Selenski Named ACC Freshman of the Year

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DURHAM, N.C. Virginia’s Paige Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.) was named the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey Freshman of the Year, the league office announced Sunday following the championship game of the conference tournament. She is just the third player in program history to receive the honor and is the first since Meredith Elwell in 1996.

“It is a fantastic recognition to Paige and the University of Virginia,” said Virginia mentor Michele Madison. “She is an outstanding talent among UVa’s great first-year class and no one works harder in practice. Her game gets better and better as she is a great listener and always accepts her role on the team.

Selenksi, a forward, led Virginia in scoring with 17 goals and tied for a team-best with nine assists for 43 points this season. She played in all 21 games and tallied a team-high 97 shots. Additionally, six of her goals were game-winners. Two of her four multi-goal games were vs. ACC opponents against Maryland (Oct. 4) and at Boston College (Sept. 26).

Third-year forward Traci Ragukas was also named to the 11-member all-tournament team announced Sunday. She contributed three goals and an assist in helping Virginia advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the third consecutive year. It was the third straight year Ragukas has been selected to the all-tournament team.

“Traci had a great tournament and her all-tournament team recognition is well deserved,” Madison said. “She is a fierce competitor and was instrumental in the result of both games for the goals but also her work on defense.”

The 12th-ranked Cavaliers (13-8) await a bid to the 16-team NCAA Tournament field, which will be announced at 8 p.m. Tuesday online at NCAA.com.