Women's Soccer

Central Islip, N.Y. - Junior Linda Velaj (Stamford, Conn.) from the University of Bridgeport and senior Vanessa Moreira (Selden, N.Y.) from Dowling have been selected the 2009 East Coast Conference Women's Soccer Co-Offensive Players of the Year, as voted on by the league's coaches.  C.W. Post Senior Caitlin Mullady (Hauppauge, N.Y.) has been tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year and freshman Allison Breakey (Frankfort, IL) from Queens garners Goalkeeper of the Year honors.  Molloy's Nicole Valentine (Massapequa, N.Y.) rounds out the top award winners as she was named the Rookie of the Year.

A two time Offensive Player of the Year selection, Velaj helped the Purple Knights to a top finish in the ECC with a 6-1 conference record.  She finished with 19 points on the season connecting on nine goals while adding an assist.

Moreira has been has dominated the Golden Lions' front line for the past four years.  She leads the conference in points (42), points per game, (2.21), goals (15), assists, (12) and assists per game (.63) and helped the Golden Lions secure a No. 3 seed in the ECC Tournament.

Mullady helped the Pioneers to a 12-6-1 overall record this season.  She anchored a defense that allowed only 13 goals and notched nine shutouts on the season.

Breakey posted an 11-5-1 record, including 4 shutouts, defending the net for Knights.  She tallied 57 saves while allowing 20 goals to help Queens advance to post season play. 

In her freshman campaign, Valentine led the Lions with 13 points connecting for six goals while adding an assist and ranks in the ECC Top Ten in goals per game (.50).

Leading his team to an ECC Regular Season title, Magnus Nilerud has been voted the ECC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year by his peers.  Nilerud guided the Purple Knights to a 14-1-3 regular season record with a 6-1 mark in conference play to earn the top seed in the ECC Tournament.

Velaj, Moreira, Mullady and Breakey are joined by: Ivana Babic (F, C.W. Post), Kate Collins (M, Dowling), Danielle DeLuca (M, C.W. Post), Prudence Rydstrom (C.W. Post), Nicole Novello (B, Dowling), Danielle Weir (B, Bridgeport) and Emma Woolley (M, Bridgeport).

The All-Conference Second Team recipients include forwards: Sofia Hoflin (Sr., Bridgeport), Andrea Slavin (Queens) and Valentine; midfielders Cassandra Cronin (Dowling), Laura D'Amore (Queens), Dianna Geneva (Molloy) and Ceri Harris (Bridgeport); defenders: Laura McNamara (Molloy), Jenna Peveraro (Queens) and Anna Scensson (C.W. Post) along with goalkeeper Christina Aquilon (Molloy).

Offensive Players of the Year:     Vanessa Moreira, Dowling, Sr., Selden, N.Y.
                                                       Linda Velaj, Bridgeport, Jr., Stamford, Conn.

Defensive Player of the Year:      Caitlin Mullady, C.W. Post, Sr., Hauppauge, N.Y.

Goalkeeper of the Year:               Allison Breakey, Queens, Fr., Frankfort, IL

Rookie of the Year:                       Nicole Valentine, Molloy, Fr., Massapequa, N.Y.

Coach of the Year:                        Magnus Nilerud, Bridgeport