Nov. 7, 2002

HARTFORD, Conn. - University of Hartford junior midfielder Jeanette Akerlund and University of Maine sophomore back Linda Consolante were named America East Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, in voting conducted by the conference's head coaches. University of New Hampshire senior Kristen Ouellette was selected as the Goalkeeper of the Year. Cindy Bennett, a goalkeeper from Stony Brook University, was chosen the Rookie of the Year. Mike Jackson of New Hampshire was the Coach of the Year. All awards were announced at the America East Women's Soccer Championship Banquet at the Hartford Hilton.

Akerlund is tied for the conference lead in scoring with 11 goals and eight assists for 30 points in 18 games. Consolante has led a Black Bear defense which allowed 19 goals in 16 games. Ouellette leads America East with a 0.86 goals against average and has compiled an 8-3-0 record. Bennett has a 1.35 goals against average. Jackson, who was also Coach of the Year in 1998, has led the Wildcats to a 5-2-1 record in America East and the No. 2 seed in the conference championship. New Hampshire is 10-6-1 overall.

Akerlund is joined on the all-conference first team by juniors Tracy Kasmarcik of Binghamton University and Annie Hamel of Maine at forward. Kasmarcik is tied with Akerlund for the conference scoring lead with 12 goals and six assists for 30 points in 18 games. Hamel ranks sixth in America East in scoring with four goals and seven assists for 15 points in 15 games.

The first-team midfielders include two four-time all-conference choices and two three-time all-conference selections. Hartford seniors Katharina Lindner and Tini Lyng are both four-time choices. Lindner, who is tied for third in America East scoring with eight goals and six assists for 22 points, was a first-team choice in 2001 and 2000 after earning second-team honors as a rookie. Lyng, who has five goals and five assists for 15 points, was a first-team choice in 1999 and 2000 and was a second-team selection last season. Boston University senior Allison Merkle receives first-team honors for the third-consecutive year. Hartford senior Sandra Kayulu, the 2001 America East Player of the Year, has four goals and two assists for 10 points this season.

Consolante, who earned first-team honors last season, is joined in the back by junior Brittany Norwood of Stony Brook, a second-team selection last year, and senior Patty Woodson of Hartford, an honorable mention choice in 2001. Ouellette is the first-team goalkeeper.

The second team consists of New Hampshire sophomore Chiara Best, Boston University first-year student Meghann Cook, University of Vermont sophomore Nikki Hessney and Northeastern University sophomore Jennifer North at forward. Best, a second-team choice last year, has scored three goals in seven games since returning from injury. Cook and Hessney have both scored four goals and have three assists for 11 points. North ranks eighth in America East scoring with eight goals and an assist for 17 points.

Senior Beth Arikian of Stony Brook and junior Katie Hodge of Maine, who were honorable mention selections last year, lead the second-team midfielders. They are joined by sophomore Sara Rickard of University at Albany, junior Ana Tobon of New Hampshire, and junior Cindy Walsh of Hartford, a two-time first-team choice who is tied for third in America East scoring with seven goals and eight assists for 22 points.

Junior Lesley Garvey of Boston University, a second-team choice in 2000, and New Hampshire first-year student Debbie Newman and senior Cyndi Poehner are the second-team backs. Binghamton senior Lauren Cherry, who posted a 9-7-2 mark with a 1.05 goals against average, is the second-team goalkeeper. Bennett, Cook and Newman are joined on the All-Rookie team by midfielder Brooke Bingham of Boston University, forward Heather Hathorn of Maine, who leads the conference's rookies in scoring with eight goals and two assists for 18 points, midfielder Jamie Koehnlein of Vermont, who has five goals and two assists for 12 points, midfielder Danielle Lewis of Stony Brook, midfielder Lauren Massey of Binghamton, back Brittany McDonald of Boston University, midfielder Filippa Petruccelli of Northeastern and forward Jackie Wishoski of New Hampshire, who has five goals and an assist for 11 points.

Seven of the first-team all-conference players and seven from the second team will be in action this weekend at the America East Women's Soccer Championship at Al-Marzook Field on the Hartford campus. No. 2 New Hampshire meets No. 3 Stony Brook in a semifinal match at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 8. No. 1 Hartford and No. 4 Northeastern follow that game in the second semifinal. The winners meet in Sunday's championship game at 12 noon with the champion receiving the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's College Cup.

A complete listing of the 2002 America East women's soccer all-conference team came be viewed at - http://americaeast.com/wsoccer/2002/110702.htm.