Dani Raske (River Vale, N.J./Pascack) and Hartford’s Breeanna Robinson (East Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy), who combined for 13 goals and six assists this season.
Second-team midfielders include, Binghamton’s Mandi Casares (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) for the second straight year, Boston University’s Emily Pallotta (Andover, Mass./Andover), a first-team choice in 2007 and Shauna Kelleher (Canton, Mass./Fontbonne) and Maine’s Kim Stephenson (Hampden, Maine/Hampden).
Nicole Montoya (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) of Binghamton, Elizabeth Speck (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Sacred Heart) of Boston U. and Christina Di Ielsi (Laval, Quebec/Vincent Massey Collegiate) of Maine make up the second-team defenders.
The Terriers’ Janie Reilly (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) was the second-team goalkeeper after compiling a league-leading 0.58 goals against average and eight shutouts.
The 11-player all-rookie team (regardless of position) is made up of Raske, Robinson, McKenna, Albany’s Kendra Harrell-Vigil (Avondale, Ariz./Avondale Westview) and Rebecca Lee (Selkirk, N.Y./Bethlehem Central), Boston’s Jessica Luscinski (Bedford, N.H./Trinity), Hartford’s Lauren Brodeur (Wilbraham, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy), UMBC’s Toni DiRenzo (Mohnton, Pa./Twin Valley), New Hampshire’s Stephanie Gilkenson (Cranston, R.I./LaSalle Academy), Stony Brook’s Alexis Lindo (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) and Vermont’s Emily Perrin (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville).
For more information regarding America East women’s soccer, including championship central, visti AmericaEast.com