The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) recently announced its 2022 Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams and major award winners with seven of Western New England University team members among the honorees.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Summer Hathaway
According to the CCC announcement on November 9, "Hathaway was a key piece in a Western New England defense that posted a league-best 0.76 goals-against average and picked up seven clean sheets. Opponents only scored more than one goal against the Golden Bears three times in 17 games with a lot of that having to do with Hathaway and the WNE backline denying opportunities. Western New England goalkeepers averaged just over three saves a game as the team's smothering defense, led by Hathaway, kept chances to a minimum. Hathaway won one CCC weekly honor as she was named Defensive Player of the Week during the CCC Tournament."
FIRST TEAM ALL-CCC: Allison Bruehwiler, Summer Hathaway, and Molly McLaughlin
Graduate student Allison Bruehwiler was named to the All-CCC first team after leading Western New England in nearly every offensive statistical category.Bruehwiler scored eight goals on the year to lead the Golden Bears, which included five goals in conference play. The Old Saybrook, Connecticut native also collected five assists on the season. Bruehwiler dialed up two assists in the CCC Championship game, sending the Golden Bears to their first NCAA Tournament since 2007. Bruehwiler tallied 21 points on the year. Over her career with WNE, Bruehwiler has collected 27 goals and 22 assists, good for 76 points, which places her 9th all time in WNE women's soccer history, passing head coach Kristin (Thornton) Hensinger on the list. Bruehwiler collects her fourth All-CCC honor in her career.
Senior defender Summer Hathaway was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year in the CCC after leading the Golden Bears all season long on defense. Hathaway and the Western New England defense held their opponents to just 15 goals on the season in 20 total games. The Western New England defense never gave up more than two goals in any game on the season, while scoring 40 total goals on the year. Hathaway, the Colchester, Vermont native, contributed on the offensive end, scoring two goals this season, both in CCC play. Hathaway made starts in all 20 games on the season, taking 39 shots, placing 17 on goal. Hathaway collects her third All-CCC award.
WNE goalkeeper Molly McLaughlin was also named to the All-CCC First Team after making starts in all 20 games for the Golden Bears on the season. McLaughlin faced 74 shots this season, making 59 saves, dotting a .797 save percentage on the year. The junior played in 1,801 minutes for WNE, allowing just 15 goals, securing a 0.75 GAA. McLaughlin got the decision in every game on the year, going 13-5-2 while collecting eight shutouts. McLaughlin recorded a season high eight saves in a 1-0 win during the regular season at Gordon College. The Guilford, Connecticut native made all three saves in the CCC Championship game, shutting out University of New England, 3-0. McLaughlin collects her second All-CCC accomplishment.
SECOND TEAM ALL-CCC: Malina LaCapra
Defender Malina LaCapra made all 20 starts this season for the Golden Bears, earning All-CCC Second Team honors. LaCaprahelped the back line of defense for the Golden Bears hold their opponents to just 15 goals on the season. LaCapra is most noted for her goal in a 3-1 win during the regular season over University of New England. LaCapra's free kick landed perfectly inside the top left corner of the net. LaCapra also notched an assist in that contest, grabbing her three points of the season in that contest. The Watertown, Connecticut native took eight shots on the season, putting five on goal.
THIRD TEAM ALL-CCC: Isabella Montalvo, Emma French and Danielle McCarthy
Isabella Montalvo was named to the All-CCC Third Team after scoring five goals and adding two assists on the year, good for 12 points. Montalvo scored all of her points this season against a conference opponent, while picking up two game-winning goals. The Rocky Hill, Connecticut native picks up her second All-CCC honors in her career.
Sophomore Emma French lands on the All-CCC Third Team for the first time in her career. The tenacious midfielder helped the Golden Bears reach and win the CCC Championships this season, playing in 19 games for WNE, making 11 starts. The Monroe, Connecticut native scored a goal and picked up two assists for Western New England, scoring her first career collegiate goal at Endicott College (September 30). French picked up assists in conference play at Gordon College and at Suffolk University in two wins for the Golden Bears. The sophomore took seven shots this season, putting two on goal.
Senior Danielle McCarthy picked up All-CCC Third Team honors for the Golden Bears after making all 20 starts during the regular season, putting together six points for Western New England.McCarthy scored a goal and four assists on the season while taking 33 shots during the year, placing 15 on goal. The Old Lyme, Connecticut native earns her first All-CCC recognition.
The Western New England women's soccer team and 2022 CCC championship winners will head to Misericordia University on Friday to the 2022 NCAA DIII Women's Soccer championship where they will be squaring off with York College of Pennsylvania, on Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.
The Commonwealth Coast Conference, founded in 1984, is an NCAA Division III athletic conference comprised of 10 full member and one associate member institution throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition, and a meaningful student life. The conference administers championships in 19 intercollegiate sports.
Voting for the All-CCC Teams and major awards was conducted by the 10 CCC head women' soccer coaches following the conclusion of the regular season and do not take postseason play into consideration.
