Oct. 27, 2005
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Three Fairfield University field hockey players earned berths to the 2005 All-Northeast Conference (NEC) teams this afternoon, as the conference announced its annual awards. Seniors Kelly Rath (Medford, N.J.) and Rebecca Odenwaelder (Goshen, Conn.) were selected to the first team, while sophomore Briana Keene (Pottstown, Pa.) was voted to the second team. The teams were picked based upon vote of the conference head field hockey coaches.
Rath enjoyed one of her best offensive years as a midfielder, posting five goals and six assists for 16 points. She raised her career point total to 48, which ranks sixth all-time in Fairfield's record book. Rath also ranks among Fairfield scoring leaders with 17 goals (seventh) and 14 assists (tied for fourth). The midfielder makes her first appearance on the All-NEC team.
Odenwaelder established herself as one of the team's top defenders during the season, which helped her garner a spot on the All-NEC first team as a defender. Despite her defensive prowess, Odenwaelder still managed to make in impact offensively during her four-year career. She tallied her first two career goals this season, which complimented her six assists. The defender currently places third all-time at Fairfield with 18 assists. Odenwaelder appears on the All-NEC team for the first time.
Keene finished the regular season as the team's top scorer, registering 18 total points off a team-high eight goals and two assists. The forward is close to cracking Fairfield's top 10 scoring list with 28 points (10 goals, eight assists), just four off the pace. She tallied two game-winning goals during the season, which tied for the team lead.
The Stags, under head coach Jackie Kane, will begin their quest for the NEC tournament title on Friday morning when they play top-seed and host Rider University at 11 am. Should the team win, it would advance to the NEC tournament championship game on Saturday, October 29 at noon. The winner of the NEC tournament receives a bid to the NCAA tournament. Fairfield owns a 6-12 overall record and a 4-4 NEC mark.
