?

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Senior forward Emma Sanson (Thomaston) and junior midfielder Grace Barlage (Guilford) repeated as All-Little East Conference selections and Eastern Connecticut State University was voted as Coaching Staff-of-the-Year, highlighting the conference's year-ending awards program.

Sanson and Barlage were joined on this year's first team by senior defender Angelina Falleni (Byram, NJ) – giving Eastern its most first-team picks ever – while junior defender Katie Harrington (Keene, NH) was voted to the second team. The Warriors' four total picks equal their most ever, previously attained in both 2013 and 2015.

In addition, sophomore defender Bree Foucault (Wallingford) represented Eastern with a 12^th Player Award. Each of the LEC's seven field hockey institutions selected one player for the award.

A total of 23 players (11 on the first team and 12 on the second) were named to the All-LEC team, with five major award-winners also selected. On the first team, Sanson was one of four forwards and Falleni one of four defenders, while Barlage was one of two midfielders. Harrington was one of six second-team defenders.



First Team
Emma Sanson, Sr., F, Thomaston
As a second-teamer last year, Sanson was the only active player to win the award last year. This year, she led the Warriors in goals with 15, a mark that ranked second in the LEC. Sanson was also second in the conference in points, with 35, and game-winning goals, with 5. Her points tally breaks the Eastern season record for points, previously held by Brianna Nolan, who had 31 in 2021. She joins three of her teammates at the top of the Warrior record books in single season starts, with 21. Sanson concluded her career with 37 goals that put her level with Alex Kallgren (2014-2017) for the all-time record. This year, she was chosen as Offensive Player-of-the-Week twice (September 28 and October 26). On both occasions, she scored two goals and had one assist in Eastern wins. In the September 27 game against the University of Maine at Farmington, Sanson scored on both of her shots.
"
Says head coach Christine Hutchison: "Emma is a true competitor; she thrives off the having to work harder or do more than the other team or the defender trying to stop her.  She is not only able to score in front of the cage but also bring the ball down the sidelines with speed and skill to give others a clean pass to the middle of the circle to score.  Emma took all our penalty strokes this season (four) and made them all, just another example of how mentally tough she is in pressure situations."

Grace Barlage, Jr., M, Guilford

As a first-year player in 2023, Barlage became only the second freshman in nine years recognized as an all-conference performer when she was cited as a second-teamer. Her 11 goals on the season equaled her combined tally from her first two years. Barlage added a team-high eight assists that tied her for fourth-most in the conference. With her involvement in all 21 games, Barlage joins eight of her teammates in playing the most games in a season in Eastern history. She also features on the single season Top 10 list for goals, assists, and points, ranking t-7th, t-4th, and 3rd, respectively. With a season left to play, Barlage ranked in a tie for sixth all time in goals, with 22, tied for fourth in assists, with 15, and takes fifth in Eastern history with 59 points. From September 22nd against the University of St. Joseph through a October 4th game against the University of Southern Maine, Barlage carried a four-game scoring streak. She had a goal or assist in 13 of her 18 starts.

Says head coach Christine Hutchison: "Grace played midfield this season and a lot more defense then she maybe wanted to but she still managed to get the ball inside the 25 and circle and caused damage to our opponent's goals-against numbers.  Grace has great stick skills and uses them to advance the ball forward, finishing with a pass or shot.  She is our striker on offensive corners and has great timing and power to get the ball on cage. Grace gives it her all and leaves it all on the field at every field hockey opportunity."

Angelina Falleni, Sr., D, Byram, NJ
Falleni was a four-year starter for the Warriors. This year, she started all 21 games, joining Sanson and two other Warriors for most starts in a season. Her 75 career appearances also equal Sanson and two others for the second-most games played all-time, just one behind Bryce Makula (2018-2022). Falleni helped the Warriors to a 6-0 regular season record in conference play, conceding just 38 goals (equalling the least in the LEC) in 21 games for an average of 1.81 goals per game – second-best in the conference. Eastern surrendered only ten goals in six LEC regular-season matches, limiting four teams to one goal and giving up only one goal in two LEC playoff contests. Falleni helped Eastern to consecutive clean sheets against the University of Saint Joseph on September 22 and the University of Maine at Farmington on September 27.

Says head coach Christine Hutchison: "Angie is our center defender and directs our defense and midfield to be in the best positions to put the opponent at a disadvantage.  She has the team's best interest at heart and while her position gets little stats, she was the one making the big center stops or playing clean defense in the circle or being an important part of the corner defensive unit to stop many scoring opportunities this season. She not only communicates but stays positive in every situation which helps her teammates to focus on the game and the things they can control thus making them all better and play as a full unit."

Second Team
Katie Harrington, Jr., D, Keene, NH
A three-year member of the program, Harrington moved into a starting role for the first time this year. Starting all 20 matches in which she appeared, Harrington played a crucial role in the back line of the regular season champion Warriors. In the previously mentioned two-match shutout streak, she had a defensive save against the University of Maine at Farmington to preserve the clean sheet for Eastern.

Says head coach Christine Hutchison: "Katie plays the hardest position on the field, left defensive back.  She is constantly taking on the fastest and strongest opponents with ease and composure.  She uses her skills to eliminate passing lanes or force the opponent to make bad passes or decisions.  She makes this position look easy and it is anything but!  She is also never content and works hard everyday to improve her skills and pushes her teammates to get better to, leading by example."

 

Coaching Staff of the Year
Christine Hutchison, who recently completed her 20^th season, and her staff of assistants Laura Bratz '08, Kathryn Noe Kozey and Amanda Lester were named the Little East Conference Coaching Staff-of-the Year. When the honor was listed only as Coach-of-the-Year, Hutchison previously won the award in 2015 when she led the Warriors to an 8-3 LEC regular-season record and to a spot in the LEC championship game for the first time. Picked for sixth in the LEC pre-season poll this year, the Warriors (12-9 overall) went undefeated (6-0) for the first time in the LEC regular season and assumed their first No. 1 seed. The Warriors reached the LEC title game for the third time this year after shutting out VTSU Castleton, 2-0, at home in the semifinals.
 
12th Player Award
Bree Foucault, So., D, Wallingford
A midfielder who saw limited action in her first year in 2024, Foucault stepped in on defense this year to ease the loss of graduated starters Aly Kendrick (a first-teamer in 2024) and Emma Stearns. The five-foot two-sport athlete appeared in 20 matches, starting the final 15 in which she appeared. Foucault appeared in the final 18 matches of the season and played all 60 minutes in ten of the last 14.  Eastern's previous 12^th Player awardees – all seniors  and three of them defenders -- since the inception of the award were Morgan Anjos (2024),  Jakhelin Cota (2023), Grace Mangiameli (2022) and Bryce Makula (2021).


Says head coach Christine Hutchison: "After her first season as a midfielder, Bree stepped up this season into a defensive position and did an amazing job learning and growing in that position all season.  She was excited to be playing, gave it her all at every practice and game, and stayed positive in every situation.  She is a true team player and teammate and cheered her teammates on while also being a constant communicator with her teammates on the field.  She is a hard worker on and off the field."