Three on All-Big Ten First Team; Thomas Snags Defensive Honor
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan senior Lauren Thomas, a back on the Wolverine field hockey team, has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday (Nov. 4). Thomas was also one of three Wolverines selected to the All-Big Ten first team.
Michigan has claimed 20 Big Ten yearly awards since 1997. Thomas becomes the fourth different Wolverine to garner Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year accolades, joining Ashley Reichenbach (1999), Stephanie Johnson (2002, '03) and Lori Hillman (2004).
Thomas, native of Aylesbury, England, leads the Wolverines this season with 22 points, posting a career-best nine goals -- six in Big Ten play -- and four assists. She has scored in four of the last five games, netting two against Iowa (Oct. 9) and the double-overtime game-winner at Northwestern (Oct. 16). As Michigan's center back, Thomas has also contributed to nine shutout performances and a sterling 0.82 season goals-against average. Michigan's backfield has allowed just 7.6 shots per game this season and 4.8 shots on goal per game. She was twice named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season.
Thomas was also a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team; she was a second-team honoree in each of the previous three seasons. She was joined on the first team by senior forward Shannon Scavelli and sophomore goalkeeper Sam Swenson. It marks the first All-Big Ten recognition for the both.
Scavelli, a native of Yorktown Heights, New York, shares the Wolverine team lead with a career-best nine goals and three assists this season. She owns three game-winners, including two in Big Ten play against Indiana (Oct. 4) and Iowa, as well as the late game-tying tally at Northwestern. Also an NFHCA All-West Region second team selection in 2014, Scavelli owns 24 career goals, 10 assists and 58 points.
Swenson, a native of Harrogate, England, leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally with an outstanding 0.80 goals-against average and .827 save percentage. She has contributed to nine shutouts, including four in Big Ten play and seven over the Wolverines' last nine regular-season games. She also posted a career-best 14 saves -- eight in overtime -- against Northwestern. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
The Wolverines will kick off the postseason at the 2015 Big Ten Conference Tournament this week at the IU Field Hockey Complex in Bloomington, Indiana. The No. 2-seeded Wolverines will open play against No. 7-seeded Iowa in the first round at 3 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 5).
2015 ALL-BIG TEN FIELD HOCKEY HONORS
FIRST TEAM
KATE BARBER, B, Jr., Indiana
Stephanie Norlander, F, Jr., Iowa
ANNA DESSOYE, M, Sr., Maryland
SARAH SPRINK, B, Sr., Maryland
Shannon Scavelli, F, Sr., U-M
Sam Swenson, GK, So., U-M
LAUREN THOMAS, B, Sr. U-M
Heather Howie, M, Sr., Michigan State
Lisa McCarthy, B, Sr., Northwestern
Peanut Johnson, F, Sr., Ohio State
Aurelia Meijer, F, Fr., Penn State
SECOND TEAM
Noelle Rother, GK, Fr., Indiana
Sydney Supica, B, Sr., Indiana
Chandler Ackers, B, Jr., Iowa
Linnea Gonzales, F, Fr., Maryland
Welma Luus, F, Sr., Maryland
Isabel Flens, Jr., F, Northwestern
Charlotte Martin, M, Sr., Northwestern
Caroline Troncellitti, M, Sr., Northwestern
Maddy Humphrey, M, So., Ohio State
Emma Royce, B, Sr., Ohio State
Linde van Schaik, M, Fr., Rutgers
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Athlete of the Year: Sarah Sprink, Maryland
Offensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Norlander, Iowa
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Thomas, U-M
Freshman of the Year: Linnea Gonzales, Maryland
Coach of the Year: Missy Meharg, Maryland
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Nicole Volgraf, Indiana
Sophie Plasteras, Iowa
Shari Jones, Maryland
Shannon Scavelli, U-M
Mallory Tyler, Michigan State
Kirsten Ward, Northwestern
Sydney Stype, Ohio State
Haley Kerstetter, Penn State
Nicole Imbriaco, Rutgers
