Dec 17, 2007

5 Little East players earn NSCAA All-Region honors

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Five Little East Conference women’s soccer student-athletes were named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III New England All-Region teams this afternoon. Western Connecticut State University placed four players on the regional teams, while Eastern Connecticut State University had a lone representative.

Western Connecticut senior goalkeeper Jenna Cappelleri (Stratford, Conn.) and junior striker Catherine Nathans (New Fairfield, Conn.) earned first-team praise, and advanced to the national ballot for All-America consideration. Senior forward Kim Crayco (Bolton, Conn.) and sophomore midfielder Cassie Barbaresi (Bridgeport, Conn.) rounded out the Colonial contingent on the second and fourth teams, respectively.

Senior goalkeeper Megan Gloster (Agawam, Mass.) became the third Warrior student-athlete in the past four years to earn all-region honors.

Nathans, who is making her second straight appearance on the NSCAA All-Region first-team, became just the second student-athlete in the conference's history to win consecutive Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year awards and third in Western Connecticut State University's program. The New Fairfield, Conn. product led the conference circuit in points (41), goals (17), and game-winning goals (8), while sharing third place in assists (7). Nathans scored a season-high five points at Rhode Island College on Sept. 29. She represented the Colonials on the 2006 NSCAA All-America third team.

A two-time NSCAA All-Region pick, Cappellieri is the first player in Little East Conference history to repeat as the defensive player of the year. The Stratford, Conn. native sat atop the conference standings in goals against average (0.63) and shutouts (11), while second in save percentage (.871). Cappellieri backstopped a stifling Western Connecticut defense, which allowed just 0.67 goals per game and recorded a conference-high 16 shutouts. She did not allow a goal in 11 straight appearances, a streak spanning between Sept. 22 and Oct. 27, 2007. Cappellieri was recognized as the Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice.