WESTON, Mass. – Regis College freshman Sam Salamone (Milford, Mass.) has been named the New England Collegiate Conference's Rookie of the Year, it was announced on Monday morning by the league offices. Salamone was also named to the All-NECC First Team along with Regis' Grace Politis (Billerica, Mass.) and Andrea Barbosa (Taunton, Mass.). Goalkeeper Emma Decker (Southborough, Mass.) was named to the All-NECC Honorable Mention Team.
Head Coach Liz Conant was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Pride to a program-record 13 wins this season, as well as capturing the inaugural NECC Championship in women's lacrosse. Since taking over the program in 2011, Conant has increased the Pride's win total from four in 2011, to nine in 2012, and 13 in 2013.
Sam Salamone was named the NECC Rookie of the Week nine times in 2013 after leading the Pride in goals (92), assists (24), points (116), groundballs (99), and draw controls (124). Salamone led the NECC in all five categories as well and ranked in the top 15 in the NCAA in points (12th), goals (6th), groundballs (8th), and draw controls (15th). The freshman was also named to the All-Tournament and was named the Tournament MVP after scoring 12 goals during the NECC Tournament. Salamone already ranks second in career points at Regis and shattered the single season marks in points, goals, and groundballs.
A year after leading the NCAA in goals per game, Grace Politis scored 78 goals and added 22 assists for 100 points in 2013. The All-NECC First Team selection added 76 groundballs and 77 draw controls, while leading the Pride in caused turnovers with 45. Politis was named the NECC Player of the Week seven times in 2013 and ranked inside the top 30 in the NCAA in points (26th), goals (15th), groundballs (28th), and caused turnovers (29th). Politis is the all-time leader at Regis in career points with 183 and goals with 151.
Andrea Barbosa was involved in every facet of the game for the Pride this season, finishing 2013 with 12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points, 66 groundballs, 41 draw controls, and 25 caused turnovers. Barbosa ranked 78th in the NCAA in groundballs and ranked third in the NECC in that category as well. Barbosa's 110 career groundballs puts her third all-time in the program.
Emma Decker had a strong freshman campaign as she led the NECC in minutes (1,031:20), goals-against-average (9.37), save percentage (49.2%), and wins (13). Decker's 156 saves put her second in the NECC and she allowed the fifth fewest goals in 2013 with 161. In conference play, Decker allowed only 23 goals and made 21 saves en route to a 5.37 GAA and a perfect 5-0 mark in league games. Decker ranked 41st in the NCAA in saves and 42nd in the nation in save percentage. Her 9.68 GAA was the 58th best in the country. The freshman was named to the NECC All-Tournament Team and made 11 saves in the championship game.
To view the entire All-NECC release, please click here.