NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Seven Little East Conference field hockey student-athletes were named to the 2009 National Field Hockey Coaches' Association/Longstreth All-New England West teams this afternoon. Keene State College seniors Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) and Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) along with Southern Maine's senior India Lowe (Gloucester, Mass.) earned first-team honors. Fitchburg State's senior Paula Bartalamia (Tewksbury, Mass.), Bridgewater State's Kelly Downs (Hanover, Mass.), Univeristy of Massachusetts junior Stephanie Kinchla (Falmouth, Mass.), and Owls' senior goalkeeper Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) were second-team selections.

The Little East offensive player of the year and a first-team All-LEC selection, Benning moves up to the region first-team after being a second-team pick last year. A prolific goal scorer, Benning led the Little East in points (58) and goals (27). A starter in all 24 matches, she registered multiple points in 18 matches. She had a knack for netting the decisive score this season, notching game-winning goals in 14 of Keene State's 18 victories. Benning concludes her career fourth on KSC's all-time goal (54) and point (124) list. She is the seventh Owl to reach the coveted 100-point career milestone.

The first student-athlete in the history of the Little East to be honored as the both the offensive and defensive player of the year in her career, Dallas is making her third consecutive appearance on the All-Region team. Dallas helped anchor an Owls' defensive squad that posted a program-best 12 shutouts, including six scoreless matches to start the 2009 season. Keene State limited its opponents to fewer than two markers in 16 matches to post a team goal against average of 0.99. Dallas also contributed to the offensive rush on penalty corners with 14 points, including 10 helpers. Returning to the Keene State team after making a miraculous comeback from a post-surgical infection to play her final season for the Owls, Dallas became the Owls all-time assist (42) leader this season.

Lowe, a recent first-team All-Little East Conference selection, become the 16th Huskies field hockey player to earn first-team all-region honors and the first since Cristina Corson (Naples,
Maine) earned the accolade in 2007. A 2008 NFHCA All-Region second team selection, Lowe ended her stellar four-year career playing in 85 career games totaling 100 career points. The 5-3 forward is third in career goals with 38, and established single-season and career marks in assists in 2009, passing off a team record 12 assists this season and passing off 24 helpers in her career. Lowe was selected as one of 38 student-athletes to participate in the 2009 NFHCA Division III Senior All-Star Game. Lowe will represent the University of Southern Maine on Sunday, Nov. 22 (9:30 a.m.) at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

Bartalamia is making her debut on the all-region teams. The All-Little East, first-team selection led the Falcons in scoring with 29 points (13-3). A starter in 18 of her 19 matches, Bartalamia netted multiple goals in four of the eight matches in which she scored. She ranked fourth in the conference circuit in game-winning goals (5), including back-to-back decisive scores against Southern Maine. Bartalamia recorded a season-best five points against Thomas College on Sept. 5, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

A native of Hanover, Mass., Downs anchored the Bears' defense once again in 2009 as she registered five defensive saves and helped the Bridgewater State post five shutouts.  Her five defensive saves was good for fourth amongst the Little East Conference leaders. Downs finishes an impressive career at BSC as a three-time All-Little East Conference selection. She was named to the All-Little East Second Team last season and garnered first team honors in 2007 and again in 2009. As reliable as they come, Downs never missed a game in her four-year career with the Bears and started all but one.  In 75 career games, she recorded five goals and five assists for 15 points to go along with 16 defensive saves.

Kinchla is making her second straight appearance on the all-region teams after garnering first-team honors as a spohomore. The two-time All-Little East, first-team pick ranked second in the conference in game-winning goals (6), goals (22), and points (49). She began her junior campaign by scoring multiple points in six consecutive matches. A prolific scorer, Kinchla posted multiple points in 15 of her 21 matches. She registered a pair of hat tricks on the season, including a season-high four markers against Salve Regina on Oct. 29. In two years, Kinchla has registered 105 points, on 45 goals and 15 markers. 

Stoessel is making her initial appearance on the All-Region team. Starting in all of Keene State's 24 games, Stoessel compiled a fine 1.07 GAA and .877 save percentage with 10 shutouts, going up against some of the top teams in the region. Her 10 shutouts set a KSC record and the team's 12 total shutouts tied a school mark. As of Nov. 8th, she is third in Division III in save percentage.  On KSC's all-time career list, Stoessel is tied for second in GAA (1.19) and fifth in save percentage (.847).