Worcester, MA --- WPI standout field hockey back Kelly Johnson (Buxton, ME) has been selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) New England East Region second team.  It marks the second time the senior has been honored as all-region.  Johnson was named to the second team as a freshman in 2006.

Johnson had the rare distinction of leading WPI this season in both goals (11) and defensive saves (10).  She tallied multiple goals in three different games this season, including the Crimson and Gray's 3-2 penalty stroke loss to eventual NEWMAC regular season champion Wellesley.  Johnson also netted a goal and a defensive save in a 1-0 win at Wheaton and a 3-2 victory at Babson.

The NEWMAC Rookie of the Year in 2006, Johnson missed nearly her entire sophomore campaign with a knee injury.  In 2008, she capped an outstanding comeback season by earning second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (Co-SIDA).  This fall Johnson was named NEWMAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week in mid-September and earned first team All-NEWMAC accolades.  

Over her four year career, Johnson notched 22 goals and 14 assists to go along with 11 defensive saves.  Her senior class, which includes four-year players Jackie McDonough (Winchester, MA), Meganne Chiasson (North Andover, MA) and Elizabeth Ray (Simsbury, CT) and two-year player Allie Griffin (Billerica, MA), totaled 41 wins, the most in 14 seasons.

Johnson, who has a perfect 4.00 GPA, is also a starter on the WPI softball team and was honored with the 2009 Poly Club award, presented to the top female athlete in the junior class who has outstanding academic records along with campus involvement of a non-athletic nature.   She is president of SocCom and a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity.  

WPI completed its season with a 12-7 record, finishing in a four-way tie for second place in the ultra-competitive NEWMAC.   The Engineers, who fell in the NEWMAC quarterfinals on the road to defending championship Springfield, qualified for the ECAC Tournament for the first time since 1993 where they defeated New England College in the quarterfinals before falling to Plymouth State in the semis.   

Johnson will this participate this weekend in the NFHCA Division III Senior All-Star game. The contest is set to be played on Sunday, November 22nd at 9:30am at Mount Holyoke.  The game is in conjunction with the NCAA Division III semifinals and championships.

NFHCA Release