Nov. 20, 2008
IOWA CITY, IA – Six members of the University of Iowa field hockey team were selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region all-America team. First team honorees include seniors Caroline Blaum, Roz Ellis, Lissa Munley and Lauren Pfeiffer and junior Meghan Beamesderfer. Senior Katie Naughton was named to the second team.
It marks the first time this many Hawkeyes have been honored since 1999. Iowa had four honorees in 2007.
Blaum, a forward from Wilkes-Barre, PA, earns her second career all-Region honor. She has been named first team all-Big Ten each of the last two seasons. Blaum, a four-time team captain, started all 22 games this season for the Hawkeyes and has started all 82 games in her career. This season she led Iowa in assists (14).
Ellis, a back from Lewisburg, PA, earns her second all-Region honor. She has earned first team all-Big Ten honors each of the last two seasons. Ellis, a team captain this season, set a career high in assists (7). She has started all 82 games played in her career.
Munley, a goalkeeper from Mt. Laurel, NJ, earns her first career all-Region accolade. She was a second team all-Big Ten selection this season and was named an alternate for the NFHCA All-Star Game. Munley ranked first in the Big Ten with eight shutouts this season. She has a goals against average of 1.15, which ranks ninth-best in the country. Munley, a team captain, has played every minute in goal for the Hawkeyes this season and has started all 81 games played in her career.
Pfeiffer, a back from Mt. Laurel, NJ, collects the third all-Region honor of her career. Last season, she was named first team all-Big Ten and second team all-American. This season, she was also tabbed first team all-Big Ten and was named Big Ten Tournament MVP for the second time in her career. Additionally, she was selected to play in the NFHCA All-Star Game. Pfeiffer ranks first on the team in points (42) and goals (19). She now has 52 career goals, ranking her ninth all-time in Hawkeye history. She has started all 82 games in her career.
Beamesderfer, a back from Lititz, PA, earns her third all-Region laurel of her career. She has been named all-conference twice and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2006. Last season, Beamesderfer earned third team all-American accolades. She is a mainstay on Iowa’s defense that has recorded eight shutouts this season. Beamesderfer has started all 64 games in her career.
Naughton, a forward from Goffstown, NH, collects her first career all-Region honor. She ranks third on the team in goals (11) and fifth in points (23). Both totals were career highs. In addition, the 11 goals ties for eighth-best in the conference. Naughton has played in all 82 games in her career.
The Five Hawkeyes named to the first team, along with first-team honorees from the other four regions, are now in the running for All-America recognition. The NFHCA All-America first, second and third teams will be announced on Monday.
Iowa (18-4) will meet Maryland (20-2) in the NCAA National Semifinals tomorrow at 4 p.m. (CST) in Louisville, KY.