FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Capital Athletic Conference champion Salisbury swept the major awards and placed a conference-leading nine players on the 2018 All-CAC Team. Sea Gull junior back Jillian Hughes was named Player of the Year, freshman forward Tara Flavin earned Rookie of the Year, and head coach Dawn Chamberlin was honored as Coach of the Year for SU. 

Hughes becomes the third straight and 17th Salisbury player to win the conference's top honor as Player of the Year. The 2016 CAC Rookie of the Year, Hughes is the fifth player in conference history to secure both Rookie and Player of the Year honors throughout their careers. Previous players to receive that elite distinction include a quartet of Salisbury standouts - Melissa Webster (2001 & 2004), Brittany Elliott (2002 & 2005), Kandice Hancock (2007 & 2008), and Tara McGovern (2008 & 2009), along with Mary Washington's Jenna Steele (2012 & 2015). In addition, Hughes has now earned All-CAC first-team honors each of her three seasons. 

Flavin was selected as Rookie of the Year, becoming the 10th Sea Gull to receive top rookie honors. The freshman forward also collected second-team All-CAC accolades. Chamberlin earned Coach of the Year accolades for the 17th time in her career. She has been selected by her peers as Coach of the Year 17 times in the 28-year history of the award. 

In addition to Hughes and Flavin, seven other Sea Gulls earned spots on the All-CAC team. Junior midfielder Arielle Johnston and junior back Lindsey Elgin repeated as first-teamers, with junior forward Tara Daddio also securing first-team honors. Landing on the second team for SU were senior forward Emily Lemanski, junior forward Jenna Partilla, junior midfielder Sarah Jackson, and sophomore goalkeeper Dom Farrace. Lemanski was a repeat All-CAC selection after claiming first-team honors last fall. 

Conference tournament runner-up Christopher Newport secured the second-most All-CAC nods with six. Senior back Brittan Muir finished her career as a four-time All-CAC pick, earning first-team accolades for the second time. Junior midfielder Rachel Cooke made it three-straight All-CAC appearances, elevating to the first team for the first time after back-to-back second-team honors in 2016 and 2017. Senior back Courtnie Greene and sophomore midfielder Courtney Fiest were also repeat all-stars, with Greene earning first-team honors in 2017 and Fiest second-team honors last fall. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Davis also claimed first-team recognition for CNU, while senior forward Rachael Allshouse wrapped up her career as a three-time all-star, earning second-team laurels in 2018. 

Mary Washington's five selections were headlined by junior forward Lauren Hopkins, who collected first-team accolades. Hopkins has now secured three-straight All-CAC nods for the Eagles. A quartet of UMW players landed on the second team - junior midfielder Lexie Dixson, senior backs Mackenzie Burnett and Gillian Ross, and senior goalkeeper Jessica Cavolt. Dixson was the lone repeat all-star of the group, with this being her third consecutive All-CAC second team award.

York placed four on the All-CAC squad, including a trio of repeat all-stars on the first team. Senior forward Lindsay Nye, the 2015 Co-Rookie of the Year, made her way onto the all-conference team for the third time in her career. Junior forward Greta Plappert was named to the first team for the second year in a row, while sophomore midfielder Dana Meehling secured first-team honors for the first time after landing on the second team last fall. Sophomore back Julea Truskey represented the Spartans on the second team. 

A pair of St. Mary's players received All-CAC second team honors - sophomore back Meghan Ronan and freshman midfielder Gabrielle Corder. Frostburg State was represented on the All-CAC team by sophomore midfielder Gabby Rachuba, who secured second-team accolades.

2018 CAC Player of the Year: Jillian Hughes, Salisbury
2018 CAC Rookie of the Year: Tara Flavin, Salisbury
2018 CAC Coach of the Year: Dawn Chamberlin, Salisbury (17th time)

2018 All-CAC Field Hockey First Team

2018 All-CAC Field Hockey Second Team