Birrell selected to NSCAA All-Region Team

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University women's soccer sophomore Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-New England Region First Team.

A Second Team All-The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) selection as a rookie last season, Birrell was named to the First Team in 2010 after leading the Seahawks and placing second in the conference in both goals (19) and points (45). She also tied for second in TCCC in game-winning goals with six and dished out seven assists, which placed her in a tie for second.

Birrell notched at least one point in 15 of the Seahawks 19 games, including a career-high nine points (4-1-9) against New England College (Oct. 16). The four goals tied a career-high and also marked her third hat trick of the season; she also put forth three-goal efforts against Bridgewater State (Sept. 4) and Wentworth (Sept. 18). Birrell finished the season with five multi-goal games, and in the process established new Salve Regina single-season records for goals and points. For her career, Birrell has 86 points through her first 38 career games, which is No. 1 all-time at Salve Regina. She is also No. 1 in assists (18) and second in goals (34), one shy of Kerrin D'Agnelli's (2001-04) school-record of 35.

"Katie has proven to be a dominant force on the pitch," said head coach Kerri Scroope. "She is a very skilled player that can do it all. She has set many school records here at Salve Regina already and continues to grow as an athlete and student every day. Katie not only pushes herself to get better, but her teammates as well. This is huge to get from a sophomore. She will be fun to watch as a junior and senior."

Birrell joins Breann Carello as the only Salve Regina women's soccer student-athletes to garner NSCAA All-Region Honors. Carello was a Third Team selection in 2005 and 2006.

The Seahawks posted a 10-9 mark and qualified for TCCC championship tournament for the second-consecutive season in 2010. They earned the No. 5 seed and traveled to No. 4 University of New England for their quarterfinal match, which they lost by a score of 4-1.