NEC RELEASE

Brooklyn, NY- Wagner College senior Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV/ Wooster) was named the 2009 Player of the Year by the Northeast Conference (NEC) at the annual postseason awards banquet held at Long Island University. It marks the second-straight season the Nevada native has won the NEC's top Softball honor. Joining Lazzari on the All-NEC First Team are senior Jaclyn Vanore (Palisades Park, NJ / Paramus Catholic) and junior Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV / McQueen). 

Lazzari set the table for Wagner's potent offense with a team-best .412 batting average while setting school-records with 16 home runs, 70 hits and 338 putouts. The 16 home runs are also the most ever hit by a student-athlete in the NEC. The slick infielder also notched team-highs in doubles (11), runs (42), total bases (129), slugging percentage (.759), OBP (.448) and fielding percentage (.981). In the field, the senior recorded a .981 fielding percentage with 17 assists. This year, Lazzari was twice tabbed NEC Player of the Week while garnering the 2009 Con Edison Student Athlete of the Year award. 

For her career, she set records in home runs (34), doubles (50), total bases (390), putouts (1124) while tying for the top spot in hits (238). She also was the NEC Rookie of the Year for 2006 and a three-time First Team All-NEC selection. 

Eshleman was tabbed as a First Team All-NEC selection at third base. The Nevada native hit .318 with 50 hits, 32 runs, nine doubles, three home runs, 27 RBI, 11 stolen bases while accruing a .379 on base percentage. This is her second All-NEC accolade, after collecting 2007 All-NEC Second Team honors. 

Vanore, like Eshleman, earned her first-ever All-NEC First Team selection at the designated player position, finishing the season with a .303 batting average, 40 hits, 24 RBI, five doubles, two triples and two home runs. She also recorded a slugging percentage of .417 and a .399 on base percentage. Vanore holds the distinction of being one of just two Seahawks (Morgan Miller) to earn All-NEC accolades in each of her four years on Grymes Hill.