McCallister, Smith and Thomas Named to All-Big Ten Teams
11/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team placed three players on the All-Big Ten Conference teams, the league announced Wednesday (Nov. 5) on the eve of the Big Ten Tournament. Fifth-year seniors Ainsley McCallister and Leslie Smith were named All-Big Ten first team, while junior Lauren Thomas received second-team recognition.
McCallister, who earned first-team honors for the second straight season, ranks second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally with a career-best 17 assists and owns five goals this season, including two apiece in the Wolverines' last two games. She has tallied at least one point in six of the last eight games. An NFHCA All-West Region first team selection last season as well, McCallister boasts 14 career goals and 34 assists, already ranking fourth among U-M's all-time leaders in the latter category.
Smith, who previously earned 2012 All-Big Ten second-team nod, leads the Wolverines -- and ranks seventh in the Big Ten -- with a career-best 12 goals, including four game-winners. Michigan's primary corner striker, she has scored a goal in 10 of 18 games this season, including six of the last eight. Smith also owns four assists, most recently helping on McCallister's game-winning goal at Ohio State (Nov. 2), and a career-best 28 season points. Also an NFHCA All-West Region second team selection in 2012, Smith owns 30 career goals, 29 assists and 89 points.
Thomas, the Wolverines' sweeper and major contributor on offensive and defensive corner units, garnered All-Big Ten second-team honors for the third consecutive year. She owns two assists on the season, helping on game-winning goals against Northwestern (Oct. 17) and Indiana (Oct. 3). As a defensive mainstay, she has also contributed to Michigan's small 1.49 goals-against average in league play. Michigan has held opponents to single-digit shots in each of the last nine games.
Junior Jaime Dean was selected as Michigan's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, given annually to student-athletes who distinguish themselves through good sportsmanship and ethical behavior, as well as demonstrate academic excellence and good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
The Wolverines will host the 2014 Big Ten Conference Tournament this week at Phyllis Ocker Field. The No. 2-seeded Wolverines will open play against No. 7-seeded Rutgers in the first round at 3 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 6).
2014 ALL-BIG TEN FIELD HOCKEY HONORS
FIRST TEAM#
Audra Heilman, Sr., F/M, Indiana
Natalie Cafone, Jr., F, Iowa
Stephanie Norlander, F/M, So., Iowa
Maxine Fluharty, Sr., M/F, Maryland*
Sarah Sprink, Jr., B, Maryland
Ainsley McCallister, Sr., M, U-M
Leslie Smith, Sr., B, U-M
Abby Barker, Sr., F, Michigan State
Maddy Carpenter, GK, Sr., Northwestern
Lisa McCarthy, Jr., M/B, Northwestern
Laura Gebhart, Sr., F/M, Penn State
Taylor Herold, Sr., F/M, Penn State
SECOND TEAM
Sydney Supica, B/M, Jr., Indiana
Dani Hemeon, M, Sr., Iowa
Brooke Cabrera, GK, Sr., Maryland
Anna Dessoye, M, Jr., Maryland
Katie Gerzabek, F, Sr., Maryland
Lauren Thomas, B, Jr., U-M
Becky Stiles, M, Sr., Michigan State
Charlotte Martin, M/F, Jr., Northwestern
Peanut Johnson, F, Jr., Ohio State
Sofia Walia, B, So., Rutgers
* unanimous selection
# additional honorees due to ties
Player of the Year: Maxine Fluharty, Maryland
Offensive Player of the Year: Natalie Cafone, Iowa
Defensive Player of the Year: Sarah Sprink, Maryland
Freshman of the Year: Moira Putsch, Maryland
Coach of the Year: Missy Meharg, Maryland
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Corinne Karch, Indiana
Brynn Gitt, Iowa
Alyssa Parker, Maryland
Jaime Dean, U-M
Becky Stiles, Michigan State
Kristin Wirtz, Northwestern
Alexis Allen, Ohio State
Katie Andrews, Penn State
Jenn Staab, Rutgers
