Posted: Apr 28, 2022

Haesche highlights Seahawks' honorees

Grace Haesche was named Rookie of the Year while Nicole Smith and Kimberly Dunn each made the Alll-CCC squad.

BIDDEFORD, Maine - The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) announced its 2022 Women's Lacrosse All-Conference Teams and major award winners Friday afternoon with three members of the Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team among the honorees.

Freshman goalie Grace Haesche (Warwick, N.Y.) finished the regular season third in the league in goals-against average (9.81) and first in save percentage (52.9 percent), which also ranks her in the top-25 in all of NCAA Division III. The rookie netminder was challenged often posting double-digit save numbers four times and topping out at 23 saves in a game against Endicott. Haesche was named Rookie of the Year and a third team goalie.

Senior midfielder Nicole Smith (North Attleboro, Mass.) scored 50 goals on the season and 37 versus conference foes, the most in the CCC, and earned first team All-CCC. Kimberly Dunn (Quincy, Mass.) posted career-highs across the board serving as the Seahawks primary defender and was named third team All-CCC.

Head coach Bill Villareal on his three honorees:

Grace Haesche (Rookie of the Year; 3rd team goalie) – "Well-deserved and so proud of her accomplishments! She presents a competitive sense of courage between the pipes. Game after game, she consistently stops shots at close and long range from some gifted shooters around the conference. She is always lazer-focused in her preparation and ready to out hustle opponents in regaining possession of the ball. She can single-handedly set the tone within our defense so our players can play with a very strong sense of confidence. Our defense also works harder so our opponents have harder shooting angles. We love our goalies!"

Nicole Smith (1st team midfielder) – "Nicole is a dominant player on the field. She is tenacious to initiate control of the game by gaining possession of the ball from the very start! She then switches gears to draw attention going to the goal where she can dish the ball to her teammates or bury the ball in the back of the net! A well-rounded offensive threat!"

Kimberly Dunn (3rd team Defense) – "Kim is our primary defender who is fundamentally sound in her footwork and defensive positioning. She is always assigned to play defense against our opponent's top offensive threat! Her speed coupled with her sound lacrosse IQ plays an important role in our defensive schemes."

CLICK HERE for the full list of honorees and release from the CCC.