University of North Carolina Athletics
Barber Earns U.S. Field Hockey's Top Award
January 7, 2003 | Field Hockey
Jan. 7, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Former North Carolina field hockey player Kate Barber has been named Female Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Field Hockey Association, the sports' governing body in the United States. Barber, who played at UNC from 1994-97, is in her fifth year on the U.S. National Team and is a charter member of the team's two-year-old residency program in Virginia Beach, Va.
In 2002, Barber helped the U.S. to a berth in the Women's World Cup and an eventual ninth-place finish at the event, held in Perth, Australia, Nov. 25-Dec. 8. Although recovering from a shoulder separation, she scored three goals, including both U.S. tallies in a 2-1 win over Ireland. "We were fortunate to have many players step up for us this year, but Kate Barber had an outstanding year in 2002," said U.S. head coach Tracey Belbin. "She was instrumental in our success throughout the year and topped it off with a tremendous tournament at the World Cup. She's just been very consistent all year."
In earning the USFHA honor, Barber follows another former Tar Heel, Peggy Storrar, who was named USFHA Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 2001.
At North Carolina, Barber helped the Tar Heels to three NCAA championships and four Atlantic Coast Conference crowns. She earned first-team All-America honors in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and in August of 2002 was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary field hockey team as one of the top players in conference history.
Barber and Storrar also shared in another award as the Women's National Team was named the USFHA Team of the Year. Other former Carolina players who were members of the 2002 National Team are Carrie Lingo, Abby Martin, Kristen McCann and Abbey Woolley.
Shawn Hindy, a member of the Men's National Team, was named USFHA's Male Athlete of the Year. As U.S. Field Hockey's honorees, Barber, Hindy and the Women's National Team are now in the running for the U.S. Olympic Committee's Sportswoman, Sportsman and Team of the Year awards.
