LATHAM, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced the 2019 Field Hockey All-Conference Team and the major individual award winners as determined by the league’s coaches.   

Regular season champions, Keuka College received two, and Lancaster Bible College received two major awards.

Keuka’s Nicole Wilson (Liverpool, N.Y.) has been named NEAC Offensive Player of the Year. The junior forward paced the Wolves offense as they went undefeated in conference play for the season straight season. Wilson had 17 points—7 goals, 3 assists—overall and nine—4 goals, 1 assist—in NEAC play in 2019. The Liverpool, N.Y. native became the all-time leader in points at Keuka in win over Wells. Wilson currently sits on 61 career points and is one of four Wolves to make the NEAC All-Conference Team.

The Defensive Player of the Year is Wilson’s teammate, Kassidy Valentine (Glendora, Calif.). The senior led the NEAC in goals-against average at 3.60 on the season and allowed the fewest goals with 39 over 14 games. The four-time NEAC Defensive Player of the Week had two games of 10-plus saves, including a 16-save performance against King’s (Pa.). In NEAC play, Valentine allowed only one goal over two games while going 2-0 for the Wolves.

Lancaster Bible’s Macy Balmer (Perkasie, Pa.) is the NEAC Rookie of the Year. The first-year Charger paced the team in points with 17 and was tied with Wilson for second in the NEAC. Balmer scored four times in her last five games to close the season, including a two-goal game in 5-3 loss to Morrisville State on Saturday. Balmer led the Chargers in goals (6), assists (5), points (17), shots (32), and shots on goal (16).

The NEAC Coach of the Year is Lancaster Bible's head coach Becky Elliott. The second-year head coach guided the Chargers to their first win over a NEAC school since the program restarted last season with a 2-1 win over Wells on Oct. 3. Elliot saw four players make the NEAC All-Conference Team and Balmer named Rookie of the Year.  

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has 12 NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Poly, and Wells College. Associate members are: Alfred State (M Lacrosse), Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), College of Saint Elizabeth (M Tennis & M Volleyball), D’Youville College (W Lacrosse), Hilbert College (M&W Lacrosse), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse), Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf), SUNY Potsdam (M Volleyball) and Wilson College (M Volleyball). The NEAC has also partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sport of men’s tennis and women’s tennis. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.