Eight Terps Earn STX/NFHCA All-Region Field Hockey Honors
11/19/2002 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 19, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Eight members of the Maryland Terrapin field hockey squad were selected to STX/NFHCA all-region teams, announced Monday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Five of the Terrapins were named to the Mid-Atlantic All-Region first team, while a total of four first-time starters were tabbed "all-region" after the new-look squad posted a 17-5 record and reached the NCAA Second Round during the Terps' "rebuilding" season of 2002.
The only All-American that returned to the Terps' 2002 squad, All-ACC senior Carissa Messimer (Mountaintop, Pa.) became a four-time all-region selection with her second career first team selection. Messimer led the Terps in goal (16) and points (37), capping her final campaign with a tremendous showing. She and the other first team selections are eligible for All-America honors, which will be announced on Monday, Nov. 25.
Sophomore Colleen Barbieri (Centereach, N.Y.), a 2002 All-ACC selection, received her second all-region nod with a first team selection. The sophomore finished second on the squad with 13 goals and 32 points after pacing the Terps as a freshman in 2001.
Three new starters in the Terp defense also received first team honors. Senior Izzy Palmer (Malvern, England), sophomore Emily Boyer (Oak Park, Ill.) and freshman Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.) were part of a Maryland backfield that allowed opponents only 1.1 goals on 5.7 shots per game and posted eight shutouts in 2002.
Senior midfielder Kateri Simon (Fallston, Md.), who had a brilliant season in a new upfield role in 2002, was named to the Mid-Atlantic second team for the second time in her career. Simon tied for the team lead with 13 assists as a senior, enduring adversity and injury early in her career to become one of the Terps' steadiest performers.
Sophomores Kristin Harris (Lititz, Pa.) and Kerry Hearsey (Leicester, England) were likewise second team selections, earning all-region nods for the first time in their careers. Like Simon, Harris flourished in a role as part of the Terps' attacking midfield after playing primarily a defensive role in 2001.
Hearsey, a first-year starter in the cage, led the league for most of the season and the nation at one point in goals against average. She finished the season with a stingy 1.04 GAA, a .712 save percentage and a hand in the Terps' eight shutouts.
With eight selections, the Terrapins posted the most all-region field hockey players since the 2000 season, when nine Terps were named to Mid-Atlantic teams. Six Terrapins went on to be named All-Americans that season.
