Central Islip, N.Y. – After a perfect regular season that saw them rise to a No. 1 national ranking, the University of Bridgeport swept the ECC Women’s Soccer All-Conference major awards as voted on by the league’s coaches. Senior Kasey Kenny was named the Offensive Player of the Year, senior Marie Pettersson has been tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year and sophomore Julia Hansson garners Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Gillian Munro completes the sweep of the top award winners for Bridgeport, being named the Rookie of the Year.
Kenny was the leading scorer for the Purple Knights in 2011, with 10 goals and six assists for 26 points. The one-time ECC Offensive Player of the Week, Kenny’s goals and points totals were good for second in the conference. She also sent home three game winning goals on the season.
Pettersson was the anchor of an amazing Purple Knights defense this season that allowed only four goals in 16 games. The four year starter, led the back line that allowed only four goals on the season and shut out 13 opponents.
Hansson, who won the ECC Defensive Player of the Week eight out of nine weeks, posted a perfect 16-0-0 record in net for the Purple Knights. She tallied 13 shutouts and 93 saves while allowing only four goals on the year. Hansson currently leads all of NCAA Division II with a .959 save percentage and ranks third with a 0.25 goals against average.
In her freshman campaign, Munro started every game on the Bridgeport back line. The one-time ECC Rookie of the Week, Munro was an integral part of the Purple Knights’ defense that ranked third in Division II shutting out opponents in 75 percent of their matches.
Leading his team to an ECC Regular Season title and undefeated record, Magnus Nilerud has been voted the ECC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year by his peers. Nilerud guided the Purple Knights to a 16-0-0 regular season record with a 7-0 mark in conference play to earn the top seed in the ECC Tournament and the top spot in the NSCAA Division II National Poll for six straight weeks.
Kenny, Pettersson, and Hansson are joined on the All-Conference First Team by: Alexa Niciforo (F, C.W. Post), Nicole Valentine (F, Molloy), Tove Eriksson (MF, C.W. Post), Gabrielle D’Aprile (MF, Dowling), Allison Sloper (MF, Molloy) Katie Stanley (MF, Bridgeport), Dominique DeFelice (B, Dowling), and Alyssa Faller (B, Molloy).
Munro is joined on the All-Conference Second Team by forwards:
Julia Colley (Bridgeport), Megan Emanuelo (Dowling), and Andrea
Slavin (Queens); midfielders: Natasha Arana (NYIT), Rebecca Laporte
(Queens), Alexis Parrotta (Dowling), and Danielle Weir
(Bridgeport); defenders: Sarah Boucher (Queens), and Jenna
D’Alessandro (NYIT), along with goalkeeper Allie Weiser (C.W.
Post).
2011 ECC Women's
Soccer All-Conference
First Team
F - Kasey Kenny, Bridgeport
F - Alexa Niciforo, C.W. Post
F - Nicole Valentine, Molloy
M - Gabrielle D'Aprile, Dowling
M - Tove Eriksson, C.W. Post
M - Allison Sloper, Molloy
M - Katie Stanley, Bridgeport
B - Dominique DeFelice, Dowling
B - Alyssa Faller, Molloy
B - Marie Pettersson, Bridgeport
GK - Julia Hansson, Bridgeport
Second Team
F - Julia Colley, Bridgeport
F - Megan Emanuelo, Dowling
F - Andrea Slavin, Queens
M - Natasha Arana, NYIT
M - Rebecca Laporte, Queens
M - Alexia Parrotta, Dowling
M - Danielle Weir, Bridgeport
B - Sarah Boucher, Queens
B - Jenna D'Alessandro, NYIT
B - Gillian Munro, Bridgeport
GK - Allie Weiser, C.W. Post
Offensive Player of the Year: Kasey Kenny,
Bridgeport, Sr., Staten Island, N.Y.
Defensive Player of the Year: Marie
Pettersson, Bridgeport, Sr., Amal, Sweden
Goalkeeper of the Year: Julia Hansson,
Bridgeport, So., Tockfors, Sweden
Rookie of the Year: Gillian Munro,
Bridgeport, Fr., Manchester, England
Coach of the Year: Magnus Nilerud,
Bridgeport
