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News Release
DRAGONI NAMED NEC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR; FIORANI ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
4/30/2003
UMBC junior attacker Jen Dragoni (Morton, PA/Ridley) was selected the Northeast Conference Women?s Lacrosse Player of the Year in a vote by league head coaches. The high-scoring Dragoni led the Retrievers to a share of the NEC regular season title this spring, as well as the #2 seed in this weekend?s NEC Tournament. UMBC freshman midfielder Kelly Fiorani (Sykesville, MD/Liberty) claimed the Rookie of the Year award, while Wagner head coach Lee Richardson took home NEC Coach of the Year honors. In just her first year at the helm of the Seahawks program, Richardson guided Wagner to a 5-3 record in league play to set a new school record for NEC wins in a season. Richardson?s squad also earned the #3 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 1 and Saturday, May 3 and will be hosted by Sacred Heart University. Dragoni, a two-time all-conference honoree, becomes just the third Retriever to earn NEC Player of the Year accolades, joining former UMBC greats Heather Kormanik (?98) and Jamie Gerhart (?02). Dragoni was the offensive catalyst for UMBC this season, as she led the Retrievers in goals (34/2.13 game), assists (19/1.19 game) and scoring (53 points/3.31 game). More impressively, Dragoni boosted her scoring average to 4.00 points per game in NEC action this year. Her offensive production also helped UMBC average a league-best 12.81 goals per game, which ranks fourth nationally in the latest NCAA statistics. Dragoni, who was named 2002 NEC Tournament MVP, will be a key factor as UMBC looks to defend its conference title at this year?s NEC Tournament. Fiorani makes it back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners for UMBC (teammate Stephanie Crouch took home the hardware last season). Fiorani teamed with Jen Dragoni to give the Retrievers a potent scoring tandem, as she ranked second on the squad in goals (32/2.00 game), assists (10/0.63 game) and scoring (42 points/2.63 game). The Sykesville, MD native earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors once this season after registering a hat trick in a victory over in-state rival Mount St. Mary?s in mid-March. Three other Retrievers join Dragoni as first team honorees. Senior midfielder Stephanie Allen (Mississauga, Ont./Universal), a two-time all-NEC selection, is once again among Division I?s top draw control specialists this year. In the latest NCAA statistics, Allen ranks third nationally in draw controls (68/4.25 game). Teaming with Allen in a loaded UMBC midfield is senior Lauren Traber (Columbia, MD/Hammond), also a two-time honoree. Traber ranks third on the squad in scoring (35 points/28 g/7 a), while also contributing 53 ground balls and 16 turnovers caused. Rounding out the Retrievers? first team contingent is junior defender Emily Sawyer (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake). Sawyer emerged as one of the team?s top defenders this spring, while also adding four goals on the offensive end. NEC regular season co-champion Monmouth placed two players on the first team, including senior defender Lisa Cherill (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) and junior attacker Stacy Sydlo (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads). Cherill, a three-time first teamer, currently leads the nation in ground balls (86/5.38 game) and ranks eighth in turnovers caused (40/2.50 game) in the latest NCAA statistics. Her offensive numbers also warrant some attention, as Cherill has tallied 17 goals to rank among the team leaders. Sydlo has been the Hawks offensive sparkplug this year, and leads the team with 47 points (27 g/20 a). She also ranks fourth on the all-time MU scoring list with 135 career points. A pair of Wagner juniors, midfielder Jill Pyzik (Hampstead, MD/North Carroll) and defender Megan Anderson (Vienna, VA/Oakton) represent the Seahawks on the all-NEC first team. Pyzik makes the jump from second team status last year, following an impressive campaign that saw her rank among Wagner?s scoring leaders with 37 points (30 g/7 a). Anderson paced the Seahawks in ground balls (38) and turnovers caused (23), while cementing her reputation as one of the circuit?s most formidable defensive specialists. Senior attacker Tracey Uellendahl (Albertson, NY/The Wheatley School) claims first team accolades for the second straight year after piling up some huge offensive numbers for the Blue Devils this spring. Uellendahl currently leads the NEC in both goals (44/3.67 game) and scoring (56 points/4.67 game), which also rank her third and second, respectively, in the latest NCAA statistics. Mount St. Mary?s junior midfielder Kim Keene (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) played a key role in helping the Mountaineers claim the #4 seed in this year?s NEC Tournament. Keene contributed on both ends of the field, as she scored 26 points (21 g/5 a) while also recording a team-best 58 ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Megan Matthews (White Plains, NY/White Plains) was outstanding between the pipes again this season for the Bobcats, as she earns first team plaudits for a second consecutive year. Matthews leads the NEC with 185 saves on the year (12.33 game), while she also ranks among the conference leaders in save percentage (2nd; .554) and goals against average (3rd; 10.34). Completing the 2003 all-NEC first team is Sacred Heart senior midfielder Michelle Bruckner (Carle Place, NY/Carle Place). A second team pick in 2001, Bruckner?s senior year was one to remember as she led the Pioneers in goals (39/2.44 game) and scoring (47 points/2.94 game). The NEC?s future looks bright, as five of the twelve second team honorees are freshman. Joining NEC Rookie of the Year Kelly Fiorani on the second team include such talented newcomers as Monmouth attacker Erica Evangelisti (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern), Wagner midfielder Heather George (West Allenhurst, NJ/Ocean Township), Central Connecticut State defender Amy Clark (Southington, CT/Southington) and Mount St. Mary?s defender Kelsey Withrow (Marriotsville, MD/Liberty). Evangelisti ranks third on MU with 22 goals scored, while George was Wagner?s second leading scorer with 44 points (38 g/6 a). Clark emerged as a formidable offensive threat for the Blue Devils, as she contributed 34 points (26 g/8 a) from her defensive spot. Withrow looks to be a cornerstone player for head coach Courtney Martinez-Connor?s up-and-coming Mount St. Mary?s program. Joining the NEC rookie contingent on the second team are a pair of Mount standouts; sophomore defender Kelly Nangle (Glen Burnie, MD/Glen Burnie) and junior goalie Naomi Campano (Schnecksville, PA/Allentown Central Catholic). Nangle makes it back-to-back second team honors, while Campano was the only league player this year to take home the NEC Player of the Week award on two occasions. UMBC junior midfielder Lauren Hess (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) tied for third on the Retrievers in scoring with 35 points (28 g/7 a). Monmouth junior midfielder Laura Levins (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) becomes the third alumnus of Eastern High School in Voorhees, NJ to garner all-NEC recognition this year, joining teammates Lisa Cherill (1st team) and Erica Evangelisti (2nd team). Levins led the Hawks with 31 goals scored this spring. Quinnipiac junior midfielder Annie Paquette (Agawam, MA/Agawam) led the NEC in assists throughout the year and currently ranks 15th nationally in the category (23/1.53 game). Sacred Heart sophomore midfielder JoAnn Montesarchio (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Cortlandt Manor) teamed with Michelle Bruckner to give the Pioneers their most potent one-two scoring punch in recent memory, as she ranked second on the squad in goals (31), assists (10) and scoring (41 points). Rounding out the second team contingent is Wagner senior attacker Kelly McVeigh (Herndon, VA/Oakton). McVeigh led the Seahawks in scoring with 48 points (32 g/16 a), while ranking among the league leaders in assists throughout the season. 2003 NEC Women?s Lacrosse Award Winners Player of the Year Jen Dragoni UMBC Att Jr Morton, PA/Ridley Rookie of the Year Kelly Fiorani UMBC MF Fr Sykesville, MD/Liberty Coach of the Year Lee Richardson Wagner 2003 NEC Women?s Lacrosse First Team All-Conference Attackers Jen Dragoni UMBC Jr Morton, PA/Ridley Stacy Sydlo Monmouth Jr Horseheads, NY/Horseheads Tracey Uellendahl Central Connecticut State Sr Albertson, NY/The Wheatley School Midfielders Stephanie Allen UMBC Sr Mississauga, Ontario/Universal Michelle Bruckner Sacred Heart Sr Carle Place, NY/Carle Place Kim Keene Mount St. Mary?s Jr Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough Jill Pyzik Wagner Jr Hampstead, MD/North Carroll Lauren Traber UMBC Sr Columbia, MD/Hammond Defenders Megan Anderson Wagner Jr Vienna, VA/Oakton Lisa Cherill Monmouth Sr Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Emily Sawyer UMBC Jr Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake Goalkeeper Megan Matthews Quinnipiac Sr White Plains, NY/White Plains 2003 NEC Women?s Lacrosse Second Team All-Conference Attackers Erica Evangelisti Monmouth Fr Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Lauren Hess UMBC Jr Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright Kelly McVeigh Wagner Sr Herndon, VA/Oakton Midfielders Kelly Fiorani UMBC Fr Sykesville, MD/Liberty Heather George Wagner Fr West Allenhurst, NJ/Ocean Township Laura Levins Monmouth Jr Voorhees, NJ/Eastern JoAnn Montesarchio Sacred Heart So Cortlandt Manor, NY/Cortlandt Manor Annie Paquette Quinnipiac Jr Agawam, MA/Agawam Defenders Amy Clark Central Connecticut State Fr Southington, CT/Southington Kelly Nangle Mount St. Mary?s So Glen Burnie, MD/Glen Burnie Kelsey Withrow Mount St. Mary?s Fr Marriotsville, MD/Liberty Goalkeeper Naomi Campano Mount St. Mary?s Jr Schnecksville, PA/Allentown Central Catholic