Wolverines Place Five on NFHCA All-Region Teams
11/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 30, 2015
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- The University of Michigan field hockey team placed five players on the 2015 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-West Region teams, the organization announced Monday (Nov. 30). Seniors Shannon Scavelli and Lauren Thomas and sophomore Sam Swenson were selected to the first team, while graduate student Mackenzie Ellis and sophomore Katie Trombetta garnered second-team recognition.
It was the Wolverines' most all-region selections since similarly earning five in 2002. The 2015 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Regional Players of the Year will be announced on Wednesday (Dec. 2), while All-America Teams will be announced on Monday, Dec. 7.
Scavelli garnered All-West Region honors for the second time in her career, adding to last season's second-team nod. An All-Big Ten first-team selection, Scavelli ranked among U-M's leading scorers with a career-best nine goals, three assists and 22 assists. She boasted three game-winners, including the lone goal against No. 9 Stanford, as well as the late game-tying tally at No. 16 Northwestern.
Swenson, an All-Big Ten first-team selection and a first-time all-region honoree, led the nation this season with a .837 save percentage and ranked second nationally with a 0.78 goals-against average. She was in the cage for all 18 Wolverine wins and contributed to 10 shutout performances, including four complete-game efforts.
Thomas, the 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team selection, earned all-region honors for the fourth straight season and her first first-team nod. Thomas led the Wolverines in scoring this season, establishing career bests with nine goals, five assists and 23 points. As U-M's center back, she also anchored a defensive unit that posted a 0.97 goals-against average and just 8.5 shots allowed per game.
After entering the season with no collegiate points, Ellis ranked among U-M's leading scorers with four goals, a team-best 12 assists and 20 points. She was pivotal in the offensive and defensive corner units and like Thomas, contributed to the Wolverines' outstanding backfield which ranked third nationally with a 0.97 goals-against average and allowed just 8.5 shots per game. She was selected to play in the Senior Game but did not play after fracturing her thumb in the Big Ten Tournament championship game; an injury she played through during the NCAA first and second rounds.
Trombetta, like Ellis, entered the season with no collegiate points and ranked among U-M's leaders this season with eight goals, two assists and 18 points. As one of U-M's primary corner strikers, Trombetta led the team with five game-winning tallies, including the overtime game-winner against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. She was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
The Wolverines posted an 18-5 record this season, their greatest win total in 13 seasons, finished second in the Big Ten in both regular-season and tournament play and reached the NCAA quarterfinals.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
