NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The Little East Conference office announced its 2008 Little East Field Hockey All-Conference teams and major awards winners this afternoon. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth received a pair of major awards as sophomore forward Stephanie Kinchla (Falmouth, Mass.) was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Nicole Castonguay was tabbed the Coach of the Year. Keene State College senior back Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.) was selected the Defensive Player of the Year, while Westfield State College freshman forward Jessi Gould (Canton, Mass.) was honored as the Rookie of the Year. The conference's 12 head coaches as selected an-11 member first and second team.

Kinchla is making her first appearance on the all-conference first-team after leading the Corsairs to the third-ranked scoring offense in the 12-team field. The Falmouth, Mass. product was the lone student-athlete in the Little East to score at least 41 points on the season, leading the circuit in points (56), goals (23), and game-winning goals (10). The sophomore striker registered at least three points in 11 of her 22 matches, including a season-high six against Anna Maria on Oct.9. Kinchla netted multiple markers eight times, including her lone hat trick against the AMCATS. She was named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 7.

Rowell is the first field hockey student-athlete to be recognized as the top defensive player in back-to-back years. She is also making her third consecutive appearance on the All-Little East, first-team. The Queensbury, N.Y. native anchored the top-ranked defensive unit, allowing just 26 goals in 23 matches. Rowell sits atop the conference standings in defensive saves (13), making a season-best four stops twice. She has also contributed to the offensive rush, ranking fifth in the Little East in assists (9), ninth in points (31), and 10th in goals (11). Rowell netted two goals and handed out a helper for a season-high five points against Fitchburg State on Oct. 25. She was honored as the Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Week in four times.

Gould is the third Owl in the program's history to be selected the conference's top rookie and first since Shanna Litterst in 2004. The Canton, Mass product ranked among the Little East leaders in goals (2nd, 17) and points (4th, 36). A prolific scorer, Gould netted a marker in eight matches, including a conference-best five against Elms College on Sept. 9. She also registered a hat trick against Southern Maine and Becker. Gould was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week in three of the nine award presentations.

Castonguay has been honored as the top boss in the Little East in two of her three seasons on the UMass Dartmouth sideline. The Corsairs were white-hot down the stretch, winning seven of their final eight matches to post a mark of 16-6. UMass Dartmouth was the only team to defeat conference champion Keene State College and clinched the third seed in the Little East Tournament on the final day of the regular season. Castonguay charges were second in the conference in goals against average (1.25), goals scored (63), and scoring margin (1.56), while ranking third in scoring average (2.81).  She mentored four All-Little East selections, including three student-athletes on the top team.

Plymouth State University seniors Ashley Gutowski and Sarah Smith and Keene State College junior Carly Benning join Kinchla as first-team forward picks. Owls junior Erin Dallas, Western Connecticut State University junior Meredith Stuart, and UMass Dartmouth junior Kylie Treat were the top midfielders in the conference. Worcester State College senior Kim Cosenza and Panther junior Melina Rozumek join Rowell on the first-team defense. Corsair junior goalkeeper Seana Golden completes the all-conference first-team.

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference has since grown to its present eight-school membership, sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletics: baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; field hockey; men's and women's lacrosse; men's and women's soccer; softball; women's swimming; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's indoor track; men's and women's outdoor track and women's volleyball.

Offensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Kinchla, UMass Dartmouth

Defensive Player of the Year: Alyssa Rowell, Keene State College

Rookie of the Year: Jessi Gould

Coach of the Year: Nicole Castonguay, UMass Dartmouth