Western New England land first ECAC All-Stars since 2006
CENTERVILLE, Mass.--The postseason accolades continue to roll in for the Western New England University football team as the Eastern College Athletic Conference announced this week that linebacker Nathan Fleming and defensive back Alex Miller have been named ECAC North All-Stars. Fleming is the ECAC North Defensive Rookie of the Year, a similar award he received from the New England Football Conference (Boyd Division) last month.
A freshman out of Willimantic, Conn. (Windham High School) led the Golden Bears with a second-NEFC-leading 101 tackles (43 solo), including 9-1/2 for loss of 27 yards and 3-1/2 sacks for minus 19. He made the all-NEFC Boyd first team while recording the most tackles during the Keith Emery coaching era and the best mark in the program in 16 years.
Miller, a senior captain from Seekonk High, last week became the second Golden Bear to be accorded a football All-American (Third Team by Beyond Sports Network) in their NCAA era and was selected to the all-NEFC Boyd first team. He led all NCAA divisions in interceptions for most of the season before winding up with a school-record eight picks. That figure also led the NEFC and is currently tied for the most in NCAA Division III going into the National Finals tonight. On Sept. 8, he tied a single-game WNE record with three interceptions against Westfield State. He breaks Jim Churchill's single-season mark of seven that was set in 1981. He also led the Golden Bears with eight pass breakups and two fumble recoveries, and ranked third with 49 tackles (27 solo).
"ECAC All-Star recognition is a nice honor for our football program," Emery said. "I'm happy for our guys, who worked hard all season."
This marks the first time since 2000 that Golden Bear teammates made the ECAC All-Star Team in the same season. Before 2012, wide receiver Kevin Miculcy in 2006 was the last WNE player to garner ECAC honors.
