University of Albany's Nikki Branchini Voted America East Women's Lacrosse Fans' Choice Player of the Year - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Nikki Branchini has been chosen the inaugural recipient of the America East Conference Women’s Lacrosse Fans’ Choice Player of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Friday, April 24. The Fans’ Choice ballot generated nearly 2,300 votes.

Branchini, a sophomore defender from Guilderland, N.Y., ranks fifth among the NCAA Division I leaders in draw controls at 4.0 per game. A first-team all-conference and all-rookie squad selection last year as a freshman, Branchini has three goals and is first on the team in ground balls (35) and caused turnovers (15).

Branchini collected more than 19 percent of the ballots or 444 votes. New Hampshire’s Sarah Von Bargen earned 416 votes (18 percent) and her teammate Shauna Kaplan captured 273 tallies (12 percent).

UAlbany (8-7, AE 4-2) concludes its regular schedule against non-league opponent Le Moyne on Saturday. The Great Danes clinched an America East postseason berth for the third consecutive year last weekend and will play in the semifinal round on Thursday, April 30 at Boston University’s Nickerson Field.