University of North Carolina Athletics
Dawson Named ACC Freshman Of The Year
November 9, 2003 | Field Hockey
Nov. 9, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina's Rachel Dawson, a midfielder from Berlin, N.J., has been named 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year for field hockey. The award was announced following Sunday's ACC Championship game, in which Wake Forest beat Duke 3-2 in overtime to claim its second title in a row.
Dawson is the fourth Tar Heel to win the honor, following Kate Barber (1994), Stephanie Walsh (1990) and Meredith Keller (1999). A starter in all 21 games, Dawson leads Carolina in goals this season with 19, including one in each of the last two games. With one assist, she has 39 points, the third-highest total on the team.
"I'm very proud of Rachel," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "She has contributed all year at the highest level and is very deserving of this honor."
Dawson and sophomore forward Karen Mann were named to the 2003 ACC All-Tournament Team, also announced on Sunday. Both players scored goals in Friday's 4-3 loss to Duke in an ACC Tournament semifinal game in Charlottesville, Va.
The Tar Heels, 16-5 and ranked No. 4 in the nation, now await the Tuesday evening announcement of the 2003 NCAA Tournament Field. UNC missed out on the tournament last season after competing in 19 in a row. The Tar Heels won championships in 1989, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and have finished as the NCAA runner-up six times.
2003 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament Team
Kelly Doton, Wake Forest (MVP)
Kelly Dostal, Wake Forest
Lucy Shaw, Wake Forest
Ariel Meyers, Wake Forest
Hilary Linton, Duke
Johanna Bischof, Duke
Brooke Johnson, Maryland
Paula Infante, Maryland
Karen Mann, North Carolina
Rachel Dawson, North Carolina
Mia Link, Virginia
ACC Freshman of the Year
Rachel Dawson, North Carolina
