Teams: Field Hockey: Press Releases

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

WATKINS, CASELLAS-KATZ, KELLEY HONORED BY NESCAC

MEDFORD -- Three members of the 2006 Tufts University field hockey team, which won more games than any Jumbo squad since 1998, were honored today when the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Conference Teams were announced.

Senior midfielder Stacey Watkins (St. Louis, MO/John Burroughs) was selected to the NESCAC First Team following a vote by the coaches. Junior forward Ileana Casellas-Katz (Denmark, ME/Fryeburg Academy) was voted on to the Second Team, and freshman forward Michelle Kelly (Downington, PA/Downington West) was named the conference's Rookie of the Year.

Watkins started and played every minute of every game for Tufts. She was the backbone of the defense, post player on defensive corners and striker on offensive corners. Watkins' booming shot on corners primarily led to her six assists and four goals for 14 points. At the other end of the field, she led the Jumbos with four defensive saves and contributed to six shutouts and a 1.16 team goals against average. Watkins was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team last year.

Casellas-Katz is second in NESCAC with nine assists and finished as the second-leading scorer on the team with 17 points including four goals. She made things happen all season offensively, leading the Jumbos with 42 shots. Her ability to know where to cut and how to get a shot off, along with eliminating multiple defenders, McDavitt said, has helped make her one of the top eight forwards in the conference this year.

Kelly burst upon the NESCAC scene this fall with 11 goals, third most in the league through November 5. Her 22 points, which included five game-winning goals, led the Jumbos in scoring and is currently seventh in NESCAC with a 1.38 points per game average. Extremely composed with the ball and possessing a quick first step and well-timed elimination skills, Kelly's 11 goals led Tufts to its most productive offensive season (35 goals) in 10 years.

Tufts finished with an 11-5 record that was their best season since 1998. The Jumbos played into the NESCAC Tournament semi-finals for the second time in three years and third time overall.

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