Wolverine Trio Earns NFHCA All-Region Accolades
11/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Three members of the University of Michigan field hockey team were selected to STX/NFHCA Division I All-West teams, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced today Wednesday (Nov. 14). Senior Lucia Belassi(Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) and sophomore Paige Laytos(Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) were selected to the 16-member first team, while senior Jillianne Whitfield(Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor HS) earned NFHCA All-Region second team honors.
Belassi, the Big Ten's co-Offensive Player of the Year, garnered regional recognition from the NFHCA for the second time during her U-M career, adding to her All-West Region first team honors in 2006. The senior forward led the Wolverines in scoring for the second straight season, tallying career highs in goals (13), assists (9) and points (35).
Laytos also claimed her second All-West Region distinction after she earned second-team recognition last season as a freshman -- one of just three rookies in the history of the honor to achieve the feat. An All-Big Ten first team pick and two-time conference Athlete of the Week selection, Laytos started every game this season for the Wolverines and ranked fifth in team scoring with four goals and four assists.
It marks the 12th consecutive year the Wolverines placed at least two representatives on the All-Region first team. With their first-team status, Laytos and Belassi are candidates for the STX/NFHCA All-America team. The group will be announced on Monday, Nov. 19 -- one day after the conclusion of the NCAA Championship in College Park, Md.
Whitfield, the Wolverines' only second-team pick, received All-Region honors for the first time in her career in recognition of her key role among the U-M defensive corps. An All-Big Ten second team selection and the Wolverines' primary stick stopper on the penalty-corner unit, Whitfield led Michigan this season with a career-high 10 assists and one defensive save.
Michigan (16-7, 6-0 Big Ten) concluded the 2007 campaign with its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in nine seasons. The Wolverines were also regular-season tri-champions in the Big Ten, marking their sixth title in the last nine years, and U-M advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final for the ninth time in program history.
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
