Three Gulls Selected for NFHCA All-Region Status

Full 2012 NFHCA All-Region Teams Release

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Three members of Endicott's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) champion field hockey team have been recognized as the top players in New England this season by being named to the Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region Teams on Thursday morning.

Goalkeeper Taylor Teixeira (Exeter, N.H.) and defender Meghan Leary (Hampton Falls, N.H.) were selected to the First Team, while forward Hannah Thornberg (Oakland, Maine) earned a Second Team spot in the New England East Region, where the Gulls compete.

These are the second consecutive selections for Teixeira (Second Team 2011) and Leary, while Thornberg earns her first regional award in her senior year. Leary has now garnered First Team All-Region status in each of her first two seasons as a Gull.

Teixeira, the CCC Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the most respected goalies in the region and is the Endicott record holder in goalie minutes and games played and is second all-time in wins and saves. She started every game for Endicott this year, making 114 saves and posting a 1.64 goals against average with two shutouts.

Leary was consistently the best player on the field for the Gulls throughout the season. Her incredible timing and ability to step up and make tackles and win the ball in the open field was a big reason for Endicott's defensive success. She was key in shutting down the top scorers from each of Endicott's opponents, while also pushing transition with great field vision. Leary also stick-stopped on Endicott's penalty corners, and collected three assists in her sophomore season.

Thornberg is graduating as the top offensive player to ever wear the Blue and Green. She scored 22 goals this season to go along with 7 assists and with 51 points, set the Endicott record for most goals and points in a season. The reigning CCC Offensive Player of the year, she is the Endicott career leader in goals and points scored and was selected to the First Team All-CCC for the second straight season.

With their First Team eligibility, Teixeira and Leary are eligible for All-America consideration, with those awards being announced later in the month. Endicott has never had a field hockey player earn All-America status.

Endicott is one of four schools from the CCC to have its players selected as All-Region and one of only two to have multiple student-athletes honored. The University of New England also had three players elected, while Gordon and Nichols had one All-Region athlete apiece.

The New England East Region comprises teams from the Commonwealth Coast Conference, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and New England Collegiate Conference (NECC).