McPherson, O'Rourke, Ripke Claim All-Little East Field Hockey Honors

N. Dartmouth, MA --- Senior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) along with junior classmates Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, MA/St. Peter Marian) and Megan Ripke (Feeding Hills, MA) have all been named to the Little East Conference in a vote by the league's 12 head coaches this week as announced by conference publicist Megan Erbes.

O'Rourke was the lone first-team honoree while Ripke and McPherson were tabbed with third-team laurels.

At forward, O'Rourke was an offensive catalyst for the Lancers this season as she compiled stellar statistics en route to her first career nod to the All-LEC team. O'Rouke was the leader in every offensive category for the Blue and Gold as she wrapped up her campaign with 12 goals, eight assists and 32 points.

Among Little East leaders her helpers were fifth, her points were sixth overall and she was among the top 10 in tallies. Most importantly, she excelled when the game counted the most with five match-clinching goals for the second highest sum in the conference including league wins against Salem State, UMass Dartmouth and Westfield State.

O'Rourke jumped into seventh on WSU's All-Time Scoring list as she now has 25 goals and 21 helpers for 71 career points. O'Rourke had started the season in 22nd on the list and in the process set a new program standard for assists in a career.

McPherson, who has earned her third consecutive nod to the All-LEC team, was a dependable stalwart for the Blue and Gold at center midfield. She finished the year second on the team in assists with six overall and against LEC foes her four dishes were good enough for eighth in the league standings.

She wraps up her career tying for 14th on the all-time scoring list with 17 markers and 18 assists for 52 career points, which is shares the same sum with Lancer Hall of Famer Donna LiPriore (1973-76).

Ripke, who makes her first appearance on the Little East team at back, was a leader on the defensive side of the field, ending the campaign among the conference leaders with 10 defensive saves. With the eighth highest sum in the NCAA Division III, she was one off a school record held by former standout Lauren Daley (2010).

Entering the 2015 season, Ripke will be just four shy of setting the all-time mark of 20 held by Daley.

Under the direction of third year head coach Chris Pothier, the Lancers finished the season 10-9 overall and 5-6 in Little East Conference action. WSU was defeated in the LEC quarterfinals making their second consecutive appearance in the league tournament.

2014 Little East All-Conference Field Hockey Team