Nov. 5, 2009

Complete A-10 Release

AMHERST, Mass. - Makaela Potts has been named Atlantic 10 field hockey Defensive Player of the Year, headlining seven Minutewomen that were honored by the A-10 when it released its season awards on Thursday. Junior forward Katie Kelly and sophomore goalkeeper Alesha Widdall joined the junior defender/midfielder on the All-Conference first team.

Junior defender Jaime Bourazeris and senior forward Cher King were both named to the A-10 All-Conference second team. Redshirt-freshman Callie Sweigart and freshman Kim Young were both named to the All-Rookie Team, while Widdall was also named to the conference's All-Academic Team.

Richmond's Sarah Blythe-Wood was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, while her coach, Gina Lucido earned her first A-10 Coach of the Year award.

La Salle's Rebecca Chylack was named Rookie of the Year, while Temple's Charise Young was named Student-Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row.

Potts anchors a Minutewomen defense that leads the A-10 in goals against average (1.46) and has registered six shutouts. A native of Sydney, Australia, the junior defender has also contributed 10 goals and 11 assists to rank tied for second in the league with 31 points and is tied for first in the league in assists. She helped UMass to a top 10 national ranking during the season and a No. 4 seed in the A-10 Championship.

This is Potts' second-straight year being named to the All-Conference first team. She was an All-Rookie selection in 2007 and last season was named first team All-Region and third team All-American.

Kelly leads the Minutewomen in 2009 with 11 goals to go with six assists for 28 points. Her goal total ranks tied for fifth in the A-10 while her points total is tied for fourth. The Dedham, Mass. native was named to the A-10 All-Championship Team in 2008.

Widdall once again is anchoring a stellar UMass defense in 2009. The Whitney Point, N.Y. native leads the A-10 in goals against average (1.46), save percentage (.767), and shutouts (6). In 2008, she was named A-10 Co-Rookie of the Year, All-Conference, All-Region, and second team All-American.

Bourazeris has had a very impressive season this far in 2009, leading the Minutewomen backfield. The New Hyde Park, N.Y. native has four goals and two assists for 10 points on the year. She was named All-Rookie in 2007, All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2008, and made the All-Championship Team in 2007 and 2008.