GNAC Release

HENNIKER, N.H. - The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) announced the All-Conference teams for the 2024 field hockey season, with five 'Grims being recognized after the team achieved its' winningest season in over 15 years. 

Graduate Drea Chin (Laconia, N.H.) was named to the All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive year, this time as a midfielder. Chin scored 11 goals and made 10 assists on the season, the latter tying her career-high from a season ago. Chin's 11 goals ranked tied for 11th in the conference, and her 10 assists were good for a share of fourth most. Her 32 points put her in 8th among all players in the conference. Chin's timeliest and most clutch goal came in double overtime of the team's GNAC quarterfinal matchup against Lasell – willing the team to a 2-1 postseason victory. Chin was named the GNAC Player of the Week for the week ending on October 27th, a week where she scored six goals across two games, and now earns a well-deserved spot on the GNAC First-Team. 

Also making the GNAC All-Conference First Team for the second straight season is senior Taylor Bailey (Boscawen, N.H.) who is recognized as a back. Bailey has long acted as a leader of the Pilgrim defense and spearheaded a group that had eight shutouts and allowed one or fewer shots in a game seven times. The team led the GNAC with a 0.78 GAA over the course of the entire season. Bailey was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending on October 21st, the first 'Grim to earn the recognition. Bailey also had a big season on offense – scoring a career-high four goals, connecting on a career-best seven assists, and accumulating a high-water mark of 15 points. As the team's top defender and primary inserter on penalty corners, Bailey's huge impact results in a spot on the GNAC First-Team. 

Junior goalkeeper Makenzie Anderson (Antrim, N.H.) was the third 'Grim to make the First Team All-Conference, earning the top spot among all goalkeepers in the GNAC. Anderson had a career year, setting personal bests with a .849 save percentage, a 0.77 goals-against average, and 16 wins. Anderson led the GNAC in all three categories. Anderson started all 20 games for the Pilgrims, and although she is only credited with five official shutouts, Anderson did not allow a goal in a game she started 10 times. Anderson was named GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season and now earns the lone goalkeeper spot atop the First Team All-Conference.  

Senior forward Meaghan McCamish (Warwick, R.I.) was named to the GNAC All-Conference Second Team. A year after making the GNAC All-Conference Third Team, McCamish set career-highs in both goals and total points – leading the team in both categories. Her 16 goals on the season were double her previous best set in 2023 and were tied for the fourth most goals in the GNAC this season. Along with four assists, the senior's 36 points were the fifth most in the conference. McCamish led the team with six game-winning goals, three of which came in one-score games, and her six game-winners were tied for the most in the GNAC. McCamish earned GNAC Player of the Week honors back in September for the week ending on September 15th, and now resides on the All-GNAC Second Team. 

Rounding out the honorees was junior forward Cristina Manzi (Peapack, N.J.) who earned a spot on the GNAC All-Conference Third Team. Manzi had a breakout campaign in her second season for the 'Grims, setting personal bests in goals, assists, and points. Manzi scored nine goals which were the fourth-most on the team and made eight assists which were the second-most. Her 26 points more than tripled her number from last season. The junior ranked inside the top 20 in the GNAC in goals and inside the top 15 in both assists and points. Manzi was named the GNAC Player of the Week for the week ending on October 20th after she scored game-winners against both Rivier and Simmons, with the latter coming with no time left on the clock. One of the top offensive options for the 'Grims, Manzi was awarded with All-Conference recognition for the first time. 

"These All-Conference selections demonstrated outstanding skill, determination, dedication, and grit throughout the entire 2024 season," said head coach Carly Sweeney. "They each made significant impacts on their team's success and contributed their very best in key moments. As a team, we are so proud to have these student-athletes represent New England College field hockey and its' community." 

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