AMHERST, Massachusetts -- Four members of the Amherst College women's lacrosse team were named to the IWLCA New England Regional All-America Squad, which recognizes the top 30 players on a First and Second Team. This year's student-athletes hail from eleven different schools, including nine NESCAC institutions.
Heather Kestner (Wilmington, DE) and Irene Permut (Wilmington, DE) earned First Team honors and are now eligible for National All-America recognition. Kestner, a tri-captain and midfielder, was named a Senior All-Star, NESCAC Player of the Week, NESN Athlete of the Week and ECAC Tournament MVP within a span of a week for her outstanding performances that helped Amherst upset undefeated Williams and claim its second-straight ECAC Championship. Permut leads the team in caused turnovers, forcing 41 while committing only 12 in 15 games for a 3.4 to 1 ratio. The junior registered six goals and eight assists from the midfield. Both have also been named to the NFHCA All-Academic Squad for field hockey, where Permut claimed First Team All-America honors this past fall.
Seniors Heidi Cline (Andover, MA) and Jessica Flynn (Newton, NJ) earned Second Team honors on offense and defense, respectively. Cline posted 44 goals and 11 assists (55 points) as the team's second leading scorer (to Kestner's 46-10-56), and she closed out her career as Amherst's second all-time leading scorer with 171 points, and first in career goals with 129. Kestner finished third and second, respectively. Flynn was Amherst's top defender, stifling opposing offenses while dishing out a pair of assists.
Amherst women's lacrosse finished the 1998 campaign with a 12-3 record as two-time ECAC Champions. The team tied last year's mark of most wins in a season with a dozen, and the squad saw both Cline and Kestner score their 100th career goal during the season. The team concluded the season with a four-game win streak and ranked No. 10 in the nation.
First Team Attack Heather Kestner Amherst Adrienne Gratry Bowdoin Lina Chickering Middlebury Amity Wall Middlebury Jennifer Martinelli Trinity Dorothy Cavanagh Trinity Alana Teutonico Williams Defense Irene Permut Amherst Molly McMahon Bates Lauren Gioia Williams Heidi Howard Middlebury Missy Hopkins Middlebury Amanda Tucker Trinity Jessica Maclellan Tufts Goalkeeper Emily Bracken Middlebury Second Team Attack Heidi Cline Amherst Christie Browning Colby Anna Stancioff Conn College Jessica Striebel Mount Holyoke Ashley Knowles Trinity Jane Griffin Wellesley Caroline Nesbit Williams Defense Jessica Flynn Amherst Kristina Stahl Colby Christina Seta Conn College Heidi Dripps Middlebury Rachel Li Wellesley Christina "Tina" Eide Williams Courtney Stokes Williams Goalkeeper Bowen Holden Bowdoin # # # 5/13/98