Oct 31, 2008

Six Women’s Soccer Players Named to All-Conference Teams; Mejail Coach of the Year


Complete Release

NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Six women’s soccer players were selected to the Northeast-10 All-Conference teams, including first-team honorees Gabrielle Gramprey (Brockton, MA) and Jen Conway (Douglas, MA). In addition, Gabe Mejail earned Coach of the Year honors for the eighth time.

Gramprey leads the Warriors in every offensive category, tallying 13 goals, eight assists, 34 points, 46 shots and five game-winners. This is Gramprey’s third all-conference selection in as many years, and her first first-team selection.

Conway anchored the Warrior defense this season, limiting opponents to just 19 goals in 17 games. The Warriors’ defense has allowed just two goals in its last six games.

Caitlin Hall (Westminster, MA) and Shannon Rowan (Fair Haven, NJ) were second-team selections.

This is the third straight year Hall has received a conference honor. She was challenged this season, moving from forward back to defensive midfield, and responded flawlessly, helping the defense in a big way. An ESPN Academic All-American, she contributed one goal and two assists offensively.

Starting every game in goal this season, Rowan is 12-3-2 with a 1.06 goals-against, .809 save percentage and three shutouts. She was the NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this season.

Midfielder Jackie Vickers (Norwell, MA) earned third-team honors. Vickers, Merrimack’s best all-around midfielder, was second in scoring with 13 points (three goals, seven assists).

Freshman Melissa Garabedian (Salem, MA) was selected to the All Rookie team. Garabedian, tallied one goal in 15 games, but teamed with Conway and Hall to anchor the backline.

Mejail, now an eight-time Northeast-10 coach of the year, a two-time National Soccer Coaches of America Association coach of the year, and the association's collegiate national coach of the year, guided the Warriors to a 12-3-2 overall record in the regular season, and a 10-3-1 conference record, third best in the NE-10.

Franklin Pierce’s Angelika Johansson was the Player of the Year, with UMass Lowell’s Jamie Glllis earning Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Jenna Mallico of Southern Connecticut was the Freshman of the Year, while Rachel Smith of Franklin Pierce was the Defensive Player of the Year.

The Warriors take on Lowell Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Northeast-10 Quarterfinals at Warrior Field.