NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Western Connecticut State University senior striker Catherine Nathans (New Fairfield, Conn.) was named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season this afternoon, becoming the first women's soccer student-athlete to accomplish this feat in the history of the league. Eastern Connecticut State University junior back Christine Lemieux (South Windsor, Conn.) was selected the Defensive Player of the Year. The University of Massachusetts Boston earned two of the four major awards as freshman forward Kristin Mulry (Holbrook, Mass.) was honored as the Rookie of the Year, while Amy Zombeck was tabbed the Coach of the Year by her peers.

The 2008 Little East Women's Soccer All-Conference teams and major award recipients were selected in a vote by the eight head coaches in the conference circuit. The Little East Conference honored 12 student-athletes each on the first and second teams.   

Nathans became just the second Colonial player in the program's history to be named the top offensive player in the conference. The three-time All-Little East first-team selection earned her 100th career point against the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Sept. 20, 2008, netting the game-winning goal in the 22nd minute. The New Fairfield, Conn. product ranks among the Western Connecticut program leaders in career points (120) and goals (49) in just three seasons on the pitch. This year, Nathans scored 10 markers and handed out seven assists for 27 points. She penned a season-best five points in her ledger against the University of Southern Maine, recording two goals and an assist. Nathans was named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week once on the campaign.

Lemieux anchored the second-best defensive unit in the conference, allowing just 19 markers in 17 matches to post a goals against average of 1.10. The native of South Windsor, Conn. has earned All-Little East, first-team honors for the second straight season. Lemieux and her defensive teammates surrendered one or fewer goals in 10 matches this year, including six shutouts. Eastern Connecticut posted consecutive shutouts twice, most recently against Johnson & Wales and Plymouth State University. She also helped out the offensive rush with a pair of helpers for two points.

Mulry made an immediate impact in the Beacons starting lineup, setting a new program record for points (29) and goals (14) by a rookie. The All-Little East second-team pick ranked among the top offensive threats in the conference all season, finishing second in both points and goals. She netted at least one marker in nine of her 21 matches, including multiple scores four times. Mulry registered her first collegiate hat trick against Wheelock on Oct. 8 for a season-high six points. She earned the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week award in four of the eight selections.

Under the watchful eye of Zombeck, the Beacons posted an overall record of 8-11-2 to register the program's most successful season. UMass Boston earned a program-best three victories in conference play and captured the fourth seed in the Little East Tournament. Zombeck led her charges to a win over UMass Dartmouth and a berth into the semifinal round, where they fell to the eventual champion. The 1998 Little East Conference Player of the Year is the first Beacon boss to be honored as the top coach in the conference circuit.     

Western Connecticut placed a conference-best four student-athletes on the first-team. Senior goalkeeper Shannon Cawley, junior back Amanda Genova, and sophomore forward Lauren Matthews join Nathans as top-team picks. Keene State College earned three first-team selections in senior midfielder Michelle Boland, junior back Jaclyn Grant, and sophomore forward Katie Bradford. Eastern Connecticut State University and UMass Boston each had two selections. Junior midfielder Sarah Swann and Lemieux represented the Warriors, while senior back Katherine Wall and junior midfielder Kristi Morales earned recognition for the Beacons. Plymouth State University junior midfielder Lauren Lavery was the lone Panthers pick on the 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.

2008 Little East Conference Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Catherine Nathans, Western Connecticut

Defensive Player of the Year: Christine Lemieux, Eastern Connecticut

Rookie of the Year: Kristin Mulry, UMass Boston

Coach of the Year: Amy Zombeck, UMass Boston