Nov. 17, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State field hockey team earned some recognition on Thursday afternoon, as the National Field Hockey Coaches Association released its Longstreth Field Hockey All-Region teams.
Junior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.), freshman Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.), sophomore Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) and redshirt junior Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) were named to the Mideast Region first team. Senior Lauren Alloway (Hummelstown, Pa.) was named to the second team along with sophomore Lauren Purvis (Maple Glen, Pa.).
Amy is coming off a phenomenal season, where she earned first team All-Big Ten honors and was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP. The junior finished tied for first in the conference in goals (25) and points (57). Her 25 goals in 2011 were the seventh most in a season for a Penn State player. Her 52 career goals rank eighth all-time in program history.
Gebhart had a tremendous freshman year, as she was tied for third on the team with 24 points. Her 12 assists this year was second on the team and good for fifth in the conference. She started in every game at midfield for the Nittany Lions this past season.
Halus also earns first team laurels after winning her second first team All-Big Ten award earlier this year. The redshirt junior from Hershey had a great year in the cage, recording four shutouts against Virginia, Iowa, Ohio State and Northeastern. She made 92 saves on the season, averaging a little over four per contest.
Grzywacz had a strong year all-around, starting all 23 games in the back. She earned 19 points as a defender, with those coming on eight goals and three assists. Alloway served as a team captain this season, starting all 23 games in the back.
Purvis was one of Penn State's most steady contributors all season in the midfield all season, as she scored 12 points on five goals and two assists.
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