The American Lacrosse Conference has named Northwestern's Kristen Kjellman as the Conference Player of the Year, as selected by a vote of the conference's head coaches. This is the third consecutive year that Kjellman has been so named, she has helped Northwestern win the NCAA title the last two years. Her mentor Kelly Amonte Hiller was named the Coach of the Year by her peers for the fourth consecutive year, and teammate Morgan Lathrop was named the Goalie of the Year. Johns Hopkins' Sam Schrum earned Rookie of the Year honors.

Kjellman helped the Wildcats to an undefeated conference season and the number-one national ranking at the end of the regular season. At the end of the regular season, Kjellman ranked 17th in the nation in scoring, 12th in goals per game, and 13th in draw controls per game. A three-time ALC Player of the Week honoree in 2007, Kjellman ranks in the top-eight in the conference in points, goals, assists, draw controls, and caused turnovers, the only person to do so. She was named the National Player of the Week on April 23 and earned national honor roll honors twice.

Lathrop leads the nation in goals-against average and save percentage. Her average of 5.49 GAA ranks fifth all-time in NCAA history (since 1996). She is the only player in the nation to have a sub-6.00 goals-against average and the only player to have greater than a 60% save percentage.

Schrum, the ALC Player of the Week on March 12, was a significant part of a Hopkins offense that ranks in the top-20 in the nation. She ranked fourth for the Blue Jays in scoring and draw controls and third in ground balls and fifth in draw controls.

Amonte Hiller, who earned the ALC Coach of the Year honor in 2004, 2005 and 2006, earned the honor for a fourth consecutive year after leading the 'Cats to an undefeated regular conference season and the No. 1 ranking in the nation. In 2005 she led the Wildcats to their first national title and became just the second person in Division I history to win a title as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She repeated as national champion in 2006.

The Wildcats led all teams with five first-team selections and had seven All-Conference selections overall. Joining Kjellman and Lathrop on the first team are teammates Christy Finch, Meredith Frank, and Hannah Neilsen. Vanderbilt and Ohio State both had five student-athletes honored, including Margie Curran and Sasha Cielak from Vanderbilt and Jessica Patane from Ohio State on the first team. Johns Hopkins had four student-athletes honored, including Mary Key and Lauren Schwarzmann on the first team; Penn State also had two on the first team with Jessi Lieb and Renee Cipro.

ALC First Team
Sasha Cielak, Vanderbilt
Renee Cipro, Penn State
Margie Curran, Vanderbilt
Christy Finch, Northwestern
Meredith Frank, Northwestern
Mary Key, Johns Hopkins
Kristen Kjellman, Northwestern
Morgan Lathrop, Northwestern
Jessi Lieb, Penn State
Hannah Neilsen, Northwestern
Jessica Patane, Ohio State
Lauren Schwarzmann, Johns Hopkins

ALC Second Team
Lindsay Finocchario, Northwestern
Danielle Gibson, Ohio State
Kristen Gilwee, Ohio State
Cara Giordano, Vanderbilt
Aly Josephs, Northwestern
Cherie Michaud, Johns Hopkins
Nicole Pugno, Vanderbilt
Kerry Shea, Penn State
Amanda Shimp, Ohio State
Kristen Slahor, Ohio State
Kadie Stamper, Johns Hopkins
Kendall Thrift, Vanderbilt

Player of the Year: Kristen Kjellman, Northwestern
Rookie of the Year: Sam Schrum, Johns Hopkins
Goalie of the Year: Morgan Lathrop, Northwestern
Coach of the Year: Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern

2007-05-02