SAINTS RACK UP ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS FOR WOMEN'S LACROSSE
BOSTON, Mass. – Six Emmanuel College Women’s Lacrosse players were honored with Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) post-season honors and Head Coach Liz Goddard was named the 2014 GNAC Coach of the Year. The six honorees were the most-ever for Emmanuel, following the Saints’ record-setting 15-2 campaign, which included a perfect 10-0 run through GNAC opponents and the program’s first conference championship.
BOSTON, Mass. – Six Emmanuel College Women's Lacrosse players were honored with Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) post-season honors and Head Coach Liz Goddard was named the 2014 GNAC Coach of the Year. The six honorees were the most-ever for Emmanuel, following the Saints' record-setting 15-2 campaign, which included a perfect 10-0 run through GNAC opponents and the program's first conference championship.
The GNAC awards were voted upon by the head coaches of the 11 affiliate conference programs. Goddard, selected the 2014 Coach of the Year by her peers, is in her first season as the head coach of the Saints, taking over the helm after two years as Emmanuel's assistant coach. With the EC program in just its fourth season of varsity competition and not one senior on the roster, Goddard has led the Saints to a new program-record for wins (15) and a GNAC title. Emmanuel's only two losses of the season have come by just one goal, both non-conference setbacks.
Sophomore standouts Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) and Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass) each received 1st Team All-Conference honors. Tuleja, Emmanuel's leader in goals, assists and points this season, now owns the Saints' all-time program records in all three categories. Tuleja fired in 61 goals and dished out 31 assists for 92 points on the year, to rank 2nd in the conference in the three categories. The sophomore notched a career highlight game last Saturday in the GNAC Championship, when she netted 6 goals, including the 99th of her career, to go along with her 3 assists on the day. Tuleja was named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll three times during the regular season. She was voted the GNAC Player of the Week on March 31stt and earned a spot on the GNAC All-Tournament Team. Her 92 points so far this season, ranks Tuleja 15th in the nation in total points in 2014.
Higgins has been dominant at both ends of the field for the Saints. The sophomore defenseman anchors Emmanuel's defense and set new program–records for single-season and career groundballs. Higgins' 65 groundballs on the year ranked her 5th among the GNAC leaders, while her team-leading 36 caused-turnovers was good enough for 3rd in the conference. Higgins has won a team-best 65 draw controls for the Saints. Standing out at the offensive end as well, Higgins is Emmanuel's second leading scorer with 44 goals on the year. With 9 goals and an assist in the conference tournament last week, Higgins also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Three Saints landed spots on the GNAC's 2nd Team All-Conference, including Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.), Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.). Wootten, one of three junior captains on the Emmanuel squad, is the Saints' second leader in groundballs and ranks 12th in the GNAC with 54 this season. On the offensive end, Wootten ranks second on the squad in both assists (28) and points (58) and has started in all 17 games as a midfielder for EC. Her stellar play throughout the GNAC Tournament also garnered her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
White, who was voted GNAC Goalie of the Week three times and named the 2014 GNAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player, was incredible between the pipes all season for the Saints. White's 2nd Team All-GNAC recognition comes after the sophomore boasted a conference-leading 7.64 goals-against-average, which ranks her 20th nationally in GAA. White has played every minute in goal for the Saints in 2014 and owns an impressive 50.2 save percentage, ranking her atop the conference.
Baker joined Wootten and White as a 2nd Team All-GNAC pick. The freshman attack has been Emmanuel's fourth leading scorer with 26 goals and 11 assists for 37 total points so far this season. The rookie started in all 17 of her games played and recovered 22 groundballs thus far in 2014.
Junior captain Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) was honored with a spot on the conference's All-Sportsmanship Team. One team-member from each of the 11 GNAC institutions is recognized annually as the most sportsmanlike by their peers.
The Saints are currently on an unprecedented 11-game win streak, which they will ride into the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament next week. Emmanuel's first round opponent will be announced during the selection show this Sunday night (5/4).
View the complete 2014 GNAC All-Conference Teams