University of New England Athletics

Field hockey player Holly Smith has been named the UNE Athlete of the Month for November 2013.

The first-year goalie capped the season by backstopping Big Blue to the program's second Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Dvision III New England Championship, with victories over Bridgewater State (2-1 in 2OT) and Plymouth State (2-1). Smith made 12 saves out of the 14 shots that came her way in the tournament to earn the honor of Most Outstanding Player.

A little more than a week earlier, she was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Year and a first team all-CCC selection, after helping the Nor'easters complete a perfect regular-season (12-0).

Smith lowered her season goals against average during the final five games down to 1.43 -- the second-best single-season mark in UNE history. She posted an eighth shutout on the year during a CCC-semifinal triumph over Nichols, moving into sole possession of the program single-season record in the category.