Three-Student Athletes Named To All-MASCAC Women's Soccer Team
Buzzards Bay, MA --- Senior standout Danielle Clifford has been named the MASCAC Player of the Year in a vote by the leagues eight head coaches last week as announced by conference publicist Jim Seavey. Along with Clifford, senior Nikki Scott and junior Brianne Beckman received nods to the team while Kevin Cumberbatch was selected as the Turfer MASCAC Coach of the Year.
Buzzards Bay, MA --- Senior standout Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, MA) has been named the MASCAC Player of the Year in a vote by the leagues eight head coaches last week as announced by conference publicist Jim Seavey.
Along with Clifford, fourth-year Nikki Scott (Berlin, MA) and third-year Brianne Beckman (Lakeville, MA) were also tabbed to the first-team as head coach Kevin Cumberbatch was also selected as the Turfer MASCAC Coach of the Year.
Clifford wraps up an outstanding career that saw her finish the season leading the team in goals (9) and points (21) as her final tally in points was tied for seventh in the MASCAC.
Clifford, who primarily played at center midfield this season after starting at forward the last three seasons, finishes her four years all alone at fourth place on the all-time scoring list with 26 goals and 19 assists for 71 points. Clifford's career helpers and goals are second and tied for fourth, respectively, in the WSU record book.
Clifford was also a first-team All-MASCAC honoree in 2009 and 2010 and she is the first MASCAC Player of the Year since Lauren Cush earned the accolade in 2007.
Scott also ends her season and career with an impressive resume. Scott, who has started in every game since her freshman year at center back, helped anchor a defense that led the MASCAC in goals against average (0.75) and tied for the conference lead in goals allowed (17).
As of this past week, the squads GAA is currently ranked 61st in the NCAA Division III and 12th in New England.
Scott, who was named All-MASCAC first-team last season, finishes her career with seven goals and three assists for 17 career points. Scott has helped WSU post 30 shutouts in 70 games and a sparking 0.969 GAA in the last four years.
Beckman had a breakout campaign at center forward. Beckman finished the year with five goals, seven assists and 17 points. Her team lead in helpers was just one off of the school record held by two former players while her points were second on the squad to Clifford.
With her total this season, Beckman earned a spot on the all-time scoring list as she now has eight goals, 11 dishes for 26 career points.
In each of his first four seasons as a head coach, Cumberbatch has helped lead the Lancers to the MASCAC Tournament. This past year the Blue and Gold captured a share of their third regular season conference crown (first since 2007) and they were the runners-up in the four-team league tournament.
WSU earned the top-seed in the ECAC Division III Tournament and won their first-ever ECAC title last week after they bested Keene State in a shootout this past Sunday.
Cumberbatch has a career record of 44-32-11 (.692) and he is just five wins away from being the all-time winningest coach in Worcester State women's soccer history.