Michigan Trio Named to NFHCA All-America Teams
6/15/2021 7:59:00 PM | Field Hockey
BROCKPORT, N.Y. -- University of Michigan field hockey team senior Halle O'Neill and juniors Kathryn Peterson and Anna Spieker were named to National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I All-America teams, the NFHCA announced Tuesday evening (June 15) as part of its first-ever NFHCA Awards Show. O'Neill was selected to the first team, while Spieker and Peterson earned second- and third-team accolades, respectively.
Michigan was one of eight programs to boast three or more All-America selections. Michigan has had an All-American on its roster in 23 of the last 24 years, with 29 Wolverines combining for 45 total honors. It is the 13th time in program history that Michigan boasted multiple All-America selections and its most since similarly garnering three in 2017. O'Neill, Peterson and Spieker are all first-time All-Americans.
O'Neill is the 14th different U-M player to garner first-team honors in program history and the fifth in six seasons. Michigan's field general in the midfield, O'Neill 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. She also posted three goals and five assists on the season as a key contributor to U-M's corner attack. O'Neill was named an All-Big Ten first team selection and the Big Ten Tournament MVP this season and earned NFHCA All-West first team (2019, '20) and second team (2018) honors.
Spieker is second Wolverine goalkeeper in program history to garner All-America honors, joining two-time All-American Sam Swenson (2015, '17). She 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 earned NFHCA All-West Region first team honors this season and is a two-time All-Big Ten second-team honoree.
Peterson, a two-time NFHCA All-West Region honoree, 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.
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.
