BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Recent University of New England graduate Anne Cowles (Franconia, N.H.) has been chosen The Commonwealth Coast Conference Woman of the Year. The TCCC Senior Woman Administrators Group made the announcement late yesterday (May 26).

Cowles, a four-year field hockey player for the Nor'easters, was one of four TCCC nominees. She will move on to the next phase of the process when 10 student-athletes from each division of the NCAA will be selected. From there, the top three in each division will be identified. The top 10 honorees for each division and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III will be honored at a dinner in Indianapolis on October 17, 2010. The 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at that event.

Cowles was awarded a bachelor of science degree in applied exercise science on May 22. The 2009 TCCC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year in field hockey, she was also a first team all-conference selection. Over her four-year career, Cowles started all 66 of the team's games, including 19 this past season when she helped lead UNE to a 16-3 record and the Nor'easters' first ECAC Championship in any sport.

Cowles served as a tri-captain for Big Blue in 2009. She was a three-time academic all-conference selection and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma national student-athlete honor society. 

"We are obviously very proud of Anne and all that she accomplished here," said UNE Director of Athletics Kim Allen. "Her success in the classroom, on the playing field, and her presence in the community is nothing short of remarkable. Anne is an amazing person, and it is truly fitting she is being recognized as the TCCC Woman of the Year."

The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Student-athletes are nominated only once in their career by their institution.