Simmons' Saltamartini, Wagner Collect GNAC Field Hockey Major Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GNAC announces 2015 Field
Hockey All-Conference Teams

WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College sophomores Julie Saltamartini and Maizy Wagner have been voted the 2015 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Offensive Player and Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday morning.

Saltamartini, last year's GNAC Rookie of the Year, ranks second among league leaders with 16 goals (six game-winners) and three assists for 35 points entering NCAA Tournament play, as the regular-season champion Sharks topped Saint Joseph's College of Maine in the GNAC Championship to earn the automatic berth. Simmons will travel to SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday for its NCAA first-round matchup.

Wagner was a key cog on the backline for the Sharks, who allowed just 12 goals in 18 contests, and just five in their six GNAC games.

Lasell College freshman Cailin Flannery was named the GNAC Rookie of the Year, as the Medford, N.J. native led the GNAC in goals (17) and points (45) in her first collegiate season for the Lasers.

Anna Maria College senior Mary Kate Breen was selected as the GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year after the First Team choice ranked second among league leaders in saves (163), second in save percentage (.799) and fifth in goals-against average (2.44).

Anna Maria's Sharon Zenevitch and Lasell's Caitlin Connolly were named the 2015 GNAC Co-Coaches of the Year, as Zenevitch guided the AMCATS to the GNAC Tournament semifinals and Connolly's Lasers went 4-2 in league play after going 2-4 in the conference a year ago.

For the complete list of All-Conference selections, please see below.

Saltamartini and Wagner were two of five Simmons student-athletes selected to the All-GNAC First Team, joining senior Amy Cronin, junior Amy Wilson and senior Alexia Malone Oliver.

In addition to Breen, Anna Maria placed two more on the First Team in senior Kylie Dalbec and sophomore Nicole Denver. Dalbec, the 2014 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, tied for the league lead in points (45) while Denver was third in the GNAC with 15 goals.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine senior Meghan Williams rounded out the First Team selections, as she helped anchor a backline that allowed a mere four goals throughout six games of GNAC play. Williams also registered four goals and seven assists for 15 points.

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

First Team
F – Kylie Dalbec, Anna Maria (Sr., Portland, Maine)
F – Nicole Denver, Anna Maria (So., Springfield, Mass.)
F – Cailin Flannery, Lasell (Fr., Medford, N.J.)
F – Julie Saltamartini, Simmons (So., East Hampstead, N.H.)
M – Kayla Lapierre, Anna Maria (Sr., Worcester, Mass.)
M – Amy Cronin, Simmons (Sr., Georgetown, Mass.
M – Amy Wilson, Simmons (Jr., Falmouth, Mass.)
B – Meghan Williams, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr., Greenland, N.H.)
B – Alexia Malone Oliver, Simmons (Sr., Bristol, R.I.)
B – Maizy Wagner, Simmons (So., Chester County, Pa.)
GK – Mary Kate Breen, Anna Maria (Sr., Londonderry, N.H.)

Second Team
F – Giovanna Ciavardoni, Johnson & Wales (So., Latham, N.Y.)
F – Kelsey Dumond, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Jr., Lewiston, Maine)
F – Michalia Parent, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Fr., Westborough, Mass.)
F – Jenna Gagnon, Simmons (Jr., Waterville, Maine)
M – Kaitlyn Moran, Anna Maria (Jr., Leicester, Mass.)
M – Ashlee Pechulis, Lasell (Sr., Westfield, Mass.)
M – Hailey Bruno-Moulton, Simmons (Jr., South Berwick, Maine)
B – Shelby Looney, Anna Maria (Sr., Leicester, Mass.)
B – Jessica Kocur, Johnson & Wales (So., Mattapoisett, Mass.)
B – Chelsea Bordeau, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr., Rumford, Maine)
GK – Megan Baker, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Fr., Gorham, Maine)

Offensive Player of the Year – Julie Saltamartini, Simmons
Defensive Player of the Year – Maizy Wagner, Simmons
Rookie of the Year – Cailin Flannery, Lasell
Goalkeeper of the Year – Mary Kate Breen, Anna Maria
Co-Coaches of the Year – Sharon Zenevitch, Anna Maria & Caitlin Connolly, Lasell
Institutional Sportsmanship Award – Rivier University

All-Sportsmanship Team
Lauren Beauregard, Anna Maria (Jr., Hubbardston, Mass.)
Amanda Takach, Johnson & Wales (Sr., Lindenhurst, N.Y.)
Francesca Ceppetelli, Lasell (Sr., Enfield, Conn.)
Nikki Kinneen, Mount Ida (Jr., Salem, N.H.)
Chelsie Hubicsak-Muldowney, Rivier (Jr., Windham, N.H.)
Arianna Kahler, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Fr., Lisbon Falls, Maine)
Robin Powell, Simmons (Jr., Richmond, Vt.)

– #TheGNAC –