South Windsor Athletes on Campus: Two Excel at ECSU

Two South Windsor natives enjoyed tremendous success on the Eastern Connecticut State University women’s soccer team this season.

Defender Gia Karahalios (South Windsor High ‘12) became only the third freshman - and the first since 1998 - to gain all-region accolades when she was named to the 2012 fourth team All-New England by National Soccer Coaches' Association of America. Karahalios was this year's Little East Conference Rookie-of-the-Year and a first-team all-conference selection when she was one of only three players on the team to start all 18 matches. She averaged 83.0 minutes per match and helped the Warriors to six shutouts and a 1.06 goals-against average.

Karahalios’ teammate, senior midfielder Kelly Wallace (South Windsor High ‘09), was named to the all-conference team three times during her four-year career at ECSU. Her 14 assists were the most in the conference, placed her second in all of New England and ranked her 14th in all of Division III. Wallace is also the all-time assist leader in ECSU history with 33, eclipsing the previous career record of 30 which had stood for 23 years (1989). Additionally, the South Windsor native now sits atop ECSU's record books in single season assists (14) and total career appearances (81), while she is tied for third all-time with 75 career starts. For her career, she totalled 17 goals to go along with her record 33 assists. Perhaps most importantly, Wallace qualified each of her four years for the LEC All-Academic Team.

The Warriors finished the season with a 9-6-3 record.

South Windsor native Ben Coulthard has amassed a 4-1-1 record in six games as the Trinity College men’s hockey team’s goalie. He has a .959 save percentage with a 1.48 goals against average for the Bantams, who are 5-1-1 overall.

Michelle Baj (South Windsor High ‘09), a senior on the UConn women’s soccer team, appeared in seven games for the 9-8-2 Huskies.

South Windsor native Lindsey Stewart scored a goal for the New England College women’s ice hockey team in a 4-1 victory over St. Michael’s in November.

Deidra Clymer (South Windsor High ‘11) appeared in three games as a goalie for the Providence College field hockey team this year. She allowed just four goals in compiling a 1-2 record for the Friars, who went 9-9 on the year.