Field Hockey's Autumn Welsh Honored At Collegiate Woman Athlete Of Year Dinner
6/18/2002 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
June 18, 2002
DALLAS -
Maryland field hockey standout Autumn Welsh was one of 12 female student-athletes honored as Honda-Brockerick Cup winners Monday night at the 26th annual Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Dinner here.
Welsh was recognized as the Honda award winner for the sport of field hockey. USC sprinter Angela Williams was named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
The award is the first for a Maryland field hockey player in the 25 years of the Honda Awards program and the first national player of the year honor in the 28 years that Maryland field hockey has thrived under the auspices of the intercollegiate athletics department. Welsh joins Terp lacrosse standout Jen Adams as the only two Maryland athletes to ever be honored with the national distinction.
The senior adds the award to a resume that includes two All-America honors, four Mid-Atlantic All-Region selections, a 2001 ACC Co-Player of the Year honor, two ACC Tournament MVP accolades, three All-ACC awards, two ACC Player of the Week nods, and the 1998 ACC Rookie of the Year honor. Additionally, Welsh is a two-time NFHCA Academic squad member and a 2002 Verizon Academic District II selection with a 3.48 grade point average as a math/secondary education major.
Welsh was the backbone of the nation's top-rated field hockey defense in 2001, and helped the Terrapins to a 20-4 record and a postseason run to the national championship game. She tied for the NCAA lead with 16 assists on the season as Maryland's stickstop on penalty corners.
Welsh has played international field hockey in the Olympic development program from the age of 15. In the spring of 2001 she was a member of the U.S. National Team that captured the Silver Medal at the Americas Cup.
"I'm very excited and honored to have won for my sport. I am honored to be considered among the greatest female student-athletes in the country -- and excited to meet them all," said Welsh. "I'm proud that after my four years at Maryland I am able to represent my school at such a prestigious event."
