Armstrong, Welch Earn Third Team All-America Honors
5/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The American Water Polo Coaches Association announced Thursday (May 19) that University of Michigan senior goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), senior driver Sheetal Narsai (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens HS) and sophomore driver Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) were selected for All-America honors for the 2005 season. Armstrong and Welch were named to the All-America third team, while Narsai earned honorable mention.
For Armstrong, it marks her fourth All-America citation after earning second-team honors in 2004 and honorable mention status in 2002 and 2003. This season Armstrong led the Wolverines with 314 saves to post her third year with more than 300 saves and allowed just 5.75 goals per game. Over her four-year career, Armstrong retired as the NCAA career leader with 1,266 saves and also set Michigan records with a 5.62 goals against average and a .654 save percentage.
Welch earned her first All-American award after setting multiple Michigan records in 2005. Welch led the Wolverines and was seventh in the nation with a school-record 84 goals. She also set Michigan marks with 99 points and 15 hat tricks. Welch was named the CWPA Western Division MVP for her performances.
Narsai earned her second All-America honorable mention after setting career highs in points (83), goals (49) and drawn ejections (30) in her final season. She also earned honorable mention status as a sophomore in 2003. Narsai ended her four years at Michigan as the school's career leader in points (265), goals (146) and steals (174).
The AWPCA selects first, second and third teams for its Division I All-America awards. For voting, players receive three points for a first team nomination, two points for a second team nomination, and one point for a third team nomination. A player may earn honorable mention if she receives votes from two schools, excluding her own.
AWPCA Division I All-America Teams
FIRST TEAM
Natalie Golda, UCLA
Brittany Hayes, Southern Cal
Christina Hewko, Stanford
Thalia Munro, UCLA
Kelly Rulon, UCLA
Moriah Van Norman, Southern Cal
Emily Feher, UCLA
Player of the Year: Natalie Golda, UCLA
Coach of the Year: Adam Kikorian, UCLA
SECOND TEAM
Cassie Azevedo, Long Beach State
Katie Hansen, Stanford
Monika Kruszona, Hawaii
Hannah Luber, Stanford
Stacia Peterson, Loyola Marymount
Iefke Van Belkum, Hawaii
Meridith McColl, Stanford
THIRD TEAM
Beth Novick, Hawaii
Rachel Serna, San Diego State
Kandace Waldthaler, Indiana
Shana Welch, Michigan
Lauren Wenger, Southern Cal
Elsie Windes, California
Betsey Armstrong, Michigan
HONORABLE MENTION
Kate Chambers, Hartwick
Chari Christopher, Cal State Northridge
Meike De Nooy, Hawaii
Gabrielle Domanic, UCLA
Erika Figge, Southern Cal
Allison Gold, California
Robyn Kaake, UC Irvine
Bronwen Knox, Hartwick
Sheetal Narsai, Michigan
Rachel Riddell, Loyola Marymount
Brittney Rowe, UCLA
Jessica Schroeder, Pacific
Laura Scott, San Jose State
Aimee Stachowski, UC Santa Barbara
Drue Wawrzynski, Long Beach State
Contact: Paul Dickerson (734) 763-4423
