PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – West Chester University was well represented on the Atlantic 10 all-league squad that was announced late Thursday afternoon. Freshman Melissa LeNoir was named to the loop’s first team as well as its all-rookie team while Kelsie Ward was a second team all-league nod.
Alisha Moran and Michelle Schrift joined LeNoir on the all-rookie squad. Beth Wong and Joelle Zarefoss were named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team for their hard work both on the field and in the classroom.
Richmond senior forward Sarah Blythe-Wood was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and junior defender Makaela Potts of Massachusetts earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in voting conducted by the league's head coaches.
In that same vote, Rebecca Chylack of La Salle was named Rookie of the Year and Richmond head coach Gina Lucido earned the Coach of the Year honors. In a vote of the A-10's sports information directors, Charise Young repeated as the Student-Athlete of the Year.
LeNoir authored an outstanding freshman campaign, scoring 10 goals and posting 23 points in 17 games this fall. She potted two game-winning goals to boot, placing ninth in the conference in scoring overall. She also ranked seventh in the conference in goals scored. LeNoir was named the A-10 player of the week the first week of the season and copped four rookie of the week honors throughout the fall.
Ward, a transfer from Maryland, enjoyed a productive sophomore season with the Golden Rams. She netted two goals and assisted on two others while being credited with two defensive saves. She was the center-back of the defense, responsible for keeping the opposition out of the circle. She helped solidify a defense that was much-improved over last season.
Moran, another red-shirt freshman transfer from James Madison, scored five goals and posted 12 points, including two game-winning goals, in her first year at West Chester University. Moran played up front with LeNoir, helping to bolster an offense that had struggled in years past.
Midfielder Michelle Schrift improved steadily over the course of her first year in college. She finished the season with two goals and four points for the Golden Rams. She earned six starts in 15 appearances her freshman season. She also was credited with a defensive save.
Wong has been a mainstay on the Atlantic 10 All-Academic squad her entire college career. The senior midfielder will graduate in May with a degree in Biology while carrying a 3.70 grade-point average. Zarefoss is making her first appearance on the all-academic league team. She will graduate in May with a degree in Health & Physical Education.
West Chester finished the year 8-10 overall and 3-3 in the Atlantic 10. The Golden Rams tied for fourth place, but missed the final playoff spot due to the tie-breaking procedure.