PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Little East Conference announced its annual end of the season and all-conference teams this afternoon after a vote by the eight head coaches. University of Southern Maine junior striker Sinisa Bajic was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while UMass Dartmouth freshman midfielder Michael Alves was voted Rookie of the Year. Eastern Connecticut State University earned a pair of individual awards with senior goalkeeper Jay Barney being selected the Defensive Player of the Year, while Greg DeVito was tabbed Coach of the Year.

Bajic is just the second student-athlete in the conference’s history to repeat as the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year since Rhode Island College forward Kyle Teixeira was recognized in 2004 and 2005. The junior forward from Belgrade, Serbia sits atop the conference circuit in points (24) and goals (11), while ranking third in game-winning goals (4). He recorded a season-high five points, including two markers, at Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) in the opening match of the campaign.

Barney paced the Little East Conference in goals against average (0.60), save percentage (.891), and shutouts (7), while second in saves (99). The Mansfield, Conn. product has not surrendered a marker in the past 556 minutes, six seconds—a streak which began against Coast Guard on Oct. 16. He is just the second player in the conference to be honored in consecutive seasons as the defensive player of the year.

Alves made an immediate impact in the UMass Dartmouth starting lineup, leading the Corsairs in assists (7), while ranking third in points with 13. He scored a season-high three points twice on the campaign, most recently against Connecticut College on Sept.25. He is the lone rookie to be selected to the all-conference teams, earning second-team honors. Alves is just the second UMass Dartmouth player in the program’s history to be named rookie of the year.

In his first season at the helm, DeVito led Eastern Connecticut to the Little East Conference Tournament and regular season crowns with an overall record of 11-6-3, including a 5-1-1 mark in the conference. The Warriors earned their first berth in the NCAA Tournament field and the second postseason berth since 1992, when Eastern Connecticut made an appearance in the ECAC New England Tournament. DeVito and his charges are currently riding a season-high five-game unbeaten streak into the NCAA Tournament.

Eastern Connecticut posted a conference-high seven student-athletes on the Little East All-Conference teams, including five players on the first-team. Keene State College was just one off the pace, while the University of Southern Maine registered four selections. UMass Dartmouth had three student-athletes recognized and Plymouth State University placed a player on each the first and second teams. UMass Boston and Rhode Island College each had a lone honoree.