News from the 2000 Season

SIX FIELD HOCKEY PLAYERS NAMED
TO NFHCA DIVISION III ACADEMIC TEAM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Six Western New England College student-athletes were named to the 2000 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Academic Team. They are:

Junior goalie Jennifer Mikulec (Farmington, CT — Farmington High School), 3.49 grade-point-average, marketing communications/advertising;

Junior defensive player Angelina DeNardo (Springfield, MA — Cathedral High School), 3.61, international business;

Sophomore midfielder Kara Acken (Dover Plains, NY — Dover Plains, High School), 3.50, mathematical science;

Freshman forward Nicole DeRosa (Utica, NY — Whitesboro High School), 3.33, exploratory;

Freshman forward/midfielder Bethany Fleck (Somers, CT — Somers High School), 3.80, psychology/education, and

Freshman forward/midfielder Jessica Postoian (Cumberland, RI — Cumberland High School), 3.94, biology.

To earn a spot on the honor squad, a player must be a starter or important reserve, and have a minimum 3.3 cumulative grade-point-average in their major.

Western New England posted a 7-8 record this fall and placed third in its first season in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) with a 2-2 mark. The Golden Bears dropped five contests by a single goal, but ended the season on a positive note by winning four of their last six games.

THREE FIELD HOCKEY PLAYERS VOTED NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Nov. 2, 2000) – Western New England College senior tri-captain Karen Gilbert (Barre, VT – Spaulding High School), junior tri-captain Jen Mikulec (Farmington, CT – Farmington High School), and sophomore Kara Acken (Dover Plains, NY – Dover Plains High School) have been named to the 2000 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) All-Star Field Hockey Team.

Gilbert, a forward, led the Golden Bears in scoring with 27 points (12 goals, 3 assists), which ranked fourth in the conference. She is a sport management major at Western New England.

Mikulec, a goalie, compiled an impressive 91.6 save percentage (third nationally among Division III players) and 1.67 goals-against-average with five shutouts. Her 272 saves ranks second nationally. Mikulec is a marketing communications/advertising major at Western New England.

Acken, a midfielder, was second on the team in scoring with 13 points (3 goals, 7 assists), and was among the top defensive players in the conference. She is a mathematical science major at Western New England.

Mikulec and Acken also were selected to the NAC All-Tournament Team.

Western New England posted a 7-7 record, which included a 2-2 mark for third place in its inaugural season in the NAC. The Golden Bears lost five contests by a single goal this fall.

"We have only two graduating seniors, so we should have an experienced team next season," said Western New England coach Aimee DeBoyace.

KAREN GILBERT AND KARA ACKEN
GAIN FIELD HOCKEY AWARDS

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 17, 2000) – Western New England College senior tri-captain Karen Gilbert (Barre, VT) was honored Tuesday (Oct. 17) as the North Athletic Conference (NAC) Field Hockey Player-of-the-Week.

Gilbert, a forward, scored three goals in a 6-3 victory over Elms College on October 14 that gave the Golden Bears a three-game winning streak. She leads the team in scoring with 22 points (10 goals, 2 assists).

Sophomore Kara Acken (Dover Plains, NY) received the Western New England College Female Athlete-of-the-Week on Tuesday (Oct. 17). Acken, a midfielder, had a goal and assist in the victory over Elms. She is second on the team in scoring with 13 points (3 goals, team high 7 assists).

Western New England (6-7) hosts Lasell College in the final game of the regular season on Thursday (October 19).

SENIOR CAPTAIN KAREN GILBERT SELECTED NAC FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 17, 2000) – Western New England College senior tri-captain Karen Gilbert (Barre, VT) was honored Tuesday (Oct. 17) as the North Athletic Conference (NAC) Field Hockey Player-of-the-Week.

Gilbert, a forward, scored three goals in a 6-3 victory over Elms College on October 14 that gave the Golden Bears a three-game winning streak. She leads the team in scoring with 22 points (10 goals, 2 assists).

Western New England (6-7) hosts Lasell College in the final game of the regular season on Thursday (October 19).

KAREN GILBERT NAMED WNEC
ATHLETE-OF-THE-WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 3, 2000) – Senior field hockey hockey captain Karen Gilbert (Barre, VT – Spaulding High School) High School) was honored Tuesday (Oct. 3) as the Western New England College Female Athlete-of-the-Week.

Gilbert, a forward, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over visiting Nichols College last Saturday (Sept. 30). Earlier this season, she had the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Westfield State.

A sport management major, Gilbert is fifth in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) with 11 points (5 goals, 1 assist).

In other news, junior goalies Jen Mikulec (Farmington, CT – Farmington High School) is ranked first in saves (189) and fourth in save percentage (92.6) in the latest NCAA Division III statistics.

Western New England (3-5) hosts Framingham State College at 4 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 5).

JEN MIKULEC NAMED NAC PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 19, 2000) – Western New England College junior Jen Mikulec (Farmington, CT) was honored Monday (Sept. 18) as the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Player-of-the-Week after compiling 25 saves in a 2-1 victory over Westfield State College.

Mikulec has an impressive 91.4 save percentage after allowing only six goals in 70 shots.

Western New England hosts Mount Holyoke College at 4 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 21) and Manhattanville College at 4 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23).

FIELD HOCKEY SQUAD TO PRESENT CLINIC

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 12, 2000) – Western New England College's field hockey team, under the direction of second-year coach Aimee DeBoyace, will present a free clinic for Longmeadow and East Longmeadow girls in grades 5-8 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, at the WNEC field. Approximtely 90 individuals are expected to participate in the clinic.

WNEC JOINS NORTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 5, 2000) – Western New England CollegeÕs field hockey team opens its 2000 season at 4:30 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 7) with a non-league game against visiting Salve Regina College.

The Golden Bears are the newest members of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) joining Becker, Elms, Lasell, Simmons, and Wheelock.

Second-year coach Aimee DeBoyace feels her squad could challenge for the conference crown with several returning veterans and a promising group of newcomers.

Heading the list is junior goalie Jen Mikulec (Farmington, CT) who was the teamÕs Most Valuable Player last fall after compiling a 1.65 goals-against-average with four shutouts.

Sophomore Kara Acken (Dover Plains, NY) and senior Karen Gilbert (Barre, VT) are the top returning scorers. Acken led the squad with 21 points (10 goals, 1 assist) while Gilbert was second with 16 points (8 goals).

"We have a fairly young, but talented team this year," says DeBoyace. "We have a strong freshmen class that could help us become one of the better teams in the conference."

Gilbert, Mikulec, and junior Elena da Silva (Pawling, NY) will serve as the team tri-captains.

Western New England College posted an 8-9 record last season, the most wins for the team in seven years.

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