Dec. 2, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Jen Long was named Division I Defensive Player of the Year for the 2008 field hockey campaign by womensfieldhockey.com. The Web site named three players to its All-American list.
Allison Scola (Hummelstown, Pa.) and Long (Doylestown, Pa.) claimed first-team All-America status, and goalkeeper Jen Beaumont (Chalfont, Pa.) was heralded onto the second team.
Long is the nation's top defender after leading the Penn State defense to rank fourth nationally, despite facing the eighth-toughest schedule in the nation. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Long helped the Nittany Lions win the regular season Big Ten title. Her first-team All-American billing by womensfieldhockey.com is the second of her career.
For Scola, it is her first time as the Web site's first-team All-American. She is a returning second-team All-American from 2007. Scola was among the top scorers in the Big Ten during conference play. The Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Year led the Nittany Lions with 27 points and her aggressive play within the circle gave way to the nation's third-most penalty corner opportunities.
Scola, along with Beaumont, was named National Player of the Week by womensfieldhockey.com during the season.
Beaumont makes her first appearance on the site's All-American list. The first Penn State goalkeeper to make first-team all-conference, the senior goalkeeper led the nation in save percentage (81.6 percent) and combined saves (nine) during the regular season. She was among the Division I leaders with a resounding 1.06 goals-against average.
Long, Scola and Beaumont were all named All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Web site, as well.