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BURLINGTON, Vt. – Senior field hockey standout Kelly Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) was honored as the 2016 America East Woman of the Year during the conference's annual awards dinner at the Hilton Burlington on Tuesday evening.
 
The America East has awarded a Woman of the Year since 2006. Freitas becomes the 11th all-time recipient and the first UMass Lowell student-athlete to receive the prestigious honor since the university joined the league in 2013. The University of Maine's Liz Wood (basketball) and the University of New Hampshire's Tori Forrest (volleyball) were also finalists for the 2016 title.
 
"We are very proud of Kelly - she represents the very best of college sports and certainly captures the America East philosophy of building the complete student-athlete," said UMass Lowell Athletic Director Dana Skinner. "All of this year's honorees for America East Woman of the Year are outstanding examples of our female student-athletes tackling the rigors of Division I sports, while also making contributions far beyond the competitive arena."
 
Freitas is a two-time recipient of UMass Lowell's Laurie A. Mann Award for academic and athletic excellence, leadership and service. She is also a four-time NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree and three-time America East Fall Honor Roll selection. In her final season, she earned a spot on the 2015 America East All-Academic Field Hockey Team.
 
A four-year member of the River Hawk field hockey program and a 2015 co-captain, she was successful both on and off the field during her collegiate tenure. The midfielder/back started all 19 games during her senior campaign with two goals and four assists for eight points. Freitas started 40 of 64 career games played, totaling four goals and five assists for 13 points. She graduated from UMass Lowell on May 14 as a bachelor of fine arts with a concentration in graphic design, boasting a 3.68 cumulative GPA.
 
"I couldn't imagine someone more deserving of this award," said Field Hockey Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "Kelly is one of the most remarkable young women that I have had the honor of coaching. She truly epitomizes the pillars of excellence that this award recognizes. Her commitment to service has been outstanding, and her leadership within the field hockey program and throughout the entire campus community has been incredibly impactful."
 
Freitas took part in many service organizations at UMass Lowell, including being elected Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President for 2015-16 and serving on the America East Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She was previously the Public Relations Chair for the UMass Lowell Student Government Association, helping to promote the campus' transition to a tobacco-free environment.
 
Other service endeavors Freitas devoted time to include working as a Team IMPACT Ambassador, a graphic design intern for the Office of Student Engagement and a member of the America Institute of Graphic Arts.
 
"Over the course of her entire career as a River Hawk, she has sustained a high level of excellence in athletics, academics, leadership and service - all of the areas that are expected of a member of our field hockey program," added Hlebichuk. "She has certainly left a mark on this program and this entire university, and to receive this honor is the perfect capstone to an amazing four years."
 
With the America East honor, Freitas is now eligible for NCAA Woman of the Year. The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will name a Top 30 (10 from each division) and then three finalists from each division. The Committee on Women's Athletics will then select its winner from the Top Nine. The 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced Sunday, October 16 at an awards dinner in Indianapolis.