Wolverines Place Six on NFHCA All-Region Teams
6/1/2021 1:25:00 PM | Field Hockey
BROCKPORT, N.Y. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team placed six players on the 2020-21 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I All-West Region teams, the organization announced Tuesday (June 1). It was the Wolverines' most all-region selections since similarly earning six in 2017. U-M was one of four programs nationally to earn six or more selections across the five regions.
Senior Halle O'Neill and juniors Kathryn Peterson and Anna Spieker were named to the first team, while junior Katie Anderson, sophomore Sarah Pyrtek and freshman Anouk Veen earned second-team recognition. O'Neill earned all-region honors for the third straight year, while Peterson garnered her second nod.
The NFHCA Division I All-Region team announcement is the first in a list of postseason awards to come from the NFHCA over the next several weeks. The Regional Players of the Year will be revealed on June 7, while the NFHCA All-America teams and the NFHCA National Player of the Year which will be announced during the live NFHCA Awards Show on Tuesday, June 15 at 7 p.m.
O'Neill, the Wolverines' field general who transitioned to center mid after three seasons as a starting back, headlined a defensive unit that that ranked third nationally with a 0.61 goals-against average, boasted 10 shutouts and held opponents to just 7.9 shots and 3.8 penalty corners per game. A key member of both the attack and defensive corner units, O'Neill posted three goals and five assists on the season. She was named an All-Big Ten first team selection and the Big Ten Tournament MVP. She previously earned All-West first team (2019) and second team (2018) honors.
Peterson, a 2019 NFHCA All-West Region second team selection, posted four goals and a team-best six assists. The inserter on U-M's corner-attack unit, she posted two helpers in the Big Ten Tournament finale against Ohio State and assisted on the Wolverines' first goal against Louisville in the NCAA semifinals. She also scored in the NCAA final against UNC and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
Spieker ranked third nationally with a .836 save percentage and 0.60 goals-against average -- both career highs and the latter a program single-season record. She boasted 10 shutouts and earned a pair of shootout victories, including a 2-1 decision against Louisville in the NCAA semifinals. Spieker is a two-time All-Big Ten second team honoree.
Anderson used a breakout season in the midfield to earn her first NFHCA all-region accolade. She posted career highs with three goals and three assists. She tallied the game-winning goal in U-M's NCAA quarterfinal win against Bucknell and the clincher in the sixth shootout round against Louisville in the NCAA semifinals. Anderson was named to the Big Ten and NCAA All-Tournament Teams.
Pyrtek, who missed the bulk of last season with injury, led the Wolverines in scoring with seven goals and three assists and boasted four game-winning tallies, notably the lone goal in U-M's regular-season win at Iowa. She also scored the equalizer in the NCAA championship game at North Carolina to force overtime.
Veen started all but two games at center back as a freshman this season, and serves as a primary contributor on the Wolverines' attack and defensive-corner units. She posted four goals, including key tallies in the Big Ten semifinals against Iowa and NCAA semifinals against Louisville, and two assists.
The Wolverines finished the 2020-21 season with a 15-3 record en route to the Big Ten Conference championship and tournament title, and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament.
