WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – Three members of
Alix Barrale's NCAA Tournament bound Williams field hockey team have been voted NESCAC recognition by the NESCAC coaches.
Senior forward
Emily Batchelor has been named the NESCAC Player of the Year and to the NESCAC First Team, senior defender
Catherine Torres was named to the Second Team, and first year forward/midfielder
Kiki Higgins has been named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year. I couldn't be more proud of the NESCAC honors bestowed upon Emily, Catherine and Kiki," said Barrale. "They earned these accolades through hard work and perseverance."
Emily Batchelor is the third Eph to earn the Player of the Year honor (Molly Jennings - 2002, Meighan McGowan – 2006) and earns a spot on the All-NESCAC First Team for the second straight season. She scored the most goals in the NESCAC (19) and ranks second in the conference in points (42). The forward has tallied four game-winning goals this season and posted six or more points in a single game three times. Batchelor helped Williams reach the NESCAC Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
"Emily has the ability to take over games with her phenomenal athleticism, her razor sharp stick skills, and her punishing shots," stated Barrale. "She makes everything look effortless with her incredible finesse and eye for the goal. Leading NESCAC in goals, points, and shots on goal is a remarkable feat considering the NESCAC is the toughest league in the country. She has been a tremendous leader and is as modest as they come!"
Kiki Higgins is the third Williams player to earn Rookie of the Year honors (Emily Grannon – 2002, Meighan McGowan – 2005). Higgins ranks second on the team in scoring with 21 points on seven goals and seven assists. The seven helpers are the most among rookies in the NESCAC this season. Higgins has netted four-game winning goals, including a tally with 12 seconds left in the NESCAC Quarterfinal game versus Amherst to propel the Ephs into the NESCAC Semifinals.
"Kiki has amazing hand eye coordination," Barrale stated. "Combine that with her fiercely competitive nature she is unstoppable. She finds ways to create offensive opportunities in the most difficult of settings. Her goal against Amherst in the final 12 seconds of the match to give us the W says it all. Her future is so bright!"
Catherine Torres has started all 17 games this season and she has tallied 5 goals and registered 3 assists. She is second on the Eph team in minutes played (963). "Catherine is so deserving of this recognition," Barrale said. "She is the unsung hero of our team. She is our behind the scenes playmaker and is involved in ALL facets of the game. She is an outstanding flyer on defensive corners and the organizer on our offensive corners. She shuts down our opponents' top players day in and day out. She is relentless in our defensive backfield and is as equally dominant in our offensive end. There isn't anything she can't do. A selfless leader on and off the field. Her humility astounds me!"
