Kjellman named tops in collegiate lacrosse

Northwestern University midfielder Kristen Kjellman of Westwood ended her college career with an impressive collection of honors. In the last two weeks, Kjellman has been named the top collegiate female lacrosse athlete in the country, midfielder of the year, and a first-team All-America selection, among other accolades.

The Westwood High grad received all of the above honors for her third year in a row. The national honor was based on votes from 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program. As a result, she will receive the 2007 Honda Sports Award given to women athletes in the 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. She also will be nominated for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.

"I'm truly honored to win this award once again, especially since the other three nominees are such great lacrosse players," said Kjellman in a release. "Each year I've played for Northwestern has been so different -- with new team chemistry each season. Ultimately, however, my coaches and teammates are the ones that have pushed and driven me, molding me into the player I am today. This year, as a senior, it was my goal for myself and for the team to go out on top, and I couldn't ask for a better finish to the season."

Kjellman set the NCAA all-time tournament record with 39 career goals. She was the only player to score 66 goals and 80 draw controls during the 2007 season. She holds the school record in career goals (250) and assists (99).

The Midfielder of the Year award was selected by Inside Lacrosse and womenslacrosse.com. She also was a first-team selection and was one of eight Northwestern lacrosse players to receive All-America honors.

Sophomore Meredith Frank of Westwood also earned first-team honors.

Kjellman and Frank are two of five Wildcats from either Westwood or Norwell High to help Northwestern earn its third consecutive NCAA championship.

The team includes Westwood graduates Ali Jacobs and Sara Harrington and Norwell graduate Caitlin Jackson.

Wildcats don't make Division 3 final

The West Bridgewater softball team could not find the offense it needed to advance to the Division 3 final. The Wildcats were stumped by North Reading pitcher Caroline Gattuso in an 8-0 loss in the Division 3 EMass final Tuesday. West Bridgewater's first hit did not come until the seventh inning.

The game was a rematch of last season's EMass final, which North Reading won, 4-2.

West Bridgewater's 2007 season ended with a 18-6 record and back-to-back berths to the state semifinal.

The Wildcats will graduate Michelle Read, Amanda Ryan, and Kellie Burley.

Quigley speeds up La Salle's triumphs

Sean Quigley of Braintree became the first La Salle University runner to earn three All-American honors in a season after he placed fourth (28 minutes, 59.29 seconds) in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA National Championships recently.

Quigley, an Archbishop Williams graduate, also was an All-America in cross country and indoor track. He was selected the Mid Atlantic District Athlete of the Year by the U S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

"The first couple of years Sean ran with the best but [ June 8] he raced with the best and it shows," said La Salle coach Charles Torpey in a release. "The third time around the maturity level is so different -- now his mentality is 'I can run with any of these guys.' "

Norwell grad makes men's lacrosse team

Trinity College attackman Kris Tedeschi was selected to the All-New England Small College Athletic Conference men's lacrosse second team.

Tedeschi, a Norwell graduate, helped Trinity earn a 9-6 record, its best since 2000. In the league, Trinity finished third with a 5-4 record.

Tedeschi ended his junior season with 31 goals and 13 assists in 15 games. He also had 28 ground balls.

Westwood girls shine in lacrosse

The Westwood girls' lacrosse team was one of a few teams from communities south of Boston still playing in the state tournament, but its season ended one game shy of the state championship.

Framingham defeated Westwood, 10-9, Tuesday in the Division 1 EMass final. It was nine seconds from overtime when Framingham broke up the tie.

During more challenging points of the match, Westwood kept close. "I was thrilled with how they kept fighting," Westwood coach Leslie Frank said.

Frank said the team and its seven seniors have plenty to be proud of. The team ended its season 22-2. "They all showed a lot more heart than a lot of other teams."

Seniors are Liz Kenney, Annie Brown, Liz Lyons, Carlin Reilly, Callie Rose, Christina McCarron, and Melinda Kareh. They were on the 2005 state championship team.