UTICA, NY -- Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) of the Utica College softball team were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Northeast All-Region team on Monday.  Siriano was named to the second team while Russell earned third team honors.

Sirano, who was an Empire 8 All-Conference second team pick, finished second on the squad and sixth in the conference with a .409 average at the plate.  She also tied for fourth in the E8 in hits (45) and runs scored (32).  She finished tied with Russell for second on the team with 12 stolen bases, which ranks seventh in the College's single-season record book. Her 25 RBIs were also good enough for second on the team. 

Russell is making her third consecutive all-region appearance.  She was named to the first team as a freshman and she has now earned third team status in each of the last two seasons.  She is also a three time All-Conference pick. She finished the season ranked third in the Empire 8 with a .472 batting average; she also added 50 hits and seven home runs. She ranked second in the conference with a .533 on base percentage and 41 runs scored. This season, she notched career highs in runs scored, home runs, triples (four), stolen bases (12), batting average, and on base percentage. She opened the season on a 16-game hitting streak and recorded at least one hit in 30-of-32 games played.  Russell set new single-season records for slugging percentage (.868) and on base percentage and tied the College's single season record for runs scored.

The Pioneers wrapped up the season with an 18-16 overall record and a 6-8 mark in the conference.  It marked the fifth straight year Utica has finished above .500.