UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team, fresh off an appearance in the NCAA national semifinals, received four NFHCA All-America honors as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association today. Senior Brie Barraco and junior Sophia Gladieux earned first team All-America laurels to lead Penn State's strong showing.
Senior keeper Brie Barraco earned All-America honors for the first time in her career as one of Penn State's two first team All-Americans. Barraco was recently honored as a first team All-Region pick after earning second team laurels a year ago. The Nittany Lion goalie ended 2022 with 91 saves, a .791 percentage and eight shutouts. Barraco was a first team All-Big Ten selection this year and was on the 2022 All-Big Ten Tournament Team.
Sophia Gladieux, the NFHCA's Mideast Regional Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, was named a first-team All-American for the second straight season. She is now a three-time All-American. Gladieux, the Big Ten Player of the Year this season, is a three-time first team All-Region pick as well. She ended the year with 49 points off a team-high 23 goals and three assists. Gladieux was also Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-Big Ten selection this season as well as a member of the 2022 NCAA All-Tournament Team. Her three All-America honors are two firsts (2022, 2021) and a second (2020).
Captain Mackenzie Allessie is now a four-time All-American with her second team selection this season. Allessie a four-time All-Region pick, ended the 2022 campaign with 42 points off 12 goals and a team-high 18 assists. Allessie was also a first team All-Big Ten selection this year. Her four All-America honors include a third in 2019, two firsts in 2020 and 2021 and a second in 2022.
Graduate student Anna Simon earned her first All-America honors this year as she was selected to the NFHCA third team All-America squad for 2022. Simon was recently named first team All-Region for the first time this year. She finished the season with 26 points off ten goals and six assists. Simon was a second team All-Big Ten selection this year and was a member of the 2022 All-Big Ten Tournament Team and 2022 NCAA All-Tournament Team.
Penn State ended the season with a 17-4 overall record. The Nittany Lions were 2022 Big Ten Co-Champions as well with a 7-1 record in conference games. The Lions won their first two NCAA tournament games to advance to the NCAA semifinals for the first time since 2007.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.