Five Lynx players were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) today as the league released its postseason awards this afternoon. Juniors Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, Mass.) and Maria Nazzaro (North Reading, Mass.) were each named First Team All-Conference while junior Allison Fountain (Cheshire, Conn.) and senior Molly Sarson (Sanford, Me.) were named Second Team All-Conference. Senior Emily Mangiaratti (Amherst, Mass.) was also honored as she was named a conference Honorable Mention.

Mercurio, who was also named NECC Tournament MVP last weekend, has been brilliant at the plate and in the circle all season long. The junior leads the team with 29 RBI, set a school record with 20 doubles, and is second on the team in batting average, hitting at a .369 clip. Mercurio has also posted 11 victories in the circle, compiling three shutouts, and striking out 67 batters.

Nazzaro led the Lynx with a .381 batting average this season while patrolling centerfield. The junior has scored 27 runs, swiped 8 bases, and leads the team with nine outfield assists.

Fountain was named Second Team All-Conference for the second straight season. The catcher leads the team with three home runs, has knocked in 25 runs, and compiled a .310 batting average while gunning down 20% of base-stealers.

Sarson joins Fountain on the Second Team following a senior season where she has roped 12 doubles, knocked in 22 runs, and scored 17. The senior has proven to be one a tough strikeout, as she has gone down on strikes just six times in 121 at bats.

Mangiaratti set the table for the Lynx offense all season long from her lead-off spot. The senior leads the team with 46 hits, 45 runs scored, 27 walks, and 19 stolen bases while also driving in 19 runs. This marks the fourth straight year that Mangiaratti has been named to an NECC All-Conference team.

The rest of the NECC awards are as follows:

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Norberg, Becker (Fr, P - Uxbridge, Mass.)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jessica Wheelahan, Becker (Fr, OF - Watertown, Conn.)

COACH OF THE YEAR
Brook Capello, Newbury

TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Southern Vermont College

FIRST TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
Megan Cordon, Becker (So, DP - Watertown, Conn.)
Talan Barron, Becker (Sr, C - Methuen, Mass.)
Rachel Butt, Elms (Sr, 3B - Agawam, Mass.)
Haley Fountain, Regis (Mass.) (Fr, P - Warren, Mass.)
Katie Haney, Newbury (Jr, SS - Winchendon, Mass.)
Sheri Liggiero, Newbury (Fr, CF - Tewksbury, Mass.)
Michaela McGowan, Newbury (Fr, 1B - Nashua, N.H.)
Nicole Mercurio, Lesley (Jr, 2B - Wakefield, Mass.)
Maria Nazzaro, Lesley (Jr, OF - North Reading, Mass.)
Kelsey Norberg, Becker (Fr, P - Uxbridge, Mass.)
Jessica Wheelahan, Becker (Fr, OF - Watertown, Conn.)

SECOND TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
Mollie Bartles, Daniel Webster (Fr, 2B/C - Torrington, Conn.)
Chelsey Crawford, Daniel Webster (Fr, OF - Westfield, Mass.)
Theresa Disantis, Daniel Webster (Sr, DP - Hinsdale, Mass.)
Allison Fountain, Lesley (Jr., C - Cheshire, Conn.)
Kirbie Garvey, Regis (Mass.) (Fr, OF - Littleton, Mass.)
Jamie Miner, Elms (Fr, P - Chicopee, Mass.)
Jaclyn Orangio, Becker (Fr, OF - Maynard, Mass.)
Lindsey Romagnino, Mitchell (So, SS - Totowa, N.J.)
Molly Sarson, Lesley (Sr, 3B - Sanford, Maine)
Leah Spring, Elms (Sr, OF - South Hadley, Mass.)
Tricia Tomaselli, Mitchell (Jr, P - Guilford, Conn.)
Ally Witaszek, Elms (Jr, 1B - Feeding Hills, Mass.)

HONORABLE MENTION
Megan Bolduc, Becker (So, SS - Dover, N.H.)
Alyssa Donovan, Newbury (Fr, C - West Haven, Conn.)
Ariel Hallisey, Mitchell (Jr, 2B - Fall River, Mass.)
Emily Mangiaratti, Lesley (Sr, OF/DP - Amherst, Mass.)