SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 30) – Nichols College forward Samantha Abro (Northborough, Mass.) has been named the 2009 The Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year, it was announced Friday by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. In addition, Abro and sophomore midfielder Chelsea Shaughnessy (Halifax, Mass.) have been named to the All-TCCC First Team, and sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn DiBuono (Auburn, Mass.) was selected to the All-TCCC Second Team. Eleven different institutions from TCCC were represented on the 2009 All-TCCC Women's Soccer Team, as voted by the TCCC women's soccer coaches.
Abro has been a major addition for a Nichols College side that ended the regular season with six consecutive conference victories to claim the eighth seed in the upcoming TCCC Championship thanks to a 7-6 conference record and a 10-8 overall mark. The first year standout enters postseason play leading all TCCC players with 22 goals and 49 total points in 16 overall games played. In conference-only competition, Abro led the league with 32 total points and ranked second with 14 goals scored in 11 games played. Among her 22 goals this season, five were game-winners, including four in conference play. She ranks in the NCAA Division III top-10 in both goals scored and total points. She was once named the TCCC Player of the Week, and recorded four hat tricks – including a pair of four-goal games- during the season.
Shaughnessy's presence cannot be overlooked on the field as the sophomore controls the midfield and is a key playmaker. She has recorded a team third-best 16 points on four goals and eight assists, and picked up the game-winner in the season opener against Framingham. Shaughnessy led the team in scoring as a rookie with 25 points.
DiBuono has set the single-season record for assists with 13, and ranks 10th in the nation in assists per game. She has also netted a pair of goals for 17 points on the season, picking up the overtime game-winner at Western New England College on October 13th as the Bison started their playoff run.
Nichols (10-8, 7-6) earned the eighth seed in the TCCC tournament and travels to top-seeded Endicott for a 1 p.m. quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, October 31.
Full TCCC Release
