Dawson, Shelton Lead ACC Honors

Oct. 31, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina senior Rachel Dawson has been voted 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year and UNC's Karen Shelton has been named ACC Coach of the Year in honors announced Wednesday by the league. The selections are made by a vote of the league's head coaches. Joining Dawson on the All-ACC team are senior Jesse Gey, sophomore Illse Davids and freshman Katelyn Falgowski, all midfielders.

2007 ACC Coach of the Year Karen Shelton

The defensive honor is the second for Dawson, who also was named Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2004. "I have felt all year that Rachel is the best player in the country and one of the best players in the world, and I think she is proving that," Shelton said. "Her play has been great all year and absolutely dominant at times. It says something that she's voted the best defensive player in the country's best conference, yet she also is the goals leader for the highest scoring team in the country. She's a complete player and I'm really proud to see her earn this honor again."

Dawson, who was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2003, leads UNC with 16 goals this season while also heading up the Tar Heel defense. A back/midfielder from Berlin, N.J., she is a member of the U.S. National Team and was a nominee for the 2006 WorldHockey Women's Young Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the world's best player under age 23.

For Shelton, the honor is her eighth. She won it four years in a row from 1986-89 and also in 1994, 2000 and 2004. Now in her 27th season as the Carolina coach, Shelton has won the honor more times than any coach in league history. This season, she has coached the Tar Heels to an 18-0 record overall and a 5-0 mark in the ACC.

All-ACC midfielder Jesse Gey

The Tar Heels did not give up a goal in league play this season and have 12 shutouts on the year.

UNC's four players on the All-ACC team are the most for the program since 2004, when four Tar Heels made the list. While Dawson has been named all-conference on two previous occasions, 2004 and 2005, the honor is the first for Gey, Davids and Falgowski.

"I think the fact that all three of our midfielders were honored is a great testament to the strength of that unit," Shelton said. "Our midfield is the engine for our team and drives everything we do on the field. Jesse, Illse and Katelyn are key players for us both on offense and defense and I'm excited to see them recognized."

All-ACC midfielder Illse Davids

Gey, a senior from Green Lane, Pa., leads UNC in scoring this season with 11 goals and 16 assists for 38 points. Davids, a sophomore from Plumstead, South Africa, has three goals and two assists. Falgowski, a freshman from Landenberg, Pa., leads the nation with 19 assists and also has five goals.

The top-ranked Tar Heels open play at the ACC Championship Friday with a 4 p.m. semifinal game against the winner of Thursday's first-round matchup between Boston College and Virginia.

2007 All-ACC Field Hockey Team
Julia Berkowitz, Boston College; Illse Davids, North Carolina; Aileen Davis, Wake Forest; Rachel Dawson, North Carolina; Marian Dickinson, Duke; Bob Dirks, Boston College; Katelyn Falgowski, North Carolina; Jesse Gey,

All-ACC midfielder Katelyn Falgowski

North Carolina; Minou Gimbrere, Wake Forest; Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn, Virginia, Michelle Kasold, Wake Forest; Kathryn Masson, Maryland; Katie O'Donnell, Maryland; Susie Rowe, Maryland; Laura Suchoski, Duke; Janneke van Leeuwen, Maryland; Caitlin Williams, Duke

2007 ACC Offensive Player of the Year: Katie O'Donnell, Maryland
2007 ACC Defensive Player of the Year: Rachel Dawson, North Carolina
2007 ACC Coach of the Year: Karen Shelton, North Carolina

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Illse Davids

Rachel Dawson

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Jesse Gey

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