Nov. 4, 2004

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Colgate University, this year's No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, is honored with three of the major field hockey awards, as selected by the League's six head coaches. The 2004 season sees the creation of a new major award category, Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as a Co-Defensive Player of the Year award being handed out due to a tie in voting. The Raiders boast one half of the Co-Defensive Player of the Year tandem in senior midfielder Kath Shelley (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Maumee Valley) and lay claim to the Goalkeeper of the Year, sophomore Jacque DeMarco (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and Coach of the Year Cathy Foto.

Regular season champion American took home two of the major awards with sophomore Camila Infante (Santiago, Chile/Santiago College) and freshman Maggie Hall (Annville, Pa./Palmyra) winning Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Holy Cross was awarded the other half of this year's Co-Defensive Player of the Year award in senior midfielder Cat Kerman (Queensbury, N.Y./Glens Falls).

Infante followed up her 2003 Freshman of the Year award, with this year's Offensive Player of the Year honor. Infante posted a team-leading 34 points on 13 goals and eight assists this season. The Oct. 25 PL Offensive Player of the Week has netted three game-winning goals for the Eagles. The sophomore attacker had three two-goal games this season and scored one tally in both of AU's wins over ranked teams, No. 3 Maryland and No. 20 Syracuse. She ranks second in the League in points, third in points per game (1.89) and goals and fourth in goals per game (0.72). Infante is the first American student-athlete to be named PL Offensive Player of the Year.

The League saw good defensive performances this year and as a result Co-Defensive Player of the Year awards were named. Shelley, a two-time All-League performer, has stood out as not only a leader in the League, but in the nation as well. Shelley remains the League leader in assists (12) and assists per game (0.67). The senior midfielder is tied at 13th in assists per game and is tied for 14th in assists as reported by the Nov. 2 national statistics. She recorded a League-high three assists in the Raiders' game with Columbia on Sept. 21 and has also scored seven goals on the year. Kerman has been a leader on the Crusaders' defensive unit that ranks 19th in the nation with a 1.35 goals against average. Kerman posted two goals and three assists on the way to the third All-League mention of her career.

DeMarco has been a consistent force in Colgate's success this season. The Raider netminder has posted four shutouts this season and has held League opponents to only 10 goals this year in 350 minutes of play. She holds a 2.00 goals against average and a .873 save percentage during inter-League play. The three-time PL Defensive Player of the Week is tops in the League in saves per game (8.72) and ranks second in both saves with 157 and save percentage (.818).

American captures Rookie of the Year honors for the second consecutive season with Hall as their representative in 2004. Hall, who was named PL Rookie of the Week twice this year, concluded the regular season with 12 goals, including three game-winners. The freshman forward came up with hattricks on two separate occasions this year in games against Bucknell and Lafayette. Hall ranks among League leaders in shots (67), shots per game (3.72), points (24), points per game (1.33), goals and goals per game (0.67).

Foto led the Raiders to an 11-7 overall record and a 3-2 mark in League play, earning herself the Patriot League Coach of the Year award for the second time in her career at CU. Foto also won the award in 1996 when the Raiders were named regular season champions. Colgate ranks 20th in the nation in scoring offense (2.61) and are this year's No. 2 seed in the PL tourney. Foto has accumulated a 115-181-7 record during her 16 years in Hamilton, N.Y.

2004 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Camila Infante, American, So., F
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Kath Shelley, Colgate, Sr., M & Cathleen Kerman, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Goalkeeper of the Year: Jacque DeMarco, Colgate, So., GK
Rookie of the Year: Maggie Hall, American, Fr., M
Coach of the Year: Cathy Foto, Colgate, 16th season