WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – It’s been quite a year for Western New England College sophomore Nicole Poli.

The Medfield, Massachusetts native received the Western New England College Coca-Cola Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award presented at the Spring Sports Banquet on May 3.

A defender on the women’s lacrosse team, Poli led all of Division I, II, and III in caused turnovers with a 5.0 average for the second straight year and was ranked eighth nationally in ground balls (4.8). She was also fifth on the team in scoring with 23 points (20 goals, three assists).

Poli received numerous awards this spring, including being named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division III All-Berkshire Regional Second Team for the second straight season. She was voted to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England First Team.

She was selected to The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) All-Star Second Team and was the WNEC Defensive Most Valuable Player. In addition Poli was TCCC Defensive Player-of-the-Week three times and the ECAC Division III New England Defensive Player-of-the-Week once.

The Golden Bears had another successful campaign with a 13-7 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. They repeated as ECAC Division III New England Tournament champions.

Poli is studying Psychology and is also a defender on the women’s soccer team.