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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two University of Iowa field hockey student-athletes — sophomore Katie Birch and freshman Maddy Murphy — earned All-Big Ten accolades, the league office announced Wednesday. Birch garnered first team honors, while Murphy was named to the second team. Senior Mallory Lefkowitz was selected as Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Birch earns the second All-Big Ten honor of her career. The sophomore was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a second team All-Big Ten selection in 2016. Birch is one of two sophomores and four underclassmen named to an all-conference team this season.
A native of York, England, Birch led the team in goals (14), points (36) and shots (68). She currently ranks second in the Big Ten in shots and shots per game (3.78), third in goals and goals per game (0.78), and fourth in points. Birch registered multi-goal games four times this season, including hat tricks against New Hampshire (7-1) and Indiana (4-3). Her 14 goals, eight assists, and 36 points all marked single-season career highs.
Murphy earns the first All-Big Ten recognition of her career. She is one of two freshmen named to an All-Big Ten team this season.
A native of Riana, Tasmania, Murphy ranked second on the team in goals (11), points (25), and shots (34). Murphy tallied a team-high three game-winning goals this season, including Iowa’s lone goal in a 1-0 win over 24th-ranked Ohio State on Oct. 22. She currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten in goals, fifth in game-winning goals, and ninth in points. Murphy registered a pair of multi-goal games, including a two goal and two assist performance against New Hampshire on Sept. 10.
2017 All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
SOPHIA MILLER, D, Sr., NU
KATIE TROMBETTA, M, Sr., MICH
Lein Holsboer, M, Sr., MD
Moira Putsch, F, Jr., PSU
Skyler Fretz, D, Sr., PSU
Katie Birch, D, So., IOWA
Linnea Gonzales, F, Jr., MD
Meg Dowthwaite, F, So., MICH
Simone Vagnoni, M, Sr., MSU
Puck Pentenga, M, Jr., NU
SAMANTHA SWENSON, GK, Sr., MICH
Second Team
Maddy Humphrey, F, Sr., OSU
Daphne Groothuis, M, Fr., RU
Esther de Leijer, M, Sr., MICH
Katie Dembroski, M, Jr., PSU
Maddie Latino, F, Sr., IND
Carrie Hanks, D, Sr., MD
Maddy Murphy, F, Fr., IOWA
Linde Van Schaik, M, Jr., RU
Pascale Massey, F, Jr., NU
Kendal Anderson, M, Sr., MSU
Jenny Rizzo, GK, Jr., PSU
Player of the Year: Katie Trombetta, MICH
Offensive Player of the Year: Moira Putsch, PSU
Defensive Player of the Year: Samantha Swenson, MICH
Freshman of the Year: Bodil Keus, MD
Coach of the Year: MARCIA PANKRATZ, MICH
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Elle Hempt, IND
Mallory Lefkowitz, IOWA
Marissa Cutry, MD
Casie Ammerman, MICH
Katie Miller, MSU
Katie Esselman, NU
Kelsey Nolan, OSU
Shay Cannon, PSU
Simrin Dhillon, RU
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
