Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams Released

Wheeler of Middlebury Named Player of the Year

HARTFORD, Conn. - Senior attack Betsy Wheeler of NESCAC champion Middlebury College was named the 2001 NESCAC Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year. Wheeler led the Panthers with 44 regular season goals and 51 points and helped lead Middlebury to an undefeated season and top ranking in the nation.

Wheeler was one of five players to earn repeat first-team all-conference honors. Junior defender Ali Connolly of Middlebury was named to the first team after leading the Panthers in ground balls and caused turnovers. Three players from conference runner-up Amherst earned repeat first-team accolades. Senior attacks Sarah Scheessele and Kristin Osborn, and senior defender Alison Kitay were named to the first team for the second consecutive year. Scheessele scored 31 goals, including three game-winners, and Osborn scored 45 goals and totaled 58 points. Kitay led the team in caused turnovers.

Senior attack Angela Pappas of Colby and sophomore goalkeeper Abi Jackson of Williams were named to the first team this year after being named to the second team a year ago. Pappas scored 18 goals and became the fifth player at Colby to score 100 career goals. Jackson was among the conference leaders in goals against average and save percentage all season.

Two other players from Middlebury and Williams were each named to the all-conference first team. Sophomore midfielder Char Glessner and junior midfielder Julia Bergofsky were honored on the first team. Glessner was second on the Panthers in points and Bergofsky led the team in draw controls and finished second in caused turnovers. Junior midfielder Heather Black and senior defender Sarah Commito of the Ephs received first-team honors. Black led Williams in scoring, while Commito was the backbone of the team's defense. Rounding out the first team was senior attack Jen Gregorian of Tufts. She was the team leader with 40 goals and 17 assists.

First-year attack and midfielder Nuala O'Donohoe of Middlebury was named the 2001 NESCAC Rookie of the Year after finishing tied for second on the team in scoring. Middlebury Head Coach Missy Foote was named the 2001 NESCAC Coach of the Year.

2001 NESCAC Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Team