Five Cavaliers Earn All-South Region Honors
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Nov. 29, 2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Five Virginia field hockey players were named to the 2016 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region Teams, as announced on Tuesday (Nov. 29) by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Midfield junior Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and senior Lucy Hyams (Whitstable, England) were named to the first team while senior forward Caleigh Foust (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), sophomore goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) and freshman defender Dominique van Slooten (Laren, Netherlands) earned second-team honors.
Vittese finished the season with 15 goals and 11 assists, ranking fourth in the ACC with 1.71 points per game. The 2016 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-ACC member was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season and was named the National Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 4. In her three-year career, Vittese has contributed 131 points with 47 goals and 37 assists, all three of which rank in the top 10 in UVA history. This is her third first-team all-region honor.
Hyams had 21 points this season on nine goals with 11 assists, including contributing eight points on two goals and four assists during the Cavaliers’ ACC championship run. Hyams, who was named to the All-ACC First Team as well as being named to the ACC All-Tournament Team, finished her career ranked in the top-10 in program history with 37 career assists and logged her 100th career point in the ACC semifinal victory over Wake Forest. This is Hyams’ fourth All-Region honor and her second time being selected to the first team.
Foust scored nine goals this season, five of which were game-winners. Foust was named the MVP of the ACC Championship after scoring two game-winning goals during the tournament, including the overtime game-winner against Wake Forest. Foust ended her career with 42 goals and seven assists. This is her second All-South Region Second Team honor after also being selected during her sophomore season.
Lucas was second in the ACC, averaging 5.20 saves per game, and fourth with a .727 save percentage. Lucas finished the season with a 14-6 record with four shutouts. This is her first All-South Region honor.
Van Slooten is one of 15 freshmen to be named to the Division I All-Region teams. In her rookie campaign, van Slooten paced the conference with five defensive saves and was named to the ACC All-Tournament team for her efforts in helping the Cavaliers win the championship for the first time in program history. She started every game this season for the Cavaliers, playing nearly every minute, and began her collegiate career by scoring a goal in her first game against Miami (Ohio).
The Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Regional Players of the Year will be announced on Thursday, with the All-America squad coming out on Dec. 7 and the National Player of the Year on Dec. 14.