Twelve NESCAC Players Named All-America by NFHCA

Courtesy NFHCA

HADLEY, Mass. – Twelve players representing seven different NESCAC squads have been honored as All-America by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) this week. Recognized on the All-America First Team were the Tufts tandem of Tamara Brown and Taylor Dyer, Amherst's Carly Dudzik, and Ingrid Oelschlager of Bowdoin. The 12 individuals from the NESCAC on the NFHCA are the most for the league.

Brown, the two-time NESCAC Player of the Year, garnered All-America honors for the third year in a row after being selected to the Second Team in 2008 and First Team in 2009. The Jumbos' all-time leading scorer, Brown paced the NESCAC in scoring with 55 points and 24 goals.

Dyer, the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NESCAC member, is a First Team pick in her first year as an All-American. She led one of the best defensive units in the nation as the Jumbos posted a 0.72 goals against average and 10 shutouts.

Oelschlager, the NFHCA New England West Player of the Year, moved up from last year's Second Team to this year's First Team. Oelschlager capped a sensational career over the weekend as she helped the Polar Bears win their third NCAA title in the past four years. The 2007 NESCAC Rookie of the Year and two-time All-NESCAC First Team selection had nine goals and nine assists this season, with two of her tallies coming in the NESCAC championship game at Tufts on Nov. 7 which Bowdoin won, 3-0.

Dudzik became the first Jeff player in a decade to be named to the All-America First Team. A dynamic midfielder, Dudzik contributed to an Amherst squad which ranked among the league leaders in both offense and defense. She finished second among her teammates in scoring with eight goals and seven assists in 16 starts.

On the All-America Second Team from the NESCAC were Bowdoin's Katie Herter, Tori Redding from Wesleyan, Amanda Roberts from Tufts, and the Trinity duo of Payson Sword and Robyn Williams. It was the third year in a row that Williams has received Second Team accolades, while Sword was chosen on the First Team last fall. The Jumbos' Roberts joined Williams from the Bantams in earning a third All-America selection, as the two-time Third Team member was promoted to the Second Team in 2010. Redding became the first Cardinal to garner All-America since Cortney Tetrault in 2005.

The All-America Third Team consisted of Ella Curren from Bowdoin, Abby Hine of Connecticut College, and Katie McMahon of Amherst.