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Owls place three on NFHCA Division III All-Region field hockey team
KEENE, N.H. 11/16/09 - Keene State College placed three senior players on the National Field Hockey Coach Association (NFHCA) Division III All-Region team announced on Monday. Forward Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) and back Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) were named to the first-team while goalie Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) was a second-team selection.
The Little East Offensive player of the Year and a first-team All-LEC selection, Benning moves up to the region first-team after being a second-team pick last year. A prolific goal scorer, Benning led the Little East in points (58) and goals (27). A starter in all 24 matches, she registered multiple points in 18 matches. She had a knack for netting the decisive score this season, notching game-winning goals in 14 of Keene State's 18 victories. Benning concludes her career fourth on KSC's all-time goal (54) and point (124) list. She is the seventh Owl to reach the coveted 100-point career milestone.
The first student-athlete in the history of the Little East to be honored as the both the offensive and defensive player of the year in her career, Dallas is making her third consecutive appearance on the All-Region team. Dallas helped anchor an Owls' defensive squad that posted a program-best 12 shutouts, including six scoreless matches to start the 2009 season. Keene State limited its opponents to fewer than two markers in 16 matches to post a team goal against average of 0.99. Dallas also contributed to the offensive rush on penalty corners with 14 points, including 10 helpers. Returning to the Keene State team after making a miraculous comeback from a post-surgical infection to play her final season for the Owls, Dallas became the Owls all-time assist (42) leader this season.
Stoessel is making her initial appearance on the All-Region team. Starting in all of Keene State's 24 games, Stoessel compiled a fine 1.07 GAA and .877 save percentage with 10 shutouts, going up against some of the top teams in the region. Her 10 shutouts set a KSC record and the team's 12 total shutouts tied a school mark. As of Nov. 8th, she is third in Division III in save percentage. On KSC's all-time career list, Stoessel is tied for second in GAA (1.19) and fifth in save percentage (.847).
Finishing their season with an 18-6 record, the Owls tied for the regular-season LEC championship. The lost in the LEC tournament finals and were upset in the first round of the ECAC tournament.
