Nov. 4, 2010
BALTIMORE - Loyola University Maryland sophomore Nichole Schiro was named the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year, the league announced this evening at an awards banquet on Loyola's campus.
Schiro, who shared the award with Canisius College's Kelly Reinwald, scored 15 goals this season, a tally good for second all-time on the Loyola single-season chart.
She also earned All-MAAC First Team honors, joining two of her teammates, seniors Kelly Farrell and Lina Staropoli.
Schiro put together one of the finest offensive seasons in school history, leading the conference with 15 goals. She also had an assist for 31 total points, the third-best mark in school single-season history.
The forward's 15 goals matched the 2005 total of Ali Andrzejewski who also holds the school record of 18 in 2004.
In just two seasons at Loyola, Schiro, who earned MAAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on four occasions, has scored 24 goals, tying her with Courtney Arikian (2003-07) for fourth all-time at Loyola.
She scored six game-winning goals and had multi-goal games on four occasions throughout 2010. Currently, she is sixth in NCAA Division I in total goals and eighth in goals per game (0.75).
Farrell led the Greyhounds this year with seven assists, and she also had two goals for 11 total points, second-best on the team. From her outside midfielder position, the senior is tied for fourth in the MAAC in total assists.
She wrapped up her four-year career with 10 goals and 15 assists for 35 total points. Farrell's 15 assists are tied for eighth all-time at Loyola. She also earned All-MAAC Second Team honors as a junior in 2009.
Staropoli was an anchor of the Loyola defense throughout her career. The past two seasons, she moved from her natural position of defensive midfielder to center back. This year, Staropoli finished with a goal and three assists.
She played in all 81 matches over the last four years, starting all but one when she stepped aside on Senior Day 2009 to let one of her teammates take the field at the beginning of the game. Staropoli, who also was a 2009 All-MAAC First Team honoree, scored seven goals and assisted on 18 others for 32 points in her career. Her 18 assists are tied for third all-time at the school with Annie DiPalo (1999-2002).
In addition to the honors for Farrell, Schiro and Staropoli, five Loyola players were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team: Staropoli, Schiro and sophomores Kelsey Donohue, Gianna Mangione and Tessa McClenahan.
