Nov. 19, 2007
University Park, Pa. - The rich All-American history of the Penn State field hockey program got a little richer on Monday for the national runners-up as four members of the Nittany Lions were named Longstreth/NFHCA All-Americans as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Senior Kiersten Wood and junior Jen Long were named first team All-Americans, the 23rd straight year that Penn State has had at least one first team All-American. Senior Mallory Weisen and junior Allison Scola were named third team All-Americans.
This is the second straight year that Penn State has had four NFHCA All-Americans. With Wood and Long being named to the first team, it marks the first time since 2002, which was also the last time Penn State appeared in the national championship game up until this year, that the Nittany Lions have had two first team honorees. Heather Conroy and Jill Martz were the two first team honorees in 2002. Penn State's four All-Americans this year give the Nittany Lions a total of 82 all-time All-Americans in school history and 49 all-time first team All-Americans.
With her selection to the first team for the second straight year, Wood becomes a three-time All-American and a two-time first team All-American. She finished her career by playing in 85 career games, starting them all, and missing just two games in her career. This year, she scored six goals and recorded five assists for 17 points and finished tied for third on the team in shots and second in shots on goal. More important than her statistics, however, was her leadership from the midfield position. The offense as well as the defense often went through her. She served as a team captain this year. She was also a three-time first team All-Big Ten selection and a three-time NFHCA All-Mideast Region pick.
Allison Scola was also named a third team NFHCA All-American for the first time in her career. |
Long is now a two-time All-American after she was named to the first team this year following her second team selection last year as a sophomore. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year this year, Long was one of the top players on the defense this year and also contributed heavily on the offensive end as she led the Nittany Lions in assists with 12. She also scored her first career goal this year and recorded 14 points, a career high. Also a first team NFHCA All-Mideast Region pick this year for the second straight year, Long has played in every game of her career (67) and has started all but one.
Making her first career All-American team with her selection to the third team is Scola, who started every game this year and has started 64 straight games for the Nittany Lions. Scola was one of the most versatile players this year as she played forward, midfield and back at times during the season. She helped the defense lock down several opponents' offenses this year while also finishing second on the team in assists with 11 and fourth on the team in points with 19. She also scored four goals on just six shots on goal. She was a second team All-Big Ten pick this year as well as first team NFHCA All-Mideast Region.
Weisen capped off her outstanding career with a third team All-American selection, her first career All-American honor. She was an NFHCA first team All-Mideast Region pick this year after being a second team pick last year. The senior was second on the team with 11 goals this year and was third on the team in points with 22, both of which were career highs. Of her 11 goals, eight were game-winning goals, which led the Big Ten as she became the second straight Penn State player to lead the Big Ten in game-winning goals following Scola last year. Weisen was also an important part of the Penn State defense that recorded a Big Ten-leading nine shutouts this year and shut out both No. 2 Wake Forest and No. 3 Maryland in the NCAA Tournament.
Penn State's four All-Americans this year was the highest of any Big Ten team, as no other Big Ten school had more than two honorees. The four All-Americans is also tied for the most of any team in the country with North Carolina, Duke and Maryland, all of which also had four honorees apiece.