BEVERLY, Mass. – Six members of the Endicott women's ice hockey program have earned postseason honors from the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), as announced by the league office earlier today.
Today's announcement marks the first-ever CCC All-Conference and major award winners in league history, since taking over operations from the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) in 2020-21.
Michaela O'Brien (Pembroke, Mass.), Samantha Fantasia (Billerica, Mass.), and Courtney Sullivan (North Yarmouth, Maine) headlined the group of award winners for the Gulls.
O'Brien received Goaltender of the Year honors, Fantasia was named the conference's Rookie of the Year, and Sullivan was selected as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year, respectively.
Along with their major awards, O'Brien and Sullivan were tabbed to the All-CCC First Team.
The Gulls also saw Tabitha Franceschini (Brick, N.J.), Jacy Kuhlman (Severna Park, Md.), and Jess Burwell (Hooksett, N.H.) selected to the All-CCC Second Team.
MICHAELA O'BRIEN | JR. | GOALIE
In 12 games played (all starts) this season, O'Brien has compiled an 8-3-1 record (6-1-1 CCC) behind a .945 save percentage (308 saves) and a 1.48 goals against average (GAA, three shutouts).
O'Brien also has registered 30 or more saves in four contests during the year, highlighted by a program record 56 saves in a 4-3 overtime win over then-No. 1 nationally ranked Plattsburgh State on November 27, 2021. The win marked the program's first-ever victory over a No. 1 nationally ranked opponent (first attempt).
Nationally, among her NCAA Division III peers, O'Brien currently ranks No. 12 in save percentage and No. 16 in GAA.
This is O'Brien's first career Goaltender of the Year award (program's third) and all-conference selection.
SAMANTHA FANTASIA | FR. | FORWARD
So far during her rookie campaign, Fantasia has notched six goals (3 GWG, 2 PP, 1 SH) and dished out 10 assists for 16 points in 21 games.
Fantasia also has logged four multi-point games, including a career-high three-point effort (1G, 2A) against Salve Regina on February 19, 2022, and ranks third on the team in scoring and plus-minus (+12).
Additionally, Fantasia is now the third student-athlete in program history to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Sullivan and Vendela Jonsson '19 M'20 (Linkoping, Sweden) on the exclusive list.
COURTNEY SULLIVAN | SR. | FORWARD
Academically, Sullivan is a marketing and finance double major currently sporting a 3.97 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Sullivan has garnered several academic awards throughout her career including College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® At-Large Third Team accolades, three American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-America Scholar honors, three CCC Academic All-Conference awards, and several Dean's List citations.
Sullivan also is a member of the Sigma Beta Delta National Honor Society and the Endicott College Women in Leadership Club, and a Presidential Academic Scholarship award winner.
Sullivan will graduate in May with a position at Fidelity in hand due to her academic prowess and experiential learning opportunities afforded to her at Endicott.
Athletically, Sullivan has produced 15 goals (3 GWG, 4 PP) and seven assists for 22 points in 22 contests this season.
Sullivan also has recorded five multi-point games, which includes a hat trick against Salve Regina on November 6, 2021, and ranks first on the team in scoring and plus-minus (+22).
Nationally, Sullivan ranks No. 56 in faceoff wins (201), No. 28 in game-winning goals (tied with Fantasia), No. 23 in goals per game (0.68), No. 57 in points per game (1.00), and No. 30 in power play goals (tied).
This is Sullivan's first career first team honor and second career all-conference award (2nd Team, 2019-20).
TABITHA FRANCESCHINI | SR. | FORWARD
Franceschini's stat line this season includes four goals, four assists, eight points, a +4 rating, and one power play tally in 22 games.
She also ranks second on the team in faceoff wins with 159 total (.574, No. 99 nationally)) and contributed three points to the team's power play (1G, 2 A).
This is Franceschini's first career all-conference honor.
JACY KUHLMAN | SR. | FORWARD
In 22 games played this season, Kuhlman has compiled 11 goals (1 GWG, 2 PP) and six assists for 17 points.
Kuhlman also has put together two multi-point games on the year and is tied for third on the team in plus-minus (+12).
This is Kuhlman's first career all-conference honor.
JESS BURWELL | SO. | DEFENSEMAN
Burwell's sophomore campaign has featured two goals and 11 assists for 13 points so far in 21 games played.
Burwell also sports the second-best plus-minus (+16) on the team and has aided Endicott to the league's best GAA at 1.17 (1.00 CCC, also first).
Meanwhile, on the power play, Burwell is tied for third on the team with five points (1G, 4A).
This is Burwell's first career all-conference honor.
WHAT'S NEXT
No. 8 Endicott (17-4-1) will play the lowest remaining seed in the CCC Semifinals on Saturday, February 26 (time TBD).
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)
