For some members of the field hockey team, individual recognition has provided some solace after a bitter 1-0 overtime defeat in the NCAA quarterfinals.
“It takes some of the sting out of the end of the year,” said junior defender Becca Main.
Main was among four of the Lady Lions selected for All Big Ten honors. The others were: senior co-captain Jen Stewart, sophomore defender Jill Pearsall, and junior scoring extraodinare Chris McGinley.
The Lady Lions feel this was an exclamation point to their entry into the Big Ten this season, and is a statement of what is to come next season.
“I think a lot of teams in the Big Ten recognized us as a challenge,” Pearsall said. “I think they appreciate the competition that we added to the conference, and I think this recognition adds to it.”
Freshmen goalkeeper Shelly Meister was awarded Big Ten Freshmen of the Year, and was excited about the honor, but feels there is still work to be done.
“It was a great honor,” Meister said. “But I am not looking to next year yet, the season ended so quickly that it was a jolt to me.”
Meister was also one of the several Lady Lions receiving honors in the Mideast region. Stewart, McGinley, Main, senior co-captian Amy Stairs, Pearsall, and sophomore defender Chris Blais along with Meister took first team Mideast Region first team.
Many of Lady Lions who recieved awards will be returning next year, and look to top this year’s performance.
“We were a young team to begin with this year,” Pearsall said. “I think that the experience we gained this year will make us a force to reckon with next year.”
McGinley also made first team All-American through her dazzling on-field display. Awarded second team All- American were Stewart and Main, and Stairs came in with third team All-American.
The Lady Lions receiving awards are quite pleased with the recognition, but many of them attribute their success to the skill of their teammates.
“None of us could have got any of these awards without the rest of the team,” Main said. “So I believe any of the recognition given to us is recognition to the team.”