Nov. 23, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The National Field Hockey Coaches Association released its All-America teams today, and the Atlantic Coast Conference landed 10 of its student-athletes on the 16-member first team, seven more selections than the runner-up Big East Conference received. Overall, 22 ACC field hockey student-athletes were honored as a first, second, or third-team All-American to lead all conferences.

The Big East trailed the ACC with seven picks, while the Big Ten Conference and Ivy League claimed five and four honorees, respectively. The Colonial Athletic Association had three picks, the Patriot League and Atlantic 10 Conference had two selections each, and the America East, Mid-American, and North Pacific Field Hockey Conferences garnered three picks apiece.

North Carolina, who won the 2009 NCAA Field Hockey championship with a 3-2 win over top-ranked (NFHCA) Maryland (Nov. 22), received three first-team nods. Junior midfielder Katelyn Falgowski, junior goalkeeper Jackie Kinzter, and freshman midfielder Kelsey Kolojejchick—the 2009 ACC Freshman of the Year—were honored with first-team accolades.

Maryland and Duke boast two picks each to the first team, as junior forward Katie O’Donnell—the 2009 ACC Offensive Player of the Year—and senior defender Emma Thomas—the 2009 ACC Defensive Player of the Year—were honored for national runner-up Maryland, and senior defender Lauren Miller and senior forward Amie Survilla were picked for Duke.

Senior forward Chelsey Feole (Boston College), sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski (Virginia), and senior midfielder/defender Aileen Davis (Wake Forest) each earn first-team selections.

North Carolina also led league teams with six first, second, and third-team All-Americans and was trailed by the Terrapins with five mentions. Duke, Virginia, and Wake Forest each had three picks, while Boston College had two.

North Carolina’s 3-2 win against Maryland in the 2009 NCAA Field Hockey Championship Game was the conference’s 15th field hockey title—all of which have come since 1987—since the league first sponsored the sport in 1983. Additionally, it was the league’s eighth national championship in a row, as Wake Forest won three titles from 2002-04, Maryland repeated as champs in 2005-06 and won last season, and North Carolina won in 2007 and 2009.