PHOTO GALLERY OF 2015 CACC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

2015 CACC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIAL GAME PROGRAM

CACC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BANQUET PROGRAM

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 28, 2015) -- Georgian Court University standout Dara Schroeder on Tuesday was named the 2015 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Player of the Year, as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. The announcement of Schroeder's honor highlighted a list of softball all-conference award winners for the league.

Joining Schroeder as major year-end award winners in the sport were Dominican College's Jillian Regan as rookie of the year, Post University's Samantha Esque as pitcher of the year, and Caldwell University's Dean Johnson as the BSN Sports Coach of the Year. Philadelphia University garnered the Team Sportsmanship Award for growing the sport through hardwork and dedication.

Schroeder was named the league's top player after she led the CACC with a .434 batting average during the regular season. She also led the conference with 63 hits and  41 stolen bases. Schroeder also ranked among the league leaders in runs (5th, 33), triples (7th, 3), total bases (4th, 76) and on-base percentage (5th, .481). 

Schroeder, a senior outfielder, was also named to the All-CACC First-Team, marking the third-straight year she took home the award.

Regan, a shortstop for Dominican, had a sensational collegiate debut in 2015 and was rewarded for her efforts by being named the CACC Rookie of the Year. Regan tied for the CACC lead with 37 runs batted in, while she also ranked among the top-five in total bases (3rd, 77), hits (4th, 51), doubles (4th, 11) and home runs (5th, 5). She was also named to the All-CACC Second-Team at her position.

Esque, a junior hurler for Post, was quite impressive in the pitching circle on her way to earning conference pitcher-of-the-year status.  She posted a 10-5 record with a 0.96 earned run average, which was the lowest mark in the conference during the regular season. Esque turned in 13 complete-game performances, while also picking up one save. Her win total was the ninth highest in the CACC, while her save total and four shutouts were the fourth highest marks in the league, respectively.

Esque joined Schroeder on the All-CACC First-Team, as the duo met up with 12 other individuals named to the conference's top unit. Other standout student-athletes to receive first-team status included Ciera Clark (Felician College) at first base, Cambria Ziemba (Wilmington University) at second base, Kayla Kresley (Post) at third base, Kelsey Doherty (Wilmington) at shortstop, Shannon Haukap (Dominican) at catcher, Danielle Bradley (Wilmington), Alyssa Paradiso (Georgian Court), Amy Hickman (Caldwell), and Emma Haley (Philadelphia University) in the outfield, Chelsea Botsch (Wilmington) at pitcher, Kirsten Wilson (Bloomfield College) at designated player, and Bailey Walters (Holy Family University) at utility.

Regan joined 14 other individuals on the All-CACC Second-Team for their impressive play throughout the 2015 season. The other second-team members included Kortney Craker (Caldwell) at first base, Victoria Vickerman (Concordia College) at second base, Kristen Knorr (Caldwell) at third base, Alyssa Calderon (Caldwell) at catcher, Alyssa Schwed (Dominican), Brielle Reighn (Caldwell), Elontay Collins (Dominican), Lauren Bueno (Bloomfield), Barbie Barron (University of the Sciences), Brianna Scotto (Holy Family) in the outfield, Amber Padilla (Caldwell) and Jenna Maska (Dominican) at pitcher, Marisa Monasseri (Caldwell) at designated player, and Colby Wyatt (Wilmington) at utility.

Johnson was named the CACC Coach of the Year for his masterful guidance of the Cougars this season. He led Caldwell to the league's regular season championship with a 23-3 conference record and a 30-12-1 mark overall. Caldwell has been ranked in the NFCA National Top-25 Poll all season and currently sits in first place in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings.

The announcement of the CACC All-Conference Teams in softball come just two days prior to the start of the conference championship tournament, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. The championship's final game will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, as the winner of the championship will earn the CACC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II East Regional.

The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician College, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Nyack College, Philadelphia University, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.

2015 CACC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dara Schroeder (Georgian Court University)

2015 CACC SOFTBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jillian Regan (Dominican College)

2015 CACC SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Samantha Esque (Post University)

2015 BSN SPORTS COACH OF THE YEAR
Dean Johnson (Caldwell University)

2015 CACC SOFTBALL TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Philadelphia University

2015 CACC SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM
1B Ciera Clark (Felician College)
2B Cambria Ziemba (Wilmington University)
3B Kayla Kresley (Post University)
SS Kelsey Doherty (Wilmington University)
C Shannon Haukap (Dominican College) 
OF Danielle Bradley (Wilmington University)
OF Emma Haley (Philadelphia University)
OF Amy Hickman (Caldwell University)
OF Alyssa Paradiso (Georgian Court University)
OF Dara Schroeder (Georgian Court University)
P Chelsea Botsch (Wilmington University)  
P Samantha Esque (Post University)
DP Kirsten Wilson (Bloomfield College) 
UTIL Bailey Walters (Holy Family University)  

2015 CACC SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND-TEAM
1B Kortney Craker (Caldwell University)
2B Victoria Vickerman (Concordia College)
3B Kristen Knorr (Caldwell University) 
SS Jillian Regan (Dominican College) 
C Alyssa Calderon (Caldwell University)
OF Barbie Barron (University of the Sciences)
OF Lauren Bueno (Bloomfield College)
OF Elontay Collins (Dominican College)
OF Brielle Reighn (Caldwell University)
OF Alyssa Schwed (Dominican College)  
OF Brianna Scotto (Holy Family)
P Jenna Maska (Dominican College)
P Amber Padilla (Caldwell University) 
DP Marisa Monasseri (Caldwell University)
UTIL Colby Wyatt (Wilmington University)