UMBC

Jamie Fahey

Erika Braerman

Amanda Pappas

Bria Phillips

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—UMBC freshman defender Jamie Fahey (Baldwin, Md./Loch Raven) was named America East Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday. Fahey is the first Retriever ever to win the league’s top rookie award in UMBC’s seven years in the conference.

Fahey also earned All-Conference Second Team and All-Rookie Team honors. She was joined on the second team by junior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston), junior midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) and sophomore midfielder Bria Phillips (Coronado, Calif./Coronado).

Fahey anchors a UMBC defense that ranks second in the conference and 12th in the nation, allowing 8.70 goals per game. She is one of just four players to start all 16 games this season and leads the Retrievers with 35 ground balls and 32 draw controls and has also caused nine turnovers.

Braerman is UMBC’s top scorer with 32 goals, 22 assists and 54 points, ranking among the league leaders in all three categories. Her 22 helpers on the year are tied for the fourth-highest single-season total in school history, while her 54 points rank 10th, and she has scored at least one point in all 16 games in 2010.

Pappas ranks second on the team with 29 goals and 35 points and fourth with 12 caused turnovers. She ranks fifth in the conference with 2.42 goals per game and has scored a point in nine straight contests this season. Pappas has also picked up 15 ground balls and won 13 draw controls.

Phillips ranks second on the Retrievers with 10 assists to go along with 22 goals for 32 points. After scoring just five goals in her first 10 games this season, she has tallied 17 in her last six contests, including four straight hat tricks.

Phillips also earned a spot on the All-Academic Team with a 3.54 grade-point average in business technology administration. She was joined by senior goalie Kate Quick (3.37, psychology) and sophomore attack Emily Coady (3.39, political science). Quick boasts an 8.80 goals-against average, ranking third in the America East and 13th in the NCAA, while Coady has scored 27 goals and 35 points on the year.

Albany defender Nikki Branchini was named America East Player of the Year, while Great Dane head coach Lindsey Hart was tabbed Coach of the Year.

The fourth-seeded Retrievers take on top-seeded and host Albany in the America East Championship semifinals Thursday at 1 p.m. Should the win, they will face the winner of the No. 2 Boston University/No. 3 New Hampshire game on Saturday in the title bout.