Miller becomes Golden Flashes' first two-time Player of the Year

KENT, Ohio – Having finished the regular season by winning a third straight Mid-American Conference title it comes to no surprise that the Kent State field hockey team was well represented on the 2010 All-MAC squad.  Led by Player of the Year Rachel Miller (Bathurst, Australia/MacKillop College) and Freshman of the Year Rebecca Lee (Bathurst, Australia/The Scots School), the Golden Flashes had six players named all-conference.  

Miller, who was joined on the First Team with junior Debbie Bell (Hamilton, New Zealand / Waikato) and senior Nicole Leach (San Diego, Calif./Mira Mesa), earns her second consecutive player of the year award.  The MAC's leader in assists with 13 she has also added 10 goals and entered the week as one of just six players in the country to record double-digits in both categories.  She is the first player in Kent State history and just the third in league history to be named the MAC's POY in consecutive seasons.  

Lee is the 13th Golden Flash to earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors and the 10th in the last 14 years.  She ranks seventh in the league with nine goals while placing ninth with 22 total points.  In addition to her FOY award, Lee was named to the All-MAC Second Team along with redshirt junior captain Stephanie Arbeleaz (San Diego, Calif./Mira Mesa) and junior Carla Johl (Hamilton, New Zealand / Waikato).  

The MAC's leading scorer with 24 goals, Bell was a first team selection for a third consecutive year.  She entered the week ranked seventh in the country with 1.16 goals scored per game.  Earlier this season Bell became Kent State's all-time leader in goals scored and now has 74 in her career heading into tomorrow's MAC Tournament Championship game.  Leach meanwhile, has been a major factor on the Golden Flashes offensive and defensive corner units.  A MAC Defensive Player of the Week recipient earlier this season, she is 10th in the league with eight goals and third with nine assists this fall.  A two-time MAC All-Tournament team honoree it this first All-Conference nod for Leach.  

Arbelaez, who missed all of last season and Johl, who missed the majority of the year both returned healthy in 2010 and retooled the Kent State defensive presence.  The aggressiveness by the duo on both ends of the field help the Golden Flashes close out the regular season with six straight wins and wrap-up a third consecutive MAC title.  A redshirt junior captain, Arbelaez started 19 games this season and contributed three assists on offense.  One of the toughest players in the league, Johl has played every minute for Kent State this year and posted seven goals and two assists.  It is her second career all-league nod following a second team All-MAC selection in 2008.  

The Golden Flashes (14-6; 8-2 MAC) return to action on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when they face Miami in the championship of the MAC Tournament.





2010 Field Hockey All-Conference Team

Player of the Year:
Rachel Miller, Kent State
Coach of the Year:
Jill Reeve, Miami
Freshman of the Year:
Rebecca Lee, Kent State

1st Team:
Courtney Seiders - GK, Ohio
Rachel Miller, Kent State
Mary Hull, Miami
Amanda Seeley, Miami
Kim Sihota, Central Michigan
Louzeth Schutte, Ohio
Taylor Brown, Ohio
Devanny Kuhn, Ball State
Nicole Leach, Kent State
Debbie Bell, Kent State
Casey Bayliss, Missouri State

2nd Team:
Sarah Mueller - GK, Miami
Kylie Landeros, Miami
Rebecca Lee, Kent State
Emily Gruesser, Miami
Brooke Sihota, Central Michigan
Cathryn Altdoerffer, Ohio
Stephanie Arbelaez, Kent State
Carla Johl, Kent State
Christine Brightwell, Miami
Gretchen Lulow, Ball State
Amanda Miyashita, Missouri State