ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Senior outfielder Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) highlighted six Lynx named to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) All-Conference First Team, announced Monday afternoon.
Golden, who earned NECC All-Tournament MVP after leading the Lynx to their seventh conference title, was named to the All-NECC First Team for the fourth time in her collegiate career. Posting a .484 batting average with a 1.369 OPS (.828 SLG%, .541 OBP) against conference opponents, Golden ended the season with a 19-game hitting streak. During the stretch run, she recorded a .563 batting average (40-71) with eight doubles, two triples, eight homeruns and 29 RBI. Additionally, Golden is amongst program leaders in career RBI, driving in 150 in her four years at Lesley.
Fellow senior and southern California native Carlyn Barker (Temecula, Calif.) also earned All-NECC First Team accolades at third base. Against conference opponents, Barker was perfect in the field recording zero errors while registering 38 assists and 14 putouts. In addition to her superb defense, she provided the Lynx with a power bat in the middle of the line-up. Reaching base safely in 24 straight games, Barker batted .420 (29-69) with an outstanding 1.097 OPS (.638 SLG%, .459 OBP) against NECC opponents.
Sophomore first baseman Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.) was selected to the All-NECC First Team at first base after posting a .450 batting average with six doubles, two homeruns and 18 RBI against conference opponents. Junior right-hander Courtney Goggin (Cheshire, Conn.) rounded out the Lynx infielders earning All-Conference First Team honors after playing outstanding defense in the middle infield. In addition, she batted .400 against conference opponents from the bottom of the Lynx lineup.
Junior centerfielder Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) was also joined Golden earning All-NECC First Team honors in the outfiield. Hitting .429 (21-28) with a double, triple and 13 RBI against conference foes, Pereira provided the Lynx with speed on the bathpaths, successfully stealing five of five bases against the NECC. Additionally, her bunt single in the bottom of the third inning against Regis College in the championship tournament broke up a no-hit bid by Madi McLellan and swung momentum over to the Lynx.
First year right-hander Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Conn.), who proved to be one of the top rookie pitchers in the NECC, was one of two pitchers named the All-NECC First Team. Bushman was a perfect 9-0 in conference with a staggering 1.40 ERA and 74 strikeouts. Her battery mate, fellow first year Ally Murphy (Raynham, Mass.) earned All-Conference Second Team honors.
After pitching the Lynx to their seventh NECC title, senior right-hander Allyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) was the Lynx's representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
NECC Softball All-Conference Team
Player of the Year: Lauren Vallee, Bay Path
Pitcher of the Year: Madi McLellan, Regis
Rookie of the Year: Arianna Gooden, Newbury
Coach of the Year: Caitlin Benyi, Newbury
All Conference First Team
1B – Jordan Raab, Lesley So., Rochester, N.H.)
2B – Courtney Goggin, Lesley (Jr., Cheshire, Conn.)
3B – Carlyn Barker, Lesley (Sr., Temecula, Calif.)
SS – Lauren Vallee, Bay Path (Jr., Bristol, Conn.)
C – Noelle Sass, Newbury (So., Randolph, Mass.)
P – Madi McLellan, Regis (Fr., Fremont, N.H.)
P – Sarah Bushman, Lesley (Fr., Fr., Aurora, Colo.)
OF – Mekenzi Golden, Lesley (Sr., Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
OF – Arianna Gooden, Newbury (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif.)
OF – Theresa Pereira, Lesley (Jr., Hopedale, Mass.)
DP – Erin O'Donnell, Elms (So., Glenmont, N.Y.)
All Conference Second Team
1B – Ashley Ciepiela, Becker (Sr., Adams, Mass.)
2B – Samantha DelConte, Mitchell (Jr., Enfiled, Conn.)
3B – Elizabeth Olszewski, Elms (Jr., Canterbury, Conn.)
SS – Brianna Napoleone, Regis (So., Medford, Mass.)
C – Ally Murphy, Lesley (Fr., Raynham, Mass.)
C – Alexa Nejaime, Regis (Jr., Sandisfield, Mass.)
P – Samantha Lee, Becker (Jr., Prospect, Conn.)
P – Alina Milauskas, Newbury (So., Elkridge, Md.)
OF – Allie Petillo, Regis (So., West Sayville, N .Y.)
OF – Naomi Ricciotti, Newbury (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.)
OF – Catharine Wrang, Elms (So., Middletown, Conn.)
DP – Amanda Navarro, Regis (Jr., Stoneham, Mass.)
All Conference Third Team
1B – Katelyn Sylvia, Elms (Fr., Southwick, Mass.)
2B – Rebecca Carkhuff, Becker (Jr., Amherst, Mass.)
3B – Allison Caloggero, Regis (Sr., Medford, Mass.)
SS – Suzanne Vachon, Mitchell (So., East Hartford, Conn.)
P – Tessa Cote, Elms (Sr., Granby, Mass.)
P – Mallory Stefan, Newbury (Fr., Thornton, Colo.)
OF – Vasia Murphy, Becker (So., OF, Dracut, Mass.)
OF – Shea Wilson, Southern Vermont (Jr., Mesa, Ariz.)
OF – Jailinne Ruiz, Bay Path (So., Hadley, Mass.)
DP – Katie Walsh, Wheelock (So., East Islip, N.Y.)
All Sportsmanship Team
Marissa Sarna-McCarthy, Bay Path (So., 1B, Westhampton, Mass.)
Jennifer Boxell, Becker (Jr., OF, Malborough, Mass.)
Katie Banta, Daniel Webster (Fr., C, Oakdale, Conn.)
Katelyn Sylvia, Elms (Fr., 1B, Southwick, Mass.)
Allyson Nisbet, Lesley (Sr., INF/P, Clovis, Calif.)
Imani Mays, Mitchell (Sr., OF, Stratford, Conn.)
Naomi Ricciotti, Newbury (Sr., OF, Phoenix, Ariz.)
Brianna Napoleone, Regis (So., Medford, Mass.)
Taylor Jarosz, Southern Vermont (Fr., OF, Karaganda, Kazakhstan)
Samanth Leahon, Wheelock (So., OF, Castelton, N.Y.)