CHANDLER, Ariz. - Senior Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West), Monmouth's all-time points leader, has been named to the 2012 Longstreth /National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mid-Atlantic First Team, NFHCA officials announced Thursday morning.  The Hawks have been represented on the All-Mid Atlantic teams for the fourth consecutive year, while Pieczynski, a three-time honoree, makes her second straight appearance on the first team.

Pieczynski, who was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, is now eligible to be added to the NFCA All-American team, which will be announced next Tuesday.

"To have Michelle recognized with the country's best players is fanatic and we could not be happier for her," commented head coach Carli Figlio, who has guided her squad to four-straight NEC Title games.  "Michelle had another outstanding season to cap off an unbelievable career at Monmouth and she deserves to be ranked right up there with the county's best forwards." 

Pieczynski joins Gina Chico (2000) as the only other Hawk to earn the league's player of the year honor.  The forward, who became the program's first 100-point scorer this season, has 59 career goals and has dished out 18 assists, both program marks, while her 136 points stand 53 points ahead of Chico at second all-time. The forward, who has recorded double-digit goals three of her four years, has Monmouth's first four-goal game to her credit to go along with four career hat tricks.  This season is no different for the four-time All-Northeast Conference forward, registering a team-leading 41 points on 18 goals and five assists, including five multi-goal games and five game-winning tallies.   The Pennsylvania native, who scored the game-winner against Saint Francis (Pa.) in the semifinals of the NEC Tournament, was added to the NEC All-Tournament squad.

Figlio added, "Michelle's presence on our team goes much further than the awards.  Her modesty and trust in this program has helped rally our team for the last four years and she will be truly missed, both on and off the field."

Pieczynski will suit up one more time to represent Monmouth this upcoming weekend at the NFHCA Senior Game to be played on the campus of Old Dominion.

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