EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University’s two Millers were honored as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its post-season field hockey awards Wednesday.

ESU Coach Sandy Miller was chosen as the PSAC Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to second place in the conference, their highest finish ever, and to a berth in the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championships.

ESU midfielder Rachel Miller was chosen on the All-Conference first team for the second straight year. She was joined on the first team by teammate Kathy Martin, a back and a first-time selection.

The Warriors also had three players selected on the All-PSAC second team in forward Kate Dideon, midfielder Shannon McCracken and goalie Kelly Wagner.

This was the second PSAC Coach of the Year Award for Miller, who also was honored in 1996. She has led ESU teams to a 207-145-11 record over 18 seasons, including a 15-6 mark this year.

The Warriors will travel to Waltham, Ma. today to play Lock Haven in the semi-finals of the NCAA Division II tournament Friday at 5 p.m. on the Bentley College field. The other semis will match Bentley against St. Michael’s at 7:30. The championship game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m.

The team will be counting on the play of Miller and Martin, who take care of the left side of the team’s defense, helping slow down opponents’ attacks which usually come from the right side.

Miller is a three-year starter for the Warriors after transferring from Lock Haven. The senior from Tunkhannock (Tunkhannock High School) made the Division II All-America first team last season. She has scored one goal and has five assists this year,

"Rachel is just an excellent all-around player who does it all," said Coach Miller. "She has great skills and the ball seems to stay on her stick like a magnet."

Martin gained a starting position for the first time this season and has starred on a defense which has allowed less than a goal per game. The junior from Leesport (Schuylkill Valley HS) was a key reserve on last year’s team. She has contributed three assists.

"Kathy is a consistent, tough competitor who has been able to mark the top right wings in the conference and keep them doing any damage," the coach explained.

McCracken has been a force in the middle for the Warriors as the team’s center midfielder. The junior from Collegeville (Methacton HS) has five goals and five assists.

Dideon, a senior from Lancaster (Living Word Academy) leads the squad in assists with seven and has added five goals. She was an All-PSAC first team selection last year.

Wagner, a junior from Elizabethtown (Elizabethtown HS) is a repeat selection on the second team. She has permitted 0.98 goals per game with nine shutouts. A three-year starter, she already holds the school career shutout record with 23.5.