FALL ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES RECOGNIZED

FALL ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES RECOGNIZED

Dec. 9, 2010

BOSTON, Mass. - At halftime of Saints' December 7th men's basketball game, the Emmanuel College Athletic Department took time to recognize members of the fall sports programs, who received Great Northeast Athletic Conference honors. Emmanuel is proud to announce that for the first time in the College's history, each fall sport was represented among the GNAC All-Conference lists. Seventeen student-athletes and one head coach received recognition at center court and were awarded certificates and/or plaques by Emmanuel Athletic Director Pam Roecker.

In all, 10 Emmanuel student-athletes were named to their respective All-GNAC teams. Seven student-athletes were selected to the GNAC's All-Sportsmanship Team and Head Cross Country Coach Tony DaRocha received recognition as the 2010 GNAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Representing the Emmanuel Golf Team on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team was freshman Ben Taylor (Newbury, Mass.).

The Saints Men's Soccer Team had two honorees. Senior defender Johnathan Benevides (Lakeville, Mass) was the team's All-Sportsmanship representative. Sophomore forward Kevin Shirley (Madison, Conn.) became the first Emmanuel men's soccer player to ever receive All-Conference recognition. Shirley led the Saints in scoring this season with 8 goals and 5 assists and was named 3rd Team All-GNAC.

Three women's tennis players were in attendance for the ceremony. Representing tennis on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team was freshman Jenny Konecnik (Sparta, N.J.). Sophomore Jenna Reid (Lincoln, R.I.) was named a 2nd Team All-Conference selection for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Taylor Dey (Woodbridge, Conn.), who is also a two-time All-Conference selection, was honored with her 1st Team selection, as she lost just two matches this season.

Senior Kelsey Fitzpatrick (Milford, Mass.) represented the Emmanuel Women's Soccer Team on the All-Sportsmanship Team. Sophomore Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.) was named a 3rd Team All-Conference pick, after scoring 5 goals and dishing out 4 assists for the Saints this year. Senior captain Amber Di Nucci (New Bedford, Mass.) was named 1st Team All-Conference for the fourth-straight year. Di Nucci scored her 50th career goal this season and became the program's all-time leader in assists. A pair of freshmen, Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) and Shawn Crifo (Newburyport, Mass.), were named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team for their stellar play during the Saints' tournament run.

Sophomore outside hitter Clare Bucci (Tarrytown, N.Y.) was the Saints' volleyball selection for the GNAC Sportsmanship Team. Junior setter Kathryen Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) received 3rd Team All-Conference honors, as she dished out her 2,000th career assist this season. Classmate Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) was named 2nd Team All-GNAC and to the GNAC All-Tournament Team, after tallying 279 kills this season. Both Olsen and Stanton are two-time All-Conference honorees.

Representing Women's Cross Country on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team was senior captain Maureen Kellett (Westborough, Mass.). Sophomore Joslyn DelSignore (Taunton, Mass.) received All-Conference honors after placing 10th at the GNAC Championship Meet.

Junior Abdi Ibrahim (East Boston, Mass.) collected a trio of honors for the Men's Cross Country Team. He was named All-Conference, finishing 4th at the GNAC Championship. He was named the conference's Rookie of the Year, as the first newcomer to cross the finish line in the championship, and Ibrahim also represented the Saints on the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Rounding out the awards, Emmanuel's Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach, Tony, DaRocha, was named the 2010 GNAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. DaRocha, who is now in his 10th season at Emmanuel, has received this honor three times while coaching the Saints.