McGovern leads trio named ECAC Mid-Atlantic All-Stars

CENTERVILLE, Mass. – The Salisbury University field hockey team's defense finished the 2011 season ranked second in the nation, allowing just 0.60 goals per game. That defense was honored on Thursday as three seniors were named Eastern College Athletic Conference Mid-Atlantic All-Stars.

Back Tara McGovern was named to the Mid-Atlantic first team while back Shannon Hanratty and goalkeeper Anna Cooke were each named to the second team.

McGovern and Hanratty each started all 20 games this season, as the Sea Gulls posted an 18-2 record, allowing just 12 goals. Salisbury's opponents managed just 110 shots, 58 on goal, while Salisbury took 453 shots. McGovern scored five times this season and notched six assists while posting one defensive save. Hanratty had two defensive saves this year and finished with 14 in her career.

Cooke was the last line of defense for Salisbury, posting eight shutouts this season and was the national leader in goals allowed average (0.53) to go with a save percentage of .792. Her eight shutouts this year gave her 33 for her career, and a new program record.

Salisbury won 15 games to start the season, and collected the program's 16th Capital Athletic Conference championship before advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.