Belassi, Laytos Garner NFHCA All-America Distinction
11/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced on Monday (Nov. 19) that senior Lucia Belassi (Paysandu, Uruguay/Liceo #1) and sophomore Paige Laytos (Lititz, Pa./Warwick HS) of the University of Michigan field hockey team are among 48 collegiate student-athletes named to its 2007 NCAA Division I All-America team. Both U-M players earned the national recognition for the first time, as Belassi was voted to the first team and Laytos was named a third-team selection.
Since 1996, the Wolverines have had an All-American on their roster each season, including four selections in 2000 and '02. Belassi and Laytos become the 15th and 16th U-M student-athletes to garner All-America honors; those 16 Wolverines have combined for 25 citations.
Belassi, the Big Ten's co-Offensive Player of the Year, garnered all-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.
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
