Triano, Vitale Earn NJAC Accolades

PITMAN, N.J. (11/11/09) - Sophomore Olivia Triano (Keyport, N.J.) and junior Joelle Vitale (Metuchen, N.J.) were named New Jersey Athletic Conference first-team all-stars, as voted on by the conference's seven head coaches and announced Wednesday morning.

A midfielder, Triano (pictured right) was tied for the conference lead in goals (8/1.33pg) and points (16/2.67pg), as she scored in all but two conference games for the Cougars, including hat tricks against Ramapo College and The College of New Jersey.

For the season, Triano ranks second on the team in goals (14) and points (31), and is third in assists (3).

A three-year starter Vitale (pictured left) earns NJAC honors for the second straight season after earning honorable mention accolades a year ago. She helped anchor a Cougar defense that recorded six shutouts this season.

The Cougars (11-4) finished 3-3 in the NJAC in 2009 and earned the third seed in the upcoming Eastern College Athletic Conference Mid-Atlantic Region Championships, a title they won a year ago. Kean opens defense of the title on Wednesday evening against Catholic University, the same team the Cougars defeated in the championship game a year ago to win the program's first-ever championship. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.