ASHLEY MILLEY

BOSTON – Ashley Milley (Sudbury, Mass.), Michaela Hardy (Reading, Mass.), Sarah Von Bargen (East Setauket, N.Y.) and Allie Duclos (South Windsor, Conn.) of the 14^th-ranked University of New Hampshire women’s lacrosse team were named to the America East All-Conference First Team and four other Wildcats received conference accolades Thursday night at the annual banquet.

            The Wildcats’ four First Team selections were highest in the league. In addition, Ashley Durepo (Concord, N.H.), Shaunna Kaplan (Framingham, Mass.) and Beth Sabiston (Bay Shore, N.Y.) were named to the All-Conference Second Team and Duclos was joined on the All-Rookie Team by Susie Piotrkowski (Franklin, Conn.).

UNH’s Durepo, Hardy and Von Bargen were three of the 12 student-athletes selected to the America East All-Academic Team; student-athletes who recorded a grade-point-average of 3.0 or better in the Fall 2007 semester and were under consideration for an all-conference award were eligible for selection to the All-Academic Team. Both Durepo and Von Bargen are repeat honorees from the 2007 All-Academic Team.

Milley, a senior goalkeeper who was a two-time Defensive Player of the Week selection, has recorded single-season bests in wins (12), goals-against-average (7.52) and save percentage (.487) this year and is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation in GAA and No. 18 in save percentage. She has started all 16 games and played all but 3:59 of a possible 968:53. In six league games, Milley went 4-2 with a 7.00 GAA and .528 save percentage, and she matched her career high of 13 saves at Stony Brook.

MICHAELA HARDY

Hardy, a junior midfielder who also garnered two Defensive Player of the Week awards this year, leads UNH in goals (47), points (54) and caused turnovers (25). She is also fourth in assists, third in shooting percentage (.439) and fifth in ground balls. Hardy ranks 26^th in the nation in goals per game as well as 35^th in caused turnovers per game. In six league games, Hardy tallied 23 points on 22 goals and one assist to rank first in America East in goals per game and tie for the lead in caused turnovers per game.

Von Bargen, a junior attack who was also named to the 2007 First Team, tallied 31 goals and eight assists for 39 points to rank second on the team in both goals and points, as well as third in assists, despite missing three games. In six America East contests, Von Bargen recorded 19 goals and five assists for 24 points to rank fourth in the league in goals per game and tied for fourth in points per game as well as eighth in assists per game. She recorded both her 100^th career point and 100^th career goal this season.

Duclos has been a solid defender and integral on draw controls for the ‘Cats through her freshman season. Despite missing five games – all in league play -- Duclos recorded a team-high 28 draw controls and the second-best ground balls per game average with 19 in 11 games.

Durepo, a junior attack who was honored as Player of the Week once in ’08, is a repeat Second Team selection from last year. She leads UNH in assists (13) and is fourth in points (32) as well as sixth in goals (19). Durepo is also fourth in draw controls (15) as well as fifth in caused turnovers (nine). She tallied eight points with six goals and two assists in four games against nationally-ranked teams and had an eight-point effort (3g, 5a) against UConn.

SARAH VON BARGEN

Kaplan, a sophomore attack who garnered All-Rookie Team accolades a year ago, ranks second on the team in assists (11) as well as third in both goals (27) and points (38). She is also second in both draw controls (26) and ground balls (24) as well as third in caused turnovers (11) – and is one of only two ‘Cats who has recorded double digits in all three of those stats. Kaplan tallied 16 points on 11 goals and five assists in six league games. She recorded a point in 15 of 16 regular-season games, which is best on the team.

Sabiston is a junior who anchors and directs UNH’s defensive unit that is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation. She is one of four Wildcats in double digits in caused turnovers with 10 in 16 starts this season, and she also has two points with a goal and an assist. Sabiston tallied eight ground balls and two caused turnovers in six league games.

Piotrkowski, a freshman attack who has played in all 16 games with 14 starts, compiled 25 points on 22 goals and three assists. She is fourth on the team in goals and is first in shooting percentage (.564) as well as tied for fifth in draw controls (14). In six America East games, Piotrkowski tallied 11 points (10g, 1a). She compiled 19 goals and three assists for 22 points in a nine-game stretch from March 7 to April 5.

UNH (12-4, 4-2 America East) begins postseason play April 25 with an America East Championship semifinal game against the University of Vermont (8-8, 5-1) at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. The game, which will be videostreamed live online at www.americaeast.com, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and the winner advances to the April 27 (1 p.m.) title game at BU.