PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Eastern Connecticut State University junior forward Audrey Molin was named the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year, highlighting the conference’s postseason major awards and all-conference selections.

UMass Dartmouth’s Sophia Bouffard earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, Plymouth State University’s Natalie Merrick was selected Goalkeeper of the Year, and the University of Southern Maine’s Lizalyn Boudreau was named Rookie of the Year. Southern Maine earned Coaching Staff of the Year recognition.

Offensive Player of the Year – Audrey Molin, Eastern Connecticut

Molin, a junior forward from Vernon, Conn., turned in a record-setting season for the Warriors, totaling 20 goals and four assists for 44 points. She led the conference in goals, points and game-winning goals, finishing with five game-winners. She also recorded 74 shots and 51 shots on goal.

Molin established Eastern Connecticut single-season records for goals and points and set program single-game records with five goals and 10 points in a 5-4 victory over Husson. A two-time LEC Offensive Player of the Week, she contributed seven goals and three assists for 17 points in conference play.

Defensive Player of the Year – Sophia Bouffard, UMass Dartmouth

Bouffard, a senior defender from South Burlington, Vt., anchored the Corsairs’ defense from her center back position, recording 31 defensive saves while adding one goal. She served as a two-year captain and played key roles on UMass Dartmouth’s offensive and defensive penalty corner units.

Bouffard’s 31 defensive saves placed her atop the NCAA Division III leaderboard at the time of her nomination. She earned LEC Defensive Player of the Week recognition September 14 and provided veteran leadership for a young defensive unit.

Goalkeeper of the Year – Natalie Merrick, Plymouth State

Merrick, a sophomore from East Longmeadow, Mass., earned the conference’s top goalkeeper honor after returning from an injury that sidelined her for Plymouth State’s first nine games. She registered 64 saves over 553:37, posting a 1.52 goals-against average, an .821 save percentage and one shutout.

In conference play, Merrick made 53 saves over 433:37, finishing with a 1.52 goals-against average and an .828 save percentage. Her first appearance of the season came in a 2-1 victory over Keene State, and she earned LEC Goalkeeper of the Week honors twice.

Rookie of the Year – Lizalyn Boudreau, Southern Maine

Boudreau, a freshman midfielder from Freeport, Maine, made an immediate impact for the Huskies, contributing one goal and one assist for three points while recording 16 shots and eight shots on goal. Both her goal and assist came against conference opponents, with her first collegiate goal serving as a game-winner.

Boudreau brought speed, ball control and field vision to Southern Maine’s lineup. She helped create scoring opportunities for her teammates, became a trusted contributor in overtime and served as the flyer on the Huskies’ defensive penalty corner unit.

Coaching Staff of the Year – Southern Maine

Southern Maine earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors after capturing the LEC regular-season title and the program’s third LEC tournament championship, adding to its titles in 2003 and 2023. The Huskies finished conference play with a 6-1 record before defeating Eastern Connecticut in the semifinals and Keene State, 1-0, in the championship game.

Head coach Bonny Brown-Denico, now in her 29th season leading her alma mater, has compiled 302 career victories. She has guided Southern Maine to all three of its LEC tournament championships, including two in the last four seasons.

All-Conference Teams

Plymouth State led the First Team All-LEC selections with three honorees, while Southern Maine, Vermont State Castleton and Eastern Connecticut each placed four players across the two all-conference teams. Keene State led all programs with five total selections.

The complete All-LEC teams and 12th Player Award recipients are listed below.

First Team All-LEC

Name	Position	Institution
Natalie Merrick	Goalkeeper	Plymouth State
Audrey Molin	Forward	Eastern Connecticut
Meghan Daileanes	Forward	Keene State
Ellie Monahan	Forward	Plymouth State
Bri Townsend	Forward	Southern Maine
Peyton Richardson	Forward	Vermont State Castleton
Gwyn Vincent	Forward	Vermont State Castleton
Jasmine Peterson	Midfield	Plymouth State
Dylan Barr	Midfield	Southern Maine
Sophia Bouffard	Defense	UMass Dartmouth
Kaitlyn Biase	Defense	WestConn

Second Team All-LEC

Name	Position	Institution
Haylee Romasco	Goalkeeper	Southern Maine
Henley Gilstrap	Forward	Keene State
Maddie Niles	Forward	Southern Maine
Madison Preston	Forward	WestConn
Grace Barlage	Midfield	Eastern Connecticut
Ada Ellis	Midfield	Eastern Connecticut
Grace Seabury	Midfield	Keene State
Sam Gacioch	Midfield	UMass Dartmouth
Abigale Bsullak	Midfield	Plymouth State
Elyse Picard	Defense	Keene State
Brooke Noble	Defense	Vermont State Castleton

12th Player Award

Name	Position	Institution
Katie Harrington	Midfield	Eastern Connecticut
Norah Bargatti	Forward	Keene State
Molly Fote	Midfield	UMass Boston
Farah Neves	Goalkeeper	UMass Dartmouth
Claire Toleman	Forward	Plymouth State
Mackenzie Hall	Forward	Southern Maine
Mackenna Roberson	Midfield	Vermont State Castleton
Jaden Kilmer	Goalkeeper	WestConn