May 3, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The BIG EAST released 2017 conference honors Wednesday afternoon, with Julie Blaze being named to the first team and Jill Doherty to the second team All-BIG EAST. It is the third-consecutive season the Dores have had multiple all-conference selections since joining the BIG EAST.
This is Blaze’s first time earning an all-conference selection while this marks the second time Doherty has made the second team All-BIG EAST (2015).
In her second year on campus, Blaze was a constant in the Commodore midfield, starting 14 of the 15 games on the year. She ended the season leading the team in goals with 33, the first sophomore to achieve that since April Tellam back in 1999. She also finished the year second in points (38), fourth in caused turnovers (12) and draw controls (22) and fifth in ground balls (18).
“Julie is extremely fast and her athleticism has made her our team leader in goals,” said head coach Cathy Swezey. “She is a game-changing player and has come through in the clutch several times this season. Lastly, Julie is one of the hardest working players on our team and dedicates a ton of her personal time to improving her game.”
Doherty capped off her final season in a Commodore uniform by leading the team in most categories at the end of the year. Doherty finished first in draw controls (74), points (54), ground balls (28), and caused turnovers (19) while finishing second in goals with 31. The 74 draw controls are the second most in a single season all-time in school history. Doherty ends her career second all-time in school history in assists (84), third in draw controls (163) and seventh in points (175).
“Jill is one of the most dynamic players I have ever coached,” said Swezey. “Her stick skills are second to no one that has played in this program. She is a playmaker, competitor and one of the best leaders I have had in years. For the last three years of Jill’s career she has been face guarded ten to fifteen times. She consistently has the top defender on the opposing team marking her, but continues to be in the top two for points. Jill has had a great season between the 30’s, leading the team in draw controls, ground balls and caused turnovers.”
