Posted: Nov 04, 2014

Tepper, Grover, McCann named field hockey All-CCC

Abigail Tepper, Julia Grover, and Murphy McCann were selected to the All-CCC squad at first, second, and honorable mention, respectively.

NEWPORT, R.I. - Six different institutions that sponsor field hockey in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) were represented on the 2014 All-CCC Field Hockey Team. Salve Regina University (13-6; 6-6 CCC), the fourth seed in the upcoming championships, placed three players on the squad - senior Murphy McCann (Westerly, R.I.), and juniors Abigail Tepper (Foxboro, Mass.) and Julia Grover (Cotuit, Mass.).

Each of the three Seahawks makes her second appearance on the all-conference team - McCann and Tepper in 2012, and Grover in 2013.

Tepper, a first team forward, leads the Seahawks in scoring with 46 points (19 goals, eight assists). She ranks second in the league in goals and points, behind the conference's offensive player of the year, Emily Sawchuck of Endicott. Tepper, the youngest forward on the first team, also has six game-winning goals in 2014 as Salve Regina has reached the 13-win total for only the second time in program history (14 wins in 2004). She has scored almost half of her career goals as a junior (19 of 39) which includes five multi-goal games in 2014.

"Abby has provided a balanced attack for us this year not only scoring goals, but also setting up her teammates," says eighth-year head coach Jennifer Foster. "She is a scoring threat in the circle that our competition cannot ignore."

Grover, second-straight year as second team midfield, notched her game-winning goal in an 8-2 win against Wheaton College on August 30. She ranks first among Salve Regina midfielders with 17 points (six goals, five assists). She has been a consistent producer for Foster over the last three years - 18 goals, 17 assists.

"Julia is a talented player who controls our midfield with her passing and speed," says Foster. "She sees the field well and has been a major contributor to setting up scoring plays for us this season."

Foster has had McCann as a starting goalkeeper for the last four seasons. McCann has produced her best goals against average (1.76) as a senior while posting four of her seven career shutouts. McCann's 91 saves in 19 games have contributed to the first winning season for field hockey since 2006.

"Murphy has led our defense all season," says Foster. "Her skills and communication with our defense have continued to improve, and because of that she makes big saves giving confidence to our entire team."

Salve Regina also earned its first postseason spot in the conference playoffs since 2009; as the fourth seed, the Seahawks will travel to Biddeford, Maine, on Wednesday (4 p.m.) to face the top-seeded Nor'easters of University of New England.