Dec. 15, 2010

UMass Lowell seniors Brianne Bozzella (Wilmington, Mass.), Ella Merullo (Wakefield, Mass.) and Michelle LaMar (Billerica, Mass.) were among 19 players selected to the 2010 New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) Division II All-Star Team.

Bozzella, who graduated fourth among UMass Lowell’s career scorers with 15 goals and 12 assists (42 points), was the top Division II overall vote-getter while Merullo, among the program’s best-ever defenders, drew the most votes among the backs selected.

All three players were selected to play in the NEWISA Senior Bowl on Dec. 4, which pits players from New England colleges against one another, at Merrimack College. Bozzella and Merullo led their team to a 2-1 victory while LaMar missed the match due to illness.

Bozzella scored midway through the second half to give her side a 2-0 lead.

UMass Lowell went 8-8-2 overall (8-7-0 in the NE-10) this season (tied for sixth) and advanced to the NE-10 Tournament where it drew with Merrimack, 1-1, before falling on penalty kicks, 5-4.

Bozzella led UMass Lowell in scoring this season with seven goals and four assists and ranked tied for fifth among Northeast-10 Conference leaders with four game-winning goals. She was named to the NE-10 All-Conference Second Team on Oct. 29.

Merullo and LaMar helped lead a defense that maintained a 1.07 goals against average – fourth in the NE-10 – and posted seven shutouts (tied for fifth).

UMass Lowell returns 21 players and eight starters for the 2011 season.