University of North Carolina Athletics
Former Tar Heels Inducted Into Hall
June 11, 2004 | Field Hockey
June 11, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Former University of North Carolina field hockey players Leslie Lyness and Laurel Hershey Martin were inducted into the U.S. Field Hockey Association Hall of Fame in ceremonies June 12 at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. The two are among seven members in the Class of 2004, the fourth group of inductees to the Hall, which was established in 1986.
Also among the Hall's members is UNC coach Karen Shelton, a 1989 inductee who attended the ceremony honoring Lyness and Martin. Hall of Fame honorees are selected based on a point system that takes into account each year an athlete competed on the U.S. National Team. Additional points are earned for selection to Olympic, Pan American Games or World Cup teams.
 Laurel Hershey Martin  |
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"I'm very proud of Leslie and Laurel," Shelton said. "I consider them two of our all-time greats at UNC and in the sport. It's fitting they're the first of what we hope will be many more Tar Heels inducted into the Hall of Fame."
Lyness played for the Tar Heels from 1986-89, earning first-team All-America honors in 1988 and '89. She was the winner of the Honda Award as national player of the year in 1989 and is one of only two UNC field hockey players to have had her jersey number retired. She went on to play for the U.S. National Team from 1990-96, earning a bronze medal at the 1994 World Cup and competing in the 1996 Olympic Games. She played in 92 international contests during her career and is now a student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Martin lettered for the Tar Heels from 1987-90, earning All-America honors as a senior. Like Lyness, she was selected as one of the top 50 players in Atlantic Coast Conference history. Following her UNC career, she played in 69 international matches for the U.S. from 1990-96, teaming with Lyness on the 1996 Olympic team as well as World Cup squads in 1990 and '94. She is now the head field hockey coach at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa.
Joining Lyness and Martin in the class of inductees are Barbara Marois, Christy Morgan, Marcia Pankratz, Pam Neiss Stuper and Patricia Shea. Pankratz, now the head coach at Michigan, was an assistant coach at UNC from 1988-91.
