2011-2012 The Year it Was in Plymouth State Athletics

With finals coming up next week (and this week's edition of The Clock basically being the last edition of the year), I thought it would be appropriate to list the Most Valuable Players on all of Plymouth's teams this season. While some sports haven't received as much recognition as others, every single player on every single team has sacrificed a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (as well as sleeping/partying) in order for their team to be as successful as possible. With that stated, time to start it off with the Fall sports.

Men's Soccer (4-13 overall record, 2-5 in Little East Conference play)

MVP- Senior Midfielder Dre Cabral (Tokyo, Japan)

This three-year captain was named to the All-LEC first team this season by providing the second highest amount of points on the Men's Soccer team. Cabral also had a game-winning goal against Castleton, which resulted in Plymouth's first victory this season.

Women's Soccer (5-11-1 overall, 2-4-1 in LEC play)

MVP- Senior goalie Angelina LaBroad (Hampton, N.H.)

LaBroad, who has started in 50 games during her time at Plymouth, posted an 81% save-percentage this year, while allowing 1.55 goals per game. LaBroad had 99 saves on the season, and also had four shut-outs this season, as well as a 0-0 tie against UMass-Boston. 

Women's Tennis (10-5 overall, 5-3 in LEC play)

MVP- Junior Sara Burke (Barrington, R.I.)

Burke, who was named to the LEC All-Conference 2^nd team, went 11-4 this season, while going 7-1 in conference play. The ten victories that Burke led the team to were the most in PSU Women's Tennis history. With sophomore Molly Heartfield (Dorset, VT), the duo went 7-7 in doubles play.

Field Hockey (18-4 overall, 10-1 in LEC play)

MVP- Senior Midfielder Lauren Bergeron (New Hampton, N.H.)

The second year captain led the team in assists (with nine) while making the 1^st LEC team this year (this being after Bergeron made the 2^nd LEC team last year). Bergeron also set the career high in assists at Plymouth for the field hockey team, as her 27 assists are two more than anyone else in their career at PSU.

Football (4-6 overall, 2-5 in New England Football Conference play)

MVP- Senior Defensive Back/Kick Returner Christian Mulcahy (Norwich, CT)

Mulcahy was the defensive/special teams leader for the Panthers this season, as he posted a team-high five interceptions to go along with a 90-yard kick return for a touchdown against Nichols. Mulcahy also had five of his 10 punts within the 20 yard line and had the third most amount of tackles for the defensive backs on the team, with 34.

Women's Volleyball (25-11 overall, 6-1 in LEC play)

MVP- Junior Outside Hitter Casey Stoodley (Salem, N.H.)

Stoodley was a big contributor to PSU's third regular-season title, as she led the team with 426 kills and was second on the team with 338 digs. Stoodley was named to the LEC first team and will look to move into the top five in kills for a career at Plymouth. Between the two seasons that Stoodley has been a member of this team, she has played in every match.

Fall 2011 Overall MVP- Lauren Bergeron, Field Hockey

When you are a two-time captain on Plymouth's most successful team (in terms of winning percentage), this award has to go to you. The 18 wins on this year's team was the most for a PSU field hockey team since 2004 (which was 18 as well).

Fall 2011 Coach of the Season- Chris Kilmer, Women's Volleyball

Besides being named Little East Conference Coach of the year, Kilmer directed his team to a six win improvement from last season. 2011 was Kilmer's first season as head coach for the Women's Volleyball team, and if last year was any indication, this fall looks to be yet another successful season for one of Plymouth's best teams year in and year out.             

Winter 2011-2012

Men's Basketball (9-16 overall, 4-10 in LEC play)

MVP- Sophomore Point Guard Petey Skevas (Wethersfield, CT)

Skevas led the team in points per game (12.6), steals per game (1.8) and assists per game (6.0) in his second season on this team. For the 2011-2012 season, Skevas had three double-doubles, and a career-high 24 points against Elms College, where he went a remarkable 14-15 from the free throw line. Skevas's 76.3% from the free throw line was good for 4^th in the Little East Conference.

Women's Basketball (5-19 overall, 1-13 in LEC play)

MVP- Junior Forward Kellie Walsh (Londonderry, N.H.)

Walsh, who led the team with 10.4 points per game and three steals per game, had a career high of 23 points against Lyndon State on December 8^th.  The junior was also reliable from the free throw line, as she led the team with a 69.7% shooting percentage from the line.

Men's/Women's Skiing

MVS- Junior Chris Beadon (Ridgefield, CT)

Upon both of these teams moving up to the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association, Beadon was able break the top 20 in three Giant Slalom carnivals/events this season. These events, which typically had over 80 skiers, featured some of the best skiers in the United States. Beadon finished 12^th at Dartmouth Carnival in February.

Women's Swimming & Diving (4-7 overall record)

MVS- Senior Freestyler/Backstroker/Individual Medler Brittney Gondek (South Glastonbury, CT)

Gondek posted some of the best times for the Panthers, as she had the best times in the 50 yard (in 30.77), 100 yard (1:04.94) and 200 yard (2:20.72) backstroke for Plymouth. For the 50 yard freestyle, Gondek also had a team best 25.99, as well as a team best 1:07.40 in the 100 yard Individual Medley.

Wrestling (5-13 overall record)

MVW- Senior (149 lbs.) Mike Willey (Tewksbury, MA)

Willey was named an All-American wrestler for the Panthers at 149 pounds at the NCAA Division III Championships in March. Going into this tournament, Willey had a 22-3 record, which includes a 15-match winning streak that was snapped at the tournament. At the Doug Park Invitational and the New England Championships (two marquee tournaments), Willey captured first place in both competitions in the 149 pound class. 

Women's Ice Hockey (1-19-3 overall record, 1-15-2 in Eastern College Athletic Conference play)

MVP- Sophomore Goalie Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ontario)

Ponte was able to stop 87% of the shots directed at her while being the goaltender for the team's lone victory. Against Connecticut College, Ponte pulled out her inner Tim Thomas impersonation, as she recorded 54 saves, which resulted in a 96% save percentage in that game. Ponte had 423 saves on the season.

Men's Ice Hockey (17-7-3 overall, 12-3-3 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference play)

MVP- Junior Defenseman JC Richardson (Fort Collins, CO)

The captain of the Panthers was able to lead the men's hockey team to its most successful season, as Plymouth was able to win the MASCAC postseason championship in a memorable 5-4 double overtime win against Salem State. Richardson had 12 assists on the season, which was good enough for fourth on the team. Richardson's lone goal on the season was in that double-OT game, as he tied the score at two.

Winter 2011-2012 Overall MVP-Mike Willey, Wrestling

It is tough to argue this one, as Willey was named an All-American wrestler in one of the NCAA's toughest weight classes. Willey compiled a 88-26 record in his four years as a wrestler at Plymouth and went 47-9 between his junior and senior seasons, respectively.

Winter 2011-2012 Coach of the Season- Craig Russell, Men's Ice Hockey

In only his second season as the Head Coach of the team, Russell was able to lead his team into the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in school history. Russell, who played on this same team from 2000-2003, already has the third most amount of wins in the history of the Men's Hockey team, which has been around since 1971.

Spring 2012

Baseball (17-20 overall, 5-9 in LEC play)

MVP- Senior 1^st baseman Mike Cappiello (Westfield, N.J.)

Cappiello has done it all for the Panthers, as he has a .402 batting average to go along with 30 RBIs and a .667 slugging percentage. Cappiello has been reliable in the field as well, as he has a 99% fielding percentage while being involved with 15 double plays in the field. Cappiello has been a big part of producing the team's best record since 2009 by having a .496 on-base percentage.

Competitive Cheer (1^st place in all four events this year)

MVP- Junior Base/Tumbler Amelia West (Nashua, N.H.)

While this sport doesn't have any type of individual stats, West is the MVP based on being the team captain for this year's team.  Between the Bravo All-Stars, JAMfest Nationals and the Minuteman Nationals competitions, this team finished first in every event, which in itself is extremely impressive. West looks to continue the team's success into next season.

Softball (21-20 overall, 7-7 in LEC play)

MVP- Sophomore Shortstop Bekah Jackson (Nashua, N.H.)

In only her second season at Plymouth, Jackson had a .433 batting average, as well as five homeruns, which was good for second on the team. The 32 RBIs that Jackson was able to produce was the second most on the team, while her 95% fielding percentage was fifth on the team, which is remarkable in itself, as shortstops have to typically make some tough plays while on the run in the infield.

Men's Lacrosse (10-6 overall, 3-4 in LEC play)

MVP- First Year defender Mike Curley (Billerica, MA)

In his first year with the PSU Lacrosse program, Curley had a phenomenal season. Curley, who started 15 of the 16 games this season (which, as a first-year player is impressive within itself) led the team in cause turnovers (with 31, 17 more than any other player on the team) as well as ground balls (with 81, 22 more than the second most of the team). Curley was constantly matched-up on some of the best attackers in the LEC and is poised to continue to shut down the opposition over the next three years.

Women's Lacrosse (13-2 overall, 6-0 in LEC play)

MVP-First year attackman Meghan McNabb (Lexington, MA)

A couple of different players came to mind with this one, but McNabb put up sick numbers in her first season with the program. The 85 points that McNabb put up this season is the fourth most in a season for any given Women's Lacrosse player ever at Plymouth- and she missed a game. McNabb also set the record for assists in a season (with 44), beating Katie Sheridan's old record (set in 2004) by 12. If this year is any indication, a lot of records might be broken over the next few years by McNabb.

Spring 2012 Overall MVP- Meghan McNabb and Mike Curley, Women's/Men's Lacrosse

Both players had large roles within their individual teams that greatly helped their team's overall success this season. Both players still have three years left here at Plymouth and are poised to bring both programs to even more successful levels then they were already brought to this year.

Spring 2012 Coach of the Season- Kristin Blanchette, Women's Lacrosse

In her third season as the Head Coach of the Panthers, Blanchette led this team to a 13-1 regular season record (the best regular season record since 2004), while going undefeated in LEC play for the first time since 2006. This team, in which almost half of the roster was composed of first year players, set numerous records across the board, thanks to Blanchette's coaching strategies.

2011-2012 Plymouth State University MVP

Senior wrestler Mike Willey

A lot of players on a number of teams have a legitimate reason as to why they could have been named the MVP this year in Plymouth, but Willey being named as an All-American wrestler is extremely impressive. To be able to have the season that Willey had this year is one that will be tough to match not only on the PSU wrestling team, but in PSU sports as a whole.

2011-2012 Plymouth State University Coach of the Year

Men's Ice Hockey- Craig Russell

To be able to produce the most successful season in the program's 40 year history is impressive in itself, but to have it be only your second season as head coach is a tremendous accomplishment. The buzz that Russell and his team were able to produce during the end of February/beginning or March was awesome, as the thing to do on a Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday night was to go to one of the Men's Ice Hockey games. This is something that I will remember the most, as the atmosphere that was brought to Hanaway Arena was awesome to be around, and Russell's coaching abilities were a strong part to the team's overall success.

2011-2012 Plymouth State University Sports Moment of the Year

Men's Ice Hockey Double Overtime win over Salem State in the MASCAC Championship

This instant has to be the best moment in Hanaway Arena's short history, as the moment after Kyle Weiland's goal was pure pandemonium. It is one thing to win a conference championship for a given sport, but to have it be the team's first conference championship in a double-OT game against an opponent who had already played you to two one-goal games earlier in the season makes the moment even better.

Thank you to every athlete that was on every team this year, and cheers to every team to have a healthy and successful 2012-2013 sport's season!!!