PITMAN, N.J. – William Paterson's Keith Woods was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women's Soccer Co-Coach of the Year, leading a list of six Pioneer honorees announced Nov. 3.

Sophomore forward Megan Droelle (Hampton, N.J./North Hunterdon) and junior back Ali Ruddy (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) were selected to the All-NJAC Second Team, while junior back Vikki Cicak (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls), sophomore back Ashley Grabowski (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) and junior midfielder Kathleen Maggi (New Milford, N.J./New Milford) were honorable-mention honorees.

Woods, who owns a 139-85-18 record in his 13th season as the Pioneers' head coach, has led William Paterson to a 10-6-3 overall mark and a 5-2-2 NJAC record this fall. The Pioneers, picked to finish sixth in the 2009 NJAC Preseason Poll after losing seven seniors from a year ago, are currently riding a six-match win streak. Third-seeded William Paterson defeated sixth-seeded Montclair State 2-0 in the NJAC Tournament first round Oct. 31, the Pioneers' first postseason victory since 2000, and will play at second-seeded The College of New Jersey Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the NJAC Tournament semifinals. Woods, who shares this year's NJAC Coach of the Year award with Rowan's Scott Leacott, previously earned the same accolade in 1997 and 1998.

Droelle, a first-year Pioneer after transferring from Springfield College, ranks second for William Paterson this fall with six goals and two assists for 14 points. Tied for 11th in the NJAC in game-winning goals (two), she has started in 16 of 19 matches this fall and was selected as the Oct. 5 NJAC Offensive Player of the Week after she had a hat trick during a 4-1 victory against Rutgers-Newark Sept. 30 and found the back of the net during the 24th minute of a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Kean Oct. 3.

Ruddy, who moved to center back this fall, leads William Paterson with 15 points (6 g, 3 a), including 10 (4 g, 2 a) during the last seven matches. A starter in all 19 matches this fall after earning second-team all-NJAC laurels a year ago, she was selected as the NJAC and ECAC Metro Region Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 26 after contributing an assist during a 10-0 win against Staten Island Oct. 19, and the assist on the Pioneers' lone goal in a 1-0 upset of No. 16 TCNJ Oct. 20. Ruddy scored both goals during a 2-0 win against Montclair State Oct. 26, and had the first score of a 2-1 victory at Richard Stockton Oct. 29. She has helped to anchor a Pioneer defense that has compiled seven shutouts and a 0.86 goals-against average this season. For her career, Ruddy has started in 45 of 48 matches and has 24 points (8 g, 8 a).

Cicak, an honorable-mention all-conference honoree a year ago, has started all 19 matches for the Pioneers this fall. She has contributed a pair of goals this season, both coming during a 10-0 victory against Staten Island Oct. 19, and she has helped to anchor a Pioneer defense that has compiled seven shutouts and a 0.86 goals-against average this year. During her career, Cicak has started in 53 matches and has compiled 16 points (7 g, 2 a).

Grabowski earns her first all-conference award after moving to the back line and starting in all 18 appearances this fall. She has registered a pair of assists – at FDU-Florham (1-1, 9/12/09) and Rutgers-Camden (1-1, 9/19/09). Grabowski has helped to anchor a Pioneer defense that has compiled seven shutouts and a 0.86 goals-against average this season, and during her career, she has started in 20 of 36 matches and has compiled 10 points (2 g, 6 a).

Maggi also is a first-time all-conference honoree after starting in all 19 matches this fall in the central midfield and compiling three points. She scored the first goal of a 10-0 victory against Staten Island (10/19/09), and assisted on the first goal of a 2-0 win against Montclair State in the NJAC Tournament first round (10/31/09). Maggi has started in 23 of 46 career matches, posting a goal and three assists. 




















NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ALL-CONFERENCE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jess Babice, Rowan
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR: Shelley Gibney, Richard Stockton
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Christine Foy, Rowan
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Leah Tepperman, Montclair State
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Carly Seidel, Kean
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR: Scott Leacott, Rowan & Keith Woods, William Paterson

FIRST TEAM
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown/High School
Jess Babice* JR F Rowan Groveville, NJ/Steinert
Danielle Esposito SO F Kean Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel
Briann McDonough JR F TCNJ North Arlington, NJ/Immaculate Heart
Veronica Rhea SO F Rowan Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI
Christie Fink SO M Rowan Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert
Shelley Gibney! JR M Richard Stockton Shamong, NJ/Seneca
Annie McCarthy SO M TCNJ Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial
Krista Verzi* SR M Rowan Delran, NJ/Delran
Tina Della Fave SR B Montclair State Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown
Christine Foy* SO B Rowan Hamilton, NJ/Steinert
Eva Gimello FR B TCNJ Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy
Caitlin Toomey SR B Rowan Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial
Leah Tepperman~ SR G Montclair State North Andover, MA/North Andover

SECOND TEAM
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown/High School
Julia Caseres~ SO F NJCU Union, NJ/Union
Megan Droelle SO F William Paterson Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon
Laura O'Shea& SR F Richard Stockton Petersburg, NJ/Ocean City
Carly Seidel FR F Kean Winslow Township, NJ/Winslow Township
Courtney Dougherty*+% SR M Richard Stockton Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City
Jenna Godwin^! SR M Kean Kingwood, NJ/Delaware Valley
Lara Kaminski!& JR M Kean Rahway, NJ/Union Catholic
Liza Offreda+ SR M Montclair State East Rutherford, NJ/Midland Park
Ashley Battilana SO B Richard Stockton West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford
Mallory Cornett^!% SR B Ramapo Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne
Ali Ruddy^ JR B William Paterson Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley
Lauren Small SO B Kean Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West
Jessica Clarke@& SR G TCNJ Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley

HONORABLE MENTION
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown/High School
Kimberly Bruno JR F Ramapo Middletown, NJ/Middletown South
Jillian Casey SR F TCNJ Voorhees, NJ/Eastern
Ashley Cunha FR F NJCU Edison, NJ/Edison
Samantha Sharp SO F Rutgers-Camden Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights
Natalia Sisti!& SR F Montclair State Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic
Liana Abreu^ SO M Rutgers-Newark Newark, NJ/Science Park
Jessica Leoni~!% SR M Rutgers-Camden Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional
Rebecca Maccia FR M Ramapo Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro
Kathleen Maggi JR M William Paterson New Milford, NJ/New Milford
Jackie McGrath JR M Montclair State Vernon, NJ/Vernon
Melanie Pupo^ JR M Ramapo Newton, NJ/Morris Catholic
Melissa Scully~ SR M Richard Stockton Gloucester, NJ/Highland
Katlin Vargo SO M NJCU Edison, NJ/Union Catholic
Vikki Cicak~ JR B William Paterson Wharton, NJ/Morris Knolls
Stefani Elefther+ JR B Montclair State Rivervale, NJ/Pascack Valley
Jessica Gavilanes~ SO B Rutgers-Newark Orange, NJ/Union Catholic
Ashley Grabowski SO B William Paterson Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge
Susan Hayes FR B Ramapo Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley
Sasha Potter~ SR B Rutgers-Newark Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township
Nicole Sarica SO B NJCU Linden, NJ/Linden
Kat Renteria SO G Rutgers-Newark North Bergen, NJ/Cliffside Park
Leandra Russo JR G Kean Galloway, NJ/Absegami

Key:
* - First Team All-Conference 2008
^ - Second Team All-Conference 2008
~ - Honorable Mention 2008
@ - First Team All-Conference 2007
! - Second Team All-Conference 2007
+ - Honorable Mention All-Conference 2007
& - Second Team All-Conference 2006
% - Honorable Mention All-Conference 2006