Sawchuck and Ventura Headline Major Awards; Six Earn All-CCC Honors

2014 All-CCC Field Hockey Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Commissioner's Office announced the 2014 Field Hockey All-Conference teams on Tuesday afternoon. Endicott saw two major award winners and a total of six players to receive recognition from coaches in the league. Senior Emily Sawchuck (Cumberland, Maine) took home the Offensive Player of the Year award while sophomore Cheka Ventura (Lawrence, Mass.) was tabbed as the 2014 Rookie of the Year.

Following the season finale the Blue and Green will head into the post season on Wednesday, November 5^th as the #3 seed as they travel to cross-town rival, #2 Gordon for the semifinals of the 2014 CCC Field Hockey Tournament.

To go along with her Offensive Player of the Year nod, Sawchuck also tabbed her fourth All-CCC honor and third All-CCC First Team recognition. The forward had a stellar year for the Gulls as she broke all major offensive program records. Sawchuck is also the offensive leader in all categories for the conference with her 20 goals, nine assists and 49 points. Sawchuck is the first player in program history to earn a Rookie of the Year award and cap off their career with a Player of the Year honor.

Ventura, a sophomore goalkeeper, became the third member in program history to earn a Rookie of the Year award while joining Sawhuck on the All-CCC First Team. Ventura played a stellar rookie campaign for the Gulls with her 17 games played, 1.47 goals against average and an 83% save percentage. Ventura posted two shutouts this season as she helped lead a defensive unit that sits at #3 in the New England East Region while leading the CCC in save percentage.

Joining the two major award winners on First Team is senior, defender Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) and junior, center-midfielder Ashleigh Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.). Leary is now a four-time All-CCC honoree as she tabbed her third All-CCC First Team honor helping lead a defensive unit that is one of the strongest in the region. Allen, is enjoying her first season with the Blue and Green with her First Team nod as she is one of the strongest midfielders in the conference. The junior owns 27 points on the season, good for second on the team, while not only being a crucial contributor to the offensive end but the defensive as well.

Receiving All-Conference honors for the first time in their careers is senior, defender Alyssa Clark (Gorham, Maine) and junior, midfielder Morgan Bresnahan (South Burlington, Vt.) who were both honored as members of the All-CCC Second Team. Clark wrapped up the regular season with nine defensive saves, to sit at #2 all-time in the programs single season record books.  Clark is an essential member of the defensive unit as she sits as the last line of defense before Ventura. Bresnahan, has had her break out season in the midfield as she has tallied six goals and one assist for 13 points. The junior has been an integral part of the offensive unit that is one of the best in the conference.

To add to an impressive record breaking season by members of the Gulls squad, Sawchuck and Leary both became the first members of the field hockey program to earn All-CCC honors all four years.

The Blue and Green will look ahead to tomorrow where they will compete with the Fighting Scots for the third straight year in the conference semifinals while they are on the hunt for the programs third CCC title in four years.