2014 NFCA All-Region Teams

Utica, NY (5/12/14)- Senior Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) and sophomore Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) of the Utica College softball team were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Northeast All-Region Team this past weekend.  Matan was a First Team selection, while Russell earned Third Team recognition. 
 
Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker), who was recently named to her third straight Empire 8 All-Conference team, led the league with a .481 batting average. She set a new school single-season record with 17 doubles and her .50 doubles per game rank eighth nationally. Her slugging percentage of .792 was also the best in the conference.  Matan holds the Empire 8 Conference single-season record with 1.74 hits per game.  She is also the College's single-season record holder in hits (68) and stolen bases (18).  She ranks second all-time with a .397 batting average over her three-year career. 
 
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) is making her second consecutive All-Region appearance after earning first team honors one year ago.  The 2013 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year was second on the team and fourth in the conference with a .404 batting average.  She was on fire at the beginning of the season as she had a 17-game hitting streak, which lasted from March 19 to April 19.  On the season, she led the team with 27 RBI and was a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts, while tying for the team lead with five home runs. 
 
The Pioneers wrapped up their season with a 22-12 overall record.  UC was eliminated from the postseason in a heartbreaking 9-8 walk off loss to Alfred University in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. 



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