Central Islip, NY - Sophomore forward Linda Velaj of the University of Bridgeport has been named the 2008 Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year as selected by the league's coaches and released at the conclusion of the Championship game on Sunday afternoon. Fellow teammate, junior midfielder Emma Woolley garnished Defensive Player of Year and C.W. Post freshman goalkeeper Allie Weiser was voted Goalkeeper of the Year.
Velaj (Stamford, CT) led the Purple Knights' offense this year with 16 goals, including 4 game winning tallies. With 38 points on the season, she leads the conference in with 2.25 points per game.
For the second consecutive year, Woolley (Sheffield, England) garners Defensive Player of the Year honors. As the fourth leading scorer on the Purple Knights squad, she's tallied five goals on the season. Woolley also ranks second in the conference with six assists, averaging .38 per game.
Weiser (Grand Island, NY) helped the Pioneers to a 15-2-1 regular season record while tallying 7 shutouts on the season. She ranks 8th in the nation with a .520goals against average and 4th with a .900 save percentage.
Megan Emanuelo (Deer Park, NY) of NYIT has been voted the 2008 ECC Rookie of the Year. She led the Bears with 14 goals, including three game winning tallies, and finished the season with three assists.
In his first year at the helm of the C.W. Post Women's Soccer program, Mark Dawson has been voted ECC Coach of the Year by his peers. He guided the Pioneers to a 15-2-1 overall finish and claimed the ECC Regular Season title with an 8-1 record in conference play.
The Pioneers place eight players on All-Conference teams. Danielle DeLuca joins Weiser on the First Team. Ivana Babic, Maria Sonnerborg and Tove Eriksson garner Second Team honors while Jackie Sousa and Caitlin Mullady earn spots on the Third Team.
The Adelphi University Panthers earn seven spots on All-Conference teams. Brianne McDonnell, Kayte Kinsley and Theresa Ennis are First Team recipients. Brittany Hess and Dorothy Connolly were named to the Second Team while Erin Klimkowski and Caitlin Morrison claim Third Team honors.
Rakel Hinriksdottir joins Velaj and Woolley on the First Team for Bridgeport while Sofia Hoflin and Ceri Harris were named to the All-Conference Second Team.