Northeastern, ODU Split Top Honors on 2012 All-CAA Field Hockey Team

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RICHMOND, Va. (October 31, 2012) - Northeastern senior forward Crystal Poland has been honored as the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association field hockey Player of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches, the conference announced Wednesday.

Old Dominion junior defender Christy Longacre was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, marking the third year in a row that the award has gone to a Lady Monarch. ODU head coach Beth Anders was named CAA Coach of the Year for the second year in a row and the 12^th time in her career. Northeastern freshman forward Deirdre Duke was chosen as the CAA Rookie of the Year.

Poland is the first Northeastern player to receive CAA Player of the Year honors after a sensational senior season. She led the conference in goals (28), points (61), shots (120) and game-winning goals (8), and ranked second in the nation in goals per game (1.56) and fourth in points per game (3.39). Poland, a Crofton, British Columbia native, is the Huskies' all-time leader in goals (78) and points (176). She was selected to the All-CAA first team during all four seasons at NU and was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2009.

Longacre becomes the seventh ODU player to be named CAA Defensive Player of the Year. The junior defender was a key component in a Lady Monarchs' defense that allowed just seven goals in seven CAA contests and recorded two shutouts. Longacre ranks second in the conference with three defensive saves. The Bethlehem, Pa. native also made her presence felt on the ODU offense, ranking second on the team with 10 goals and adding four assists.

Anders adds to her already legendary list of accomplishments with her 12^th CAA Coach of the Year award. She guided the Lady Monarchs to their 14^th CAA regular season title and their 15^th undefeated conference record with a 7-0 mark. ODU, which is 14-5 overall, has been ranked in the top-10 of the NFHCA Top 25 Coaches Poll every week this season, and for 20 consecutive weeks dating back to last season. ODU has five victories this season over ranked opponents. Anders, who will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2012 season, has a career record of 560-135-7 in 30 years at ODU and has won an NCAA-record nine national titles and 15 CAA titles. Her 560 wins are the most all-time among NCAA D1 coaches.

Duke is the third Northeastern player to be honored as CAA Rookie of the Year in the past five seasons. The freshman forward ranks second in the CAA with 12 goals and fourth in the conference with 30 points. Duke has contributed four game-winning goals and is ninth in the league with six assists.

Poland and Duke were joined on the All-CAA First Team by Northeastern senior goalkeeper Lizzie Priest (1.63 GAA, 79 saves). ODU also had three first-team honorees with Longacre, freshman forward/midfielder Sarah Breen (12g, 8a) and junior midfielder Kati Nearhouse (2g, 2a).

Drexel had a pair of first-team honorees with senior midfielder Amanda Fleischut (10g, 6a) and junior forward Lindsay McArdle (11g, 3a). Rounding out the first team were Delaware sophomore defender Kelsey McKee (11g, 2a), James Madison senior midfielder Jenna Taylor (7a), and William & Mary senior midfielder/defender Maria Caro (2g, 2a).

2012 ALL-CAA FIELD HOCKEY TEAMS
Selected by CAA Field Hockey Coaches

FIRST TEAM

2012 CAA Player of the Year: Crystal Poland, Northeastern

2012 CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Christy Longacre, Old Dominion

2012 CAA Rookie of the Year: Deirdre Duke, Northeastern

2012 CAA Coach of the Year: Beth Anders, Old Dominion