University of Albany's Kristi Troch Claims Second America East Goalkeeper of the Year; Ten Great Danes Honored - UAlbany Sports 2011

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Kristi Troch was named the America East Conference Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season, as announced today by the conference office. In all, six Great Danes were selected all-conference and four were to chosen to the all-rookie squad.

Troch helped her team tie a league-high with seven shutouts, as she led the league in solo shutouts with a career-high and program-best five. Playing more than any goalkeeper in the league, Troch had just over 1,295 minutes in the cage to garner league-best 1.35 goals against average, a mark which also ranks 10th in the country and fourth-best save percentage (.722). Troch, who started in 18 of 19 games this season, currently has a career-best 11 wins which ties her for third in the program's single-season win record. Troch has been a steady anchor for the UAlbany the past two seasons and will remain a key asset going into the conference's postseason tournament.

Midfielder Katharina Helling and last season's rookie of the year Corrine McConville join Troch on the all-conference first team. Helling, a graduate student, tallied five goals and helped on five other scores in her first season at the collegiate level. She is fourth on the team with 15 points. McConville, a unanimous selection, has been an offensive leader for the Great Danes scoring 12 goals and helping on four for a team second-best 28 points. She led the conference for the second straight season in shots and was also ranked in the top ten in goals scored.

Defender Taylor Luke and forwards Christina Patrick and Daphne Voormolen earned second-team honors for their season performances. Luke sits in a four-way tie for first in the league in defensive saves with three. Patrick has a fourth-best goal output (13) and points per game (1.68). She has 32 points on 13 goals and six assists. Voormolen was second in the league with 72 shots and ranked in the top ten in points (23), goals (8), and assists (7).

UAlbany had the most freshmen on the all-rookie squad. Jordan Homyak and Echo Bretz, two of the four Lehighton (Pa.) High School graduates currently on the UAlbany roster, along with Chloe Pachuilo had unanimous votes. Amy Nicklin, a forward from Stockport, England, also made the unit. The squad has combined for three goals and two assists on the season.

UAlbany, the nation's 12th-ranked team with a 13-6 record, meets No. 10 New Hampshire (15-4) in the first semifinal game of the 2011 America East Conference Field Hockey Championship in Durham, N.H. on Friday, November 4th at 1:00 p.m. Both live stats and live streaming will be available for the entire tournament weekend through the America East website.

Paw Prints: UAlbany received its highest national ranking in the current the Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Weekly Poll as the Great Danes jumped up six spots to 12th after a 3-2 conference victory over New Hampshire at Alumni Turf Field on Oct. 29 to finish the regular season ... The Great Danes matched their highest ranking two weeks ago at No. 15, a position achieved three times last season.

Paw Prints II: Christina Patrick has been selected to participate in the 2011 NFHCA Division I Senior Game to be held on Saturday, November 19th at the University of Louisville (Louisville, Ky.) in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four ... Patrick will be joined by six other America East Conference athletes.