Feb. 28, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Senior Jessica Barnett was named the University of Iowa field hockey team’s most valuable player for the third-consecutive season at the team’s award banquet Feb. 23 in the Feller Club Room inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The “Most Valuable Player” award is presented to the player who demonstrates outstanding skill, character, competitive drive, leadership and devotion to team goals. These traits are embodied by the individual that the team and coaches deem most valuable to team success.
Barnett earned her second career All-America honor as a senior after scoring 10 goals and posting four assists. The North Vancouver, Canada, native was also a unanimous first team All-Big Ten, Big Ten all-Tournament team and an NFHCA First Team West Region All-American selection in 2012.
Senior Kathleen “Merty” McGraw was presented the Dr. Christine Grant Leadership Award for the third-straight season. The honor is presented to the player who demonstrates leadership on a daily basis and has the utmost respect of her teammates, coaches, and opponents. The individual represents the University of Iowa in a first-class manner in the classroom and on the field.
McGraw earned her first All-America recognition in 2012 after playing every minute in goal for the Hawkeyes. The Atherton, Calif., native posted five shutouts en route to earning first team All-Big Ten and NFHCA West Region All-America honors.
Senior Sarah Drake was the recipient of the Practice Player of the Year Award for the third-straight season. The honor goes to a player who maintains the highest level of intensity in practice throughout the year, helping to make her teammates better by always competing and giving everything she has in all training sessions.
Drake was a first team regional All-American for the second-consecutive season in 2012 after starting all 21 games. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native scored four goals as a senior en route to earning second team All-Big Ten honors.
Senior Sarah Pedrick was the recipient of the Nancy McLinden Carr Award, which is presented to the player who consistently exudes enthusiasm, energy, and a positive attitude within the Iowa field hockey program. These attributes were possessed by Nancy in the game of field hockey and life.
Pedrick, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, appeared in eight games as a senior.
The Hawkeyes finished the 2012 season with a 14-7 overall and a 4-2 mark in Big Ten play. Iowa advanced to its second-straight NCAA Tournament, earning back-to-back bids for the first time since 2008. It was the team’s 22nd NCAA appearance — the most of any school as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
Five Iowa players — Barnett, McGraw, Drake, Geena Lesiak and Marike Stribos — were All-Big Ten selections, while Barnett and junior Karli Johansen were Big Ten All-Tournament team honorees. Stribos also was the recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
The Hawkeyes had four NFCHA Regional All-Americans — Barnett, Drake, McGraw, Stribos — and Barnett and McGraw earned the 82nd and 83rd national All-America honors in school history.