News Release

Grace Named to Daktronics, Inc. All-East Region Women's Soccer Second Team

Wilmington University women’s soccer standout Chelsea Grace was named to the 2012 Daktronics, Inc. All-East Region Women’s Soccer Second Team on Monday after leading the Wildcats to their first NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament appearance this past fall.

The junior forward was a part of 16 student-athletes named Second Team All-Region while The College of Saint Rose’s, which is the NCAA Division II Defending National Champions and the team which bounced the Wildcats out of the Regional Tournament this season, Carmelina Puopolo headlines a list of 13 student-athletes named to the first-team in voting conducted among sports information directors at NCAA Division II institutions that are members of the Central Atlantic Collegiate, East Coast and Northeast 10 Conference.

Grace played in all 22 games this season, starting 18 atop the team’s formation. She led the team with a total of 31 points, scoring 12 goals and adding seven assists. She ended the season tied for third in the CACC in both goals and assists, and tied for second in points. Nine of her goals came later in the season, seven of them coming in a span of four games from October 13 to October 23. She scored a hat trick, including the game winner against Chestnut Hill College, which helped Wilmington to a 6-2 victory.

The Wildcats had a breakout season, winning the CACC Regular Season Championship for the second time in program history and captured the CACC Tournament Championship and the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament for the first time. The Wildcats finished with a 13-7-2 overall record, going 10-1-1 in the CACC.

The CACC had seven women’s soccer standouts on the Daktronics, Inc. All-East Region Women’s Soccer First and Second Teams. Megan Tole (Holy Family), Melissa Copeland (Philadelphia University), and Denisha Thomas (Georgian Court University) were named to the First Team. Renel Dennis (Post), Julie Crankshaw (Caldwell), and Melissa Benson (Holy Family) join Grace on the Second Team. 

A total of 15 institutions are represented on the 2012 Daktronics, Inc. East Region Women’s Soccer First or Second Teams.

AGATE:

2012 Dacktronics, Inc. East Region Women’s Soccer Teams

First Team:
F- Caroline Boyce, American International
F- Carmelina Puopolo- St. Rose
F- Megan Tole, Holy Family University
F- Susanne Vistnes, LIU Post
M- Sydney Bond, St. Rose
M- Melissa Copeland, Philadelphia University
M- Kayleigh Roberge, Southern New Hampshire
M- Amanda Vasquez, St. Rose
D- Allie Fitzsimmons, American International
D- Emily Mongeau, Southern New Hampshire
D- Karina Rizzo, LIU Post
D- Denisha Thomas, Georgian Court University
GK- Amy Wheaton, Stonehill

Second Team:
F- Renel Dennis, Post University
F- Chelsea Grace, Wilmington University
F- Alexa Niciforo, C.W. Post
F- Monica Yanez, New Haven
M- Julie Crankshaw, Caldwell College
M- Aya Noguchi, Franklin-Pierce
M- Alexis Parrotta, Dowling
M- Prudence Rydstrom, LIU Post
M- Sarah Tomlinson, American International
D- Melissa Benson, Holy Family University
D- Sarah Brochu, Southern Connecticut State
D- Dominique DeFelice, Dowling
D- Alyssa Faller, Molloy
D- Molly Harpster, St. Rose
GK- Nicole Fierro, LIU Post
GK- Jessica Gerski, St. Rose

East Region Player of the Year: Carmelina Puopolo- St. Rose- Junior

Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 - Newark, Del.