Terps Sweep ACC Awards For Second Straight Year
11/4/2009 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 4, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The top-ranked Maryland field hockey team swept the Atlantic Coast Conference's annual field hockey awards for the second consecutive year the league announced today. Head coach Missy Meharg was named Coach of the Year, junior Katie O'Donnell was named Offensive Player of the Year, senior Emma Thomas was named Defensive Player of the Year, and seniors Alexis Pappas and Nicole Muracco were named to the 17-member All-ACC team.
"To have four Maryland players named All-ACC is a testament to the quality of our whole unit," Meharg said. "Each one of these athletes offers something unique which has shaped our team for success. On behalf of Maryland Hockey, we appreciate the recognition of our players and coaching staff from our ACC colleagues and look forward to an exciting tournament in Charlottesville."
This is Meharg's fifth ACC Coach of the Year honor and first since 2001. She led the Terps to their first-ever undefeated regular season (18-0) this year, including a 5-0 record in ACC play. The Terrapins defeated seven straight ranked opponents, another program first. Maryland heads into this weekend's ACC Tournament in Charlottesville, Va. as the No. 1 seed for the second time in three years.
Junior Katie O'Donnell was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, tying the league record of Wake Forest's Kelly Doton (2002-2004). O'Donnell recently became Maryland's all-time points leader and is currently tied for 6th in points in ACC history. This season, she leads the ACC in points and assists and is fourth in the league in goals with 21. O'Donnell has helped the Terrapins lead the conference in goals, assists and scoring margin.
Through her play as one of the most dynamic backs in the nation, senior Emma Thomas was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. She ranks second in the ACC with three defensive saves this season. Thomas also excels at the offensive end of the field, ranking top ten in the league in every offensive category: fourth in shots (82), fifth in points (48), sixth in goals (19), and eighth in assists (10). She is also among the Terps' most clutch performers, leading the ACC in game winning goals with six on the season.
Senior Nicole Muracco, the ACC's Rookie of the Year in 2006, was named to the All-ACC team for the second time in her career. The most prolific scorer in Maryland history, she's tallied 79 career goals. Muracco also leads the ACC with 25 goals this season, which ties her 2008 season total, and is just four away from owning Maryland's single-season record.
Senior midfielder Alexis Pappas was named to the All-ACC team for the second straight year. She is second on the team and in the league with 20 assists on the year. She has moved into the top ten in the Maryland record books for most assists in a season. This past summer, Pappas earned a spot on the U.S. Under 21 national team, along with O'Donnell and fellow Terp Brianna Davies, and played in the Junior World Cup.
The Terps earned the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament this weekend and will play at 4 p.m. Friday against the winner of Thursday's game between No. 4 Wake Forest and No. 5 Boston College.
