Ten from Women's Soccer Named All-Region
FULL RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced on December 2, that ten members of the Empire 8 women's soccer teams have been named All-Region.
FIRST TEAM
Kelsey King (Ithaca), who was named All-Region by the NSCAA for the third time in her four-year career, led the Bombers in scoring and ranked fifth in the Empire 8 Conference with 24 points. Her 87 shots was fourth-most of any conference player this season while her 1.2 points per game ranked fifth overall. The Coopersburg, Pa. native scored two or more goals in a game twice this season while eclipsing the three-point plateau on three different occasions.
Beth Coppolecchia (Ithaca) was named First-Team All-Region for the second consecutive season after posting a 13-5-2 mark in goal for Ithaca. The senior goalkeeper stood among the best goalies in the conference, ranking second in goals against average (.744), save percentage (.891) and total saves (123). Her seven shutouts this season was tied for the second most of any conference keeper during the 2015 campaign. Coppolecchia tallied 10 or more saves in a game this season five times including a season-best 13 stops in the conference finale against Stevens.
Raba Nassif (Stevens) is the national leader with 19 assists this year, and also tallied 19 goals. Nassif's 57 points were two more than her previous two seasons combined, and her 112 career points rank her second in program history. The Northvale, N.J. native was named Empire 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player to win an E8 Player of the Year award since 2008.
Kristen Goncalves (Stevens) capped off a stellar four-year career, making the switch to move up front after spending three years as a defender. The versatile Goncalves was used as a forward, midfielder and off the right flank, and was third on the club with 12 goals and tied for second with 10 assists. Against Utica College on October 24, she tallied two goals to go along with three assists for a career-high seven points.
SECOND TEAM
Whitney Brown (Stevens) recorded a goal and four assists in her first season on Castle Point, including a pair of assists in a 9-0 victory over Alfred University on October 17. The Plano, Texas native helped limit opponents to only 22 goals and 129 shots on goal in 2015.
Zisi Komar (Stevens) was selected as E8 Rookie of the Year and the E8 Conference Championship Most Valuable Player after scoring 20 goals and adding 10 assists. Komar tallied eight game-winning goals, including overtime winners against Vassar College on September 12 and against Nazareth College on October 11.
Allison Dobles (Nazareth), of Spencerport, N.Y., posted a 9-3-3 record as the Golden Flyers' starting goalkeeper in 2015. She made 94 saves and had a goals-against average of 0.62 and a save percentage of .904 with seven shutouts. She also earned second-team Empire 8 Conference all-star honors.
Sarah Gabriele (Houghton) leads the Highlanders with 28 points this season on 11 goals and six assists. She has played in 21 of a possible 22 games, making 20 starts.
THIRD TEAM
Amiee Chimera (Ithaca) was named All-Region for the second time in her career after previously being named the Empire 8's 2015 Defensive Player of the Year. Chimera started every game for Ithaca's back line this season as the junior helped guide the Bombers to one of the best defenses in the nation after allowing a paltry .75 goals against average. The Pipersville, Pa. native also found a way to contribute offensively after tallying two goals on the year including the game-winning mark against Keuka College in the Bombers' season-opener.
Briana Vibbard (Nazareth), of Sherburne, N.Y., was the Golden Flyers' leading scorer in 2015 with 19 points on seven goals and five assists. She was one of three Nazareth players to start all 18 games. She completed her career with 18 goals in 70 games. She, too, was a second-team E8 Conference all-star in 2015.