3 Hawkeyes Earn All-Big Ten Honors

Nov. 3, 2011

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three members of the University of Iowa field hockey team have earned All-Big Ten honors, the Big Ten Conference announced Thursday. Juniors Jessica Barnett and Sarah Drake have both been named to the first team and junior Kathleen McGraw has been named to the second team. Senior Becca Spengler represents Iowa’s field hockey Sportsmanship Award honoree for the third consecutive year.

The three honorees mark the most for Iowa since 2008 when five Hawkeyes garnered all-league honors. Iowa has had two honorees in each of the last two seasons.

“All are very deserving,” said 12th-year head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “All had really good years from the beginning; they have been very consistent. They are highly competitive and great leaders. These honors are a credit to our entire team.”

Barnett, a native of North Vancouver, Canada, has started every game of her Hawkeye career. Last year as a sophomore, she was named second team All-Big Ten, second team regional All-American and was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team. Barnett has scored 11 goals, all of which have come during Iowa’s seven-game win streak. During the streak, she tallied at least one goal in six of the games and multiple goals in four contests. Barnett has recorded at least one point in all seven games. She ranks second on the team with 24 points and tied for first with three defensive saves and has tallied two game-winning goals. Barnett earned three Big Ten Player of the Week awards this season, becoming the first Hawkeye to accomplish the feat since Kristy Gleason in 1992.

Drake, who hails from Ann Arbor, Mich., was also named second team All-Big Ten a year ago. An Academic All-Big Ten honoree a year ago, the two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member has started every game of her career. Drake ranks third on the team with eight goals and 19 points. She has tallied two game-winning goals.

McGraw, a native of Atherton, Calif., is a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member. The goalkeeper ranks first in the Big Ten with five shutouts, giving her 10 for her career. She ranked first in the conference in save percentage (.782) during the regular season. McGraw ranked ninth nationally in goals against average (1.34) and sixth in the country in save percentage during the regular season. She has started the last 47 games in goal for Iowa and has started 51 of 52 career games played.

Forty-four Hawkeyes have received All-Big Ten honors under Griesbaum.

Iowa (15-3, 4-2) continues Big Ten Tournament action tomorrow, playing top-seeded, and seventh-ranked, Michigan in the semifinals. The match is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. (CT). It will be televised live by BTN.