May 3, 2007

BALTIMORE -- The American Lacrosse Conference has named Kristen Kjellman as the Conference Player of the Year, as selected by a vote of the conference's head coaches. This is the third consecutive year that Kjellman has won the award. Her mentor, Kelly Amonte Hiller, was named the Coach of the Year by her peers for the fourth consecutive year while teammate Morgan Lathrop was named the Goalie of the Year.

Kjellman, who has 50 goals, 19 assists and 50 draw controls, helped the Wildcats to an undefeated conference campaign and the No. 1 national ranking at the end of the regular season. Kjellman, last year's Tewaaraton Trophy winner and a finalist again this season, ranked 17th in the nation in scoring, 12th in goals and 13th in draw controls per game. A three-time ALC Player of the Week honoree in 2007, Kjellman ranks in the top eight in the conference in points, goals, assists, draw controls and caused turnovers, the only person to do so. She was named the National Player of the Week on April 23 and earned national honor roll honors twice. Kjellman has 21 goals in her last five games and became the first Wildcat in school history to record 50 or more goals four-straight years. She also holds the NU career record for both goals (234) and points (328).

Lathrop leads the nation in goals-against average and save percentage. Her 5.49 goals-against average ranks fifth all-time in NCAA history (since 1996). She is the only player in the nation to have a sub-6.00 goals-against average and the only player to have greater than a .600 save percentage. Lathrop had her best game of the year in the biggest game of the season, coming up with a season-best 14 saves in the win over No. 2 Maryland, holding Maryland's high-powered offense to seven goals.

Amonte Hiller, who earned the ALC Coach of the Year honor in 2004, 2005 and 2006, earned the honor for a fourth consecutive year after leading the `Cats to an undefeated regular conference season and the No. 1 ranking in the nation. In 2005 she led the Wildcats to their first national title and became just the second person in Division I history to win a title as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

The Wildcats led all teams with five first team selections and had seven All-Conference selections overall. Joining Kjellman and Lathrop on the first team were teammates Christy Finch (third in the nation in caused turnovers), Meredith Frank (41g, 13a), and Hannah Nielsen (38g, 52a). Aly Josephs (36g) and Lindsay Finocchiaro were named to the second team.

Player of the Year: Kristen Kjellman, Northwestern
Rookie of the Year: Sam Schrum, Johns Hopkins
Goalie of the Year: Morgan Lathrop, Northwestern
Coach of the Year: Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern

ALC First Team
Sasha Cielak, Vanderbilt
Renee Cipro, Penn State
Margie Curran, Vanderbilt
Christy Finch, Northwestern
Meredith Frank, Northwestern
Mary Key, Johns Hopkins
Kristen Kjellman, Northwestern
Morgan Lathrop, Northwestern
Jessi Lieb, Penn State
Hannah Nielsen, Northwestern
Jessica Patane, Ohio State
Lauren Schwarzmann, Johns Hopkins

ALC Second Team
Lindsay Finocchiaro, Northwestern
Danielle Gibson, Ohio State
Kristen Gilwee, Ohio State
Cara Giordano, Vanderbilt
Aly Josephs, Northwestern
Cherie Michaud, Johns Hopkins
Nicole Pugno, Vanderbilt
Kerry Shea, Penn State
Amanda Shimp, Ohio State
Kristen Slahor, Ohio State
Kadie Stamper, Johns Hopkins
Kendall Thrift, Vanderbilt