Block and O'Brien highlight seven Northeast-10 student-athletes on the NCAA Division II Scholar All-East Region Teams 

NSCAA Announces NCAA Division II Scholar All-America Teams
NSCAA Announces NCAA Division II Women's Scholar All-East Region Teams

EASTON, Mass. (December 9, 2016) – Senior goalkeeper Jamie Block (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown), of the Stonehill College women's soccer team was selected to the NSCAA NCAA Division II Scholar All-America first team, while Claire O'Brien (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) and Block were tabbed on the NSCAA NCAA Division II Scholar All-East Region first team, as announced by the association on Friday.

"I'm still taken away by all of the awards and so happy to be part of a historic season that will never be forgotten," Block said.

Block

Block was named to the NSCAA Division II Scholar All-America first team after being tabbed on the NSCAA NCAA Division II Scholar All-East Region first team. The senior, an Interdisciplinary Health Science major and a Healthcare Administration minor and a 3.33 cumulative grade point average wrapped up her final season as a Skyhawk with a career-best 0.85 goals against average, 19 goals against, 99 saves, an .839 save percentage, and 10 shutouts. The Georgetown, Massachusetts native led the Northeast-10 Conference in shutouts this season, as she totaled 20 games with zero in the back for her career. This ranks her third in program history sitting behind Neff with 24 from 1997-2000.

"Stonehill has provided the perfect balance between athletics and academics and I have taken great pride in being a student-athlete here," spoke Block. "I think that the equal opportunity that I have been given here to excel in both areas has helped me succeed to my full potential."

Block was most recently named to the NSCAA NCAA Division II All-America second team and NSCAA Division II All-East Region first team. The senior was the third Skyhawk in women's soccer history to be named an All-American. She was also tabbed NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year prior to postseason play, as she also picked up NE10 All-Tournament honors and was placed on the NE10 All-Conference first team for her first time. The senior was named NE10 Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season and assisted the team to its first Catholic Cup Championship in program history after a 3-1 victory over Assumption and a 1-0 win over Saint Anselm and being named to the Catholic Cup All-Tournament team.

In Block's junior year, she was tabbed on the NE10 All-Conference team and NEWISA All-New England second team, while being recognized on the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll for six semesters and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for two semesters.

"Jamie has worked tirelessly over her career to be the best student-athlete and she genuinely embraces that dual identity," stated head coach Alex Wilson. "Claire's work ethic on and off the field is first-class and her desire to achieve success is evident in everything she does. I'm so proud of Jamie and Claire for their dedication and commitment to both athletics and academics."

O'Brien

O'Brien's name was placed on the NSCAA NCAA Division II Women's Scholar All-East Region first team after a career-best year assisting the Skyhawks in its third NE10 championship in program history. The senior defender, a Mediated Communication major and Healthcare Administration minor with a 3.62 cumulative grade point average collected her second-career NSCAA NCAA Division II All East Region accolade after concluding collegiate play recording four goals and three assists, tallying two game-winning goals. The West Hartford, Connecticut native was also part of the back line that held opponents to 19 goals this season, which includes collecting 10 shutouts in the Skyhawks' 22-game schedule this year.

"I'm so excited to have ended my senior year this way and with this team!" reacted O'Brien. "It is such an honor to receive this award along with Jamie!"

This year, the defender was named to the NE10 All-Conference second team for her second time. O'Brien was previously tabbed on the NEWISA All-New England first team her junior year and the second team sophomore and freshman year. Her sophomore year also included being named on the NSCAA/Continental Tire All-East Region third team, while also recording six semesters of being placed on the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and three semesters on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

"This is a special honor for Jamie and Claire but also for our program and Stonehill as an institution," expressed Wilson. "To be recognized as a student-athlete is tremendous on any level, but Scholar All-Region and Scholar All-America truly speaks to what we preach here at Stonehill. The balance between both identities is never compromised and I believe our players represent this model so well on and off the field."

Stonehill finished fourth in NE10 play with an 8-5-1 record, while concluding post season play with a 15-6-1 overall record. This mark was the best since 1999 when the squad went 17-4-1. The Skyhawks also tallied national rankings this season, matching its highest four from back in 1999. The 2016 team also recorded its first NCAA bid in program history after winning the NE10 Conference Championship against Pace University, its first title since 1995.  

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.