Five Wolverines Secure NFHCA All-Region Accolades
11/25/2019 3:38:00 PM | Field Hockey
GILBERT, Ariz. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team placed four players on the 2019 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-West Region teams, the organization announced Monday (Nov. 25).
Senior Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort and junior Halle O'Neill were named to the first team, while senior Meg Dowthwaite and sophomore Kathryn Peterson earned second-team recognition. Fernandez Lacort and Dowthwaite all earned all-region honors for the third straight year.
The 2019 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Regional Players of the Year will be announced Thursday (Dec. 5), while All-America teams will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Fernandez Lacort, the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year and a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team, posted career highs in her final collegiate season this year with three goals, including the game-winner in Michigan's home win over No. 2 Maryland, and a team-best 12 assists. Michigan's field general in the midfield and a two-year team captain, Fernandez Lacort was an NFHCAÂ third team All-American last season.
O'Neill, the Wolverines' starting center back over the last two seasons, headlined a defensive unit that ranked top five nationally with a 1.04 goals-against average and nine shutouts and allowed just 5.4 shots per game. She also posted two goals and three assists as a key contributor on the Wolverine corner attack. Previously an NFHCA All-West Region second-team honoree last season, she was named to the All-Big Ten first team this season.
Dowthwaite, a 2017 NFHCA All-America second-team selection, led the Wolverines with eight goals, including two game-winners, and 19 points this season. She is a three-time NFHCA all-region and All-Big Ten honoree. She finished her collegiate career among U-M's all-time great goal scorers, ranking eighth in both career goals (42) and career points (104).
Peterson used a breakout season in the midfield to earn her first NFHCA all-region accolade. She posted career highs with five goals and eight assists -- the latter contributed by adding insert duties on U-M's penalty-corner attack this year. She was previously named to the All-Big Ten second team this season.
The Wolverines wrapped their season with a 13-7 record and a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
