Pirog, McDonough Named All-NECC
Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)
CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College senior attacker Nora McDonough (South Hadley, Mass.) and junior Jillian Pirog (Ludlow, Mass.) were named to the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Women's Lacrosse All-Conference team, announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. McDonough claims back-to-back First Team selections, while Pirog takes home her second conference award, and her first First Team selection.
McDonough was the Blazers leading point-scorer, racking up 55 points with 36 goals and 19 assists. Nora recorded nine multi-goal performances, featuring a career-high seven goals in a 22-9 win over Mitchell College on March 31st. Nora had a season-high nine points on five goals and four assists against Bay Path University on April 8th. McDonough added 18 groundballs and six caused turnovers, while tallying her 100th career goal against Framingham State on April 23rd.
Pirog was an offensive spark for the Blazers, recording a career-high 46 goals, the fifth-most in Blazers women's lacrosse program history. Jillian scored in 15 of 17 games for the Blazers, including an 11-game goal streak. Pirog had 10 multi-goal games, including a career-high seven goals in a 22-9 win against Mitchell College on March 31st. Pirog added five assists for 51 points, along with 24 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.
Regis College attack Grace Politis earned Player of the Year honors and Regis coach Courtney Duggan was selected Coach of the Year in All-Conference balloting by the New England Collegiate Conference Women's Lacrosse coaches. The Pride placed five players on the team, including three first team honorees.
Politis, a senior from Billerica, Mass., scored 22 goals and added five assists in seven NECC games. She was the Pride's second leading scorer. Overall she tallied 54 goals with 17 assists and added 65 draw controls and 62 ground balls. Politis ranked in the top five in all NECC offensive categories with the exception of assists.
Duggan takes home her second consecutive NECC Coach of the Year Award in just her second season as the Pride's mentor. She led Regis to a perfect 7-0 NECC record, and the Pride was 11-5 overall in the regular season.
Wheelock College midfielder Molly Koon was selected the Conference Rookie of the Year. Koon had an immediate impact for the Wildcats, and helped lead them to a 6-2 NECC record and the first Conference championship game in the history of the program. Koon was third on the Wildcats in NECC scoring with 26 goals and four assists.
First-year program Southern Vermont College was voted the Team Sportsmanship Award.
2015 NECC Women's Lacrosse Awards
Coach of the Year – Courtney Duggan, Regis College
Player of the Year – Grace Politis, Regis College, Sr., A, Billerica, Mass.
Rookie of the Year – Molly Koon, Wheelock College, FY, M, Londonderry, N.H.
Team Sportsmanship Award – Southern Vermont College
2015 NECC Women's Lacrosse All-Conference:
Attack:
- Grace Politis, Regis College, Sr., Billerica, Mass.
- Nora McDonough, Elms College, Sr., South Hadley, Mass.
- Jill Pirog, Elms College, Jr., Ludlow, Mass.
- Kailee Ruyack, Becker College, Jr., Beacon, N.Y.
Midfield
- Sam Salamone, Regis College, Jr., Milford, Mass.
- Molly Centore, Wheelock College, Sr., Kennebunk, Maine
- Tatum Fahs, Becker College, Sr., Foster, R.I.
Defense
- Rachel Gagnon, Regis College, Jr., Ashford, Conn.
- Alyssa Bond, Becker College, Sr., Thompson, Conn.
- Violet Vig, Wheelock College, So., Glastonbury, Conn.
Goalie
- Meghan Lewis, Wheelock College, So., South Berwick, Maine
2015 NECC Women's Lacrosse Honorable Mention:
- Emma Decker, Regis College, Jr., GK, Southborough, Mass.
- Molly Koon, Wheelock College, Fr., M, Londonderry, N.H.
- Emma Marrs, Wheelock College, Sr., M, Old Lyme, Conn.
- Lauren Nesshoever, Southern Vermont College, So., D, Rutland, Vt.
- Mary Roma, Regis College, Jr., D, Portland, Maine
Source: (http://www.neccathletics.com/sports/wlax/2014-15/releases/-15_WLax_All-Conf)
