Poland Named Northeast Region POTY; 19 CAA Players Named to NFHCA All-Region Teams
RICHMOND, Va. (November 19, 2012) - Northeastern senior forward Crystal Poland has been named the 2012 NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year in a vote by the region's head coaches. Nineteen CAA field hockey players were also named to the 2012 Longstreth / NFHCA Division I All-Region Teams, including seven named to first teams.
Poland, the 2012 CAA Player of the Year and a First Team All‐CAA selection, led Northeastern to a 14‐7 overall record (5-2 CAA) and a 2012 NCAA Tournament appearance. The Crofton, British Columbia native recorded 63 points on 28 goals and 13 assists and was selected as a member of the 2012 CAA All‐Tournament Team.
Northeastern placed five players on the Northeast Region teams, highlighted by Poland, and CAA Rookie of the Year Deirdre Duke, being named to the first team. Duke ranked second in the CAA with 14 goals and second in the conference with 34 points. The Dublin, Ireland native was also named to the All-CAA First Team and the CAA All-Championship Team. The Huskies had three players named to the Northeast Region Second Team including senior midfielder Allie Conti (captain, started in all 21 matches), senior forward Nicky Graham (3 g, 12 a), and senior goalkeeper Lizzie Priest (1.66 GAA, 97 saves).
2012 CAA Champion Drexel landed five players on the Mid-Atlantic region teams, highlighted by senior midfielder Amanda Fleischut and junior midfielder Lindsay McArdle as first team selections. Fleischut, the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Performer, led the Dragon offense with 11 goals and eight assists for a team-high of 30 points. McArdle, an All-CAA first team selection, also scored 11 goals and finished second on the team in points with 25. Representing Drexel on the Mid-Atlantic second team were sophomore forward Christina Conrad (4g, 8pts), sophomore goalkeeper Jantien Gunter (1.67 GAA, 128 saves), and freshman midfielder Lauren Hibshman (3a, 5pts).
Old Dominion placed four players on the South Region teams highlighted by freshman midfielder Sarah Breen, redshirt junior back Christy Longacre, and junior forward Kati Nearhouse being named to the first team. Breen, an All-CAA first team selection, tallied 12 goals and picked up eight assists in her rookie campaign, while adding four game-winning goals. Longacre, the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, was a key component in a Lady Monarchs' defense that allowed just seven goals in seven CAA contests and recorded two shutouts. Nearhouse, also an All-CAA first team selection, tallied two goals and two assist this season, and served as a team leader for the Lady Monarchs as a co-captain. Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Smither was named to the South Region second team after leading ODU with 11 assists this season.
Also in the South Region, the CAA was represented on the second team by William & Mary senior midfielder Maria Caro (2g, 2a), JMU senior midfielder Jenna Taylor (8a), and JMU redshirt junior forward Rachel Wein (9g, 3a).
Hofstra represented the CAA in the Mideast Region with Jonel Boileau (11g, 3a) and Krizia Layne (2g, 4a) being named to the second team.
CAA Players on the 2012 Longstreth / NFHCA Division I All-Region Teams
Northeast Region Player of the Year
Crystal Poland - Northeastern
Northeast Region
First Team
Deirdre Duke - Northeastern
Crystal Poland - Northeastern
Second Team
Allie Conti - Northeastern
Nicky Graham - Northeastern
Lizzie Priest - Northeastern
Mid-Atlantic Region
First Team
Amanda Fleischut - Drexel
Lindsay McArdle - Drexel
Second Team
Christina Conrad - Drexel
Jantien Gunter - Drexel
Lauren Hibshman - Drexel
Mideast Region
Second Team
Jonel Boileau - Hofstra
Krizia Layne - Hofstra
South Region
First Team
Sarah Breen - Old Dominion
Christy Longacre - Old Dominion
Katie Nearhouse - Old Dominion
Second Team
Maria Caro - William & Mary
Kelsey Smither - Old Dominion
Jenna Taylor - James Madison
Rachel Wein - James Madison
