Benning and Dallas Earned NFHCA All-America Honors

From Stuart Kaufman, Sports Information: Keene State placed two players on the recently announced National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America team. Senior Carly Benning was named to the second team while senior Erin Dallas was a third-team selection. Dallas was also named to the first team of the womensfieldhockey.com All-America squad.

A first-time All-American, Benning led the Little East Conference in points (58) and goals (27). A starter in all 24 matches, she registered multiple points in 18 matches. She had a knack for netting the decisive score this season, notching game-winning goals in 14 of Keene State’s 18 victories. The Little East Offensive player of the Year and a first-team All-Region and All-LEC selection, Benning concludes her career fourth on KSC’s all-time goal (54) and point (124) list. She is the seventh Owl to reach the coveted 100-point career milestone.

Dallas becomes the first player in the program’s history to become a three-time All-American. She earned first-team honors the past two seasons as a midfielder and was recognized for her performance on defense this season. The talented back helped anchor an Owls’ defensive squad that posted a program-best 12 shutouts, including six scoreless matches to start the 2009 season. Keene State limited its opponents to fewer than two markers in 16 matches to post a team goal against average of 0.99. Dallas also contributed to the offensive rush on penalty corners with 14 points, including 10 helpers. She is the first student-athlete in the history of the Little East to be honored as both an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in her career and is a three-time first-team All-Region and All-LEC pick. Returning to the Keene State team after making a miraculous comeback from a post-surgical infection to play her final season for the Owls, Dallas became the Owls all-time assist (42) leader this season.