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Brooklyn, N.Y. – After taking the individual title at the 2012 Northeast Conference Championship, freshman Cristina Felip has been named Rookie of the Year. Felip also earned All-NEC First Team honors while teammate Anna Palsson was named to the All-NEC Second Team.

Head coach Natalie Desjardins has been named NEC Coach of the Year for an outstanding first year at the helm of LIU women's golf. A former NEC individual champion herself, Desjardins not only coached the Blackbirds to the overall team title but also a pair of tournament wins at the Lonnie Barton Invitational and MU Hawk Invitational.

Felip dominated throughout the tournament, shooting an even-par 72 on the first day of play. She kept the momentum going on the second day, firing a two-under 70 and closed out the competition with a 73.

In only her first semester as a Blackbird, the Barcelona, Spain native made an immediate impact on the team. Felip nabbed first place at the Lonnie Barton Invitational in March and was named NEC Women's Golfer of the Week for her performance.

Palsson, the 2011 NEC Individual Champion, earned All-NEC Second Team honors after a stellar comeback on the final day of the NEC Championship. The Stockholm, Sweden native carded an even-par 72 to help secure LIU's team triumph.

The Blackbirds head to State College, Pa. May 10-12 for the NCAA East Regional.