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Big Ten Announces 2005 Field Hockey All-Big Ten Teams and Individual Honors
Nov. 3, 2005
Park Ridge, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference office announced the 2005 Field Hockey All-Big Ten Teams and individual award winners today, as Indiana's Kayla Bashore became the first Hoosier in league history to earn Player of the Year accolades. Bashore, who is tied for sixth in the conference with 11 goals this season, led Indiana to its winningest season in program history with 13 victories, while also earning the Hoosiers' highest seeding ever in this year's Big Ten Tournament with a No. 2 seed. Conference champion Penn State collected two individual honors as senior Natalie Berrena was named Offensive Player of the Year and mentor Charlene Morett was tabbed Coach of the Year. Berrena, who ranks among the league's top 10 in assists (7) and points (25), becomes the fourth Nittany Lion player to be named Offensive Player of the Year, joining former honorees Tracey Larson (1999), Dawn Lammey (1998) and Tara Maguire (1996). Morett picks up her third Coach of the Year accolade after also earning top coaching honors in 1998 and 1993. The Nittany Lions posted their first-ever undefeated season in Big Ten play with a 6-0 mark, while also earning the program's fourth Big Ten Championship. Penn State is currently ranked No. 6 in the latest STX/NFHCA national rankings and enters the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 1 seed. In other individual honors, Iowa's Heather Schnepf collected Defensive Player of the Year accolades and teammate Caitlin McCurdy was honored as Freshman of the Year. Schnepf is tied for the conference lead with four defensive saves this season, while McCurdy ranked third in the Big Ten with 3.71 shots per game. Schnepf is the fourth Hawkeye to be named Defensive Player of the Year and the first since Mary Casabian garnered defensive laurels in 1996. McCurdy becomes the second Hawkeye standout in conference history to earn Freshman of the Year accolades as Tiffany Leister collected the honor in 1999. The 2005 All-Big Ten first team features four unanimous selections including Bashore, Schnepf, Michigan State's Michelle Huynh-ba and Penn State's Kiersten Wood. Bashore collected her third first-team accolade as she was also honored in 2002 and 2003, while Michigan's Lori Hillman and Ohio State's Curlyne Wynn claimed their second consecutive first-team laurels. The conference office also announced honorees from each team for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for field hockey are Indiana's Mallory Reabold, Iowa's Kara Zappone, Michigan's Hillman, Michigan State's Breanna Harpstead, Northwestern's Rachel Cody, Ohio State's Leticia Fragapane and Penn State's Molly Schriver. These seven student-athletes are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
* Additional honorees due to ties
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kayla Bashore, IND
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