| Third-team All-American Kiersten Wood joins Natalie Berrena and Sara Cahill, who snagged first and second team honors, respectively. |
NFHCA All-America Teams
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. November 27, 2005 - State College, Pa. native Natalie Berrena was named a first-team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Senior Sara Cahill (Virginia Beach, Va.) and sophomore Kiersten Wood (Lititz, Pa.) were named to the second and third team, respectively.
The three players were part of a record-setting year for the Nittany Lions, who finished the season at 17-4 with an NCAA appearance. Penn State won a program-best 17 straight wins, and gave head coach Char Morett her 300th win at the University. The team went a perfect 12-0 at home in its inaugural year at Astroturf Field, and also finished with an unblemished Big Ten record and an outright Conference crown.
Berrena and Wood were all named to the Big Ten's first-team, while Cahill earned second-team All-Conference honors. Berrena also snagged Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. The fifth-year senior scored 10 goals this year while assisting on seven.
Cahill was the anchor of Penn State's vaunted defense. The senior back helped Penn State tally nine shutouts this season, including three straight in the early part of the year. Cahill became an offensive threat later in the season, and finished the year with three goals.
Wood, a sophomore, is Penn State's primary set-up player. She led the squad with eight assists while also tallying six goals and was the Nittany Lions' primary shot-taker during penalty corners this year.
Four other Big Ten players were also named to the first team, and 12 Big Ten players overall were named to the All-American teams.