MCQUADE NAMED CAA COACH OF THE YEAR; FIVE RAMS NAB ALL-CAA HONORS
PHILADELPHIA, PA. – Virginia Commonwealth University's Kelly McQuade was named the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association Field Hockey Coach of the Year Friday evening at the league's annual awards banquet. Additionally, five Rams earned All-CAA honors, including freshman Rymme van Dessel (Oisterwijk, Netherlands), who was named Rookie of the Year.
It's just the second time VCU has picked up a Coach of the Year honor. Shelly Behrens was tapped in 2003. McQuade took over a 4-15 squad in 2007 and led the Rams to five victories in each of her first two seasons. VCU improved to 8-9 in 2009. The Rams were picked eighth in the 2010 CAA Preseason Poll.
Senior Marle van Dessel (Oisterwijk, Netherlands) and sophomore Kelsey Scherrer (Chesapeake, Va.) were selected to the All-CAA First Team. Both players were second team picks in 2009. They are the first Rams to earn a All-CAA First Team honors since Carlot Verlop in 2004.
Scherrer, an All-Rookie selection last season, has been VCU's sparkplug. The 5-1 forward has scored 14 goals and assisted on eight others this year. She has been credited with game-winning goals in seven of the Rams' 13 victories. Her 36 points are tied for third in the league.
van Dessel has supplied 11 goals and 26 points this year. Along the way she's moved into second place on VCU's career goals list with 36. This is the third straight year van Dessel has earned a spot on an All-CAA squad.
Rymme van Dessel, one of three van Dessel sisters on the VCU roster was selected as the Rams' first CAA Rookie of the Year since Verlop in 2004. van Dessel, the Rams' center back, has been critical to VCU's stout defensive effort. This season, with van Dessel leading the way, the Rams have posted five shutouts, tied for the league lead. VCU has allowed an average of 1.68 goals per game, second best in the CAA, and opponents have managed just 118 shots on goal in 19 matches.
Rymme, as well as sister Flore van Dessel, Marle's twin, were both named to the CAA's Second Team. Flore, a midfielder scored four goals and assisted on two others this year. She was 3-of-3 on penalty strokes, including her game-winner in overtime on Sept. 12 at Richmond.
Freshman Emilie Soares (Santa Clara, Calif.) joined Rymme van Dessel on the CAA's All-Rookie Team. Soares has scored six goals and has been credited with two assists this season.
The fourth-seeded Rams will take on top seed and host Drexel on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 12 p.m. in the CAA Championship semifinals at Buckley Field.
2010 ALL-CAA FIELD HOCKEY TEAMS
Selected by CAA Field Hockey Coaches
FIRST TEAM
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/High School
Kaela Barker, Northeastern Jr. M North Vancouver, British Columbia/Sutherland
Susan Ciufo, Drexel Sr. F Bangor, Pa./Bangor
Amy Daniel, James Madison Sr. B Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood
Kim Tunell, Drexel Sr. M/B Wilmington, Del./Concord
Loran Hatch, Old Dominion Sr. B Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen
Genna Kovar, Hofstra Jr. M Hampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton Bays
Christina Mastropaolo, Drexel Sr. F Harleysville, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy
Crystal Poland, Northeastern So. F Crofton, British Columbia/Cowichan Secondary
Kelsey Scherrer, VCU So. F Chesapeake, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate
Marle van Dessel, VCU Sr. M Oisterwijk, The Netherlands/St. Odulphus Lyceum
Maartje van Rijswijk, Old Dominion So. F/M Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne
Lizzie Priest, Northeastern So. GK North Vancouver, British Columbia/Sutherland
SECOND TEAM
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/High School
Kristie Blumer, Towson Sr. F Rockville, Md./Magruder
Michelle Drummonds, Delaware Sr. B Elkton, Md./Elkton
Erica Eng, William & Mary Sr. B/M/F Morristown, N.J./Madison
Katherine Kirk, Old Dominion Jr. F Lititz, Pa./Warwick
Carolyn Malloy, Northeastern Jr. F Windham, N.H./Salem
Kelsey Nawalinski, William & Mary R-Jr. M Downingtown, Pa./Villa Maria
Lise van Dam, James Madison Fr. M The Hague, The Netherlands/Maerlant Lyceum
Flore van Dessel, VCU Sr. B Oisterwijk, The Netherlands/St. Odulphus Lyceum
Rymme van Dessel, VCU Fr. B Oisterwijk, The Netherlands/St. Odulphus Lyceum
Missy Woodie, Delaware Sr. B/M Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor
Jenna Phillips, Drexel So. GK Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/High School
Lindsay Bennett, Northeastern Fr. F Kansas City, Mo./Notre Dame de Sion
Kristen Focht, Drexel Fr. M Allentown, Pa./William Allen
Lindsay McArdle, Drexel Fr. M Upper Darby, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara
Kathleen Morris, Towson Fr. M Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township
Kati Nearhouse, Old Dominion Fr. F Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke
Clare O'Malley, Delaware Fr. M Summit, N.J./Summit
Emilie Soares, VCU Fr. F Santa Clara, Calif./Archbishop Mitty
Dieke ter Weel, Hofstra Fr. B Eindhoven, The Netherlands/Lorentz Casimir Lyceum
Lise van Dam, James Madison Fr. M The Hague, The Netherlands/Maerlant Lyceum
Rymme van Dessel, VCU Fr. B Oisterwijk, The Netherlands/St. Odulphus Lyceum
2010 CAA Player of the Year: Christina Mastropaolo, Drexel
2010 CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Loran Hatch, Old Dominion
2010 CAA Rookie of the Year: Rymme van Dessel, VCU
2010 CAA Coach of the Year: Kelly McQuade, VCU
