October 24, 2007

TRIO EARNS ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS; O'BRIEN, JOHNSON NAMED TO NORTHEAST-10 FIRST TEAM

SOPH. KUNDAYI MAWEMA

SMITHFIELD, RI - Three members of the No. 9 Bryant University field hockey team earn All-Conference accolades for their contributions to the team's success this season, as announced by the Northeast-10 Conference Wednesday afternoon.

Two Bulldogs, senior forward Courtney O'Brien (Tewsbury, Mass.) and sophomore midfielder Caitlan Johnson (Walpole, Mass.), were named to the 2007 Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team, while sophomore goalkeeper Kundayi Mawema (Hare, Zimbabwe) garnered All-Conference Second-Team honors.

O'Brien is a leader of the Bulldog attack, starting all 19 games this season. The forward has scored eight goals with one game-winner so far on the year, good for second on the team, and has registered a team-best six assists. O'Brien averages 1.16 points per game, tying her for ninth in the conference.

Joining O'Brien on the All-Conference First Team is Johnson, a midfielder who has earned starts in every game of her college career, including all 19 this season. Johnson has netted four goals in 2007, including a pair of game winners against Merrimack College and Assumption College. She has recorded four helpers entering the Northeast-10 Conference playoffs.

Named to the All-Conference Second Team, Mawema has been a wall for Bryant in goal this season, appearing in all 19 games and making 18 starts. The sophomore goalkeeper has allowed just 33 goals this season and boasts a 1.78 goals against average that ranks fifth in the conference. Her 147 saves and .817 save percentage are both good for third in the NE-10. Mawema has a trio of shutouts (T-3rd in NE-10) and sports a 12-6 record.

Bryant is ranked No. 9 in the latest STX/NFHCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the latest Division II North Regional poll. The 12-7 Bulldogs finished third in regular-season conference play (12-4 NE-10) and take on sixth-seeded Saint Anselm Wednesday night at the Turf Complex in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals.