University of North Carolina Athletics
Dawson A Honda Award Finalist
November 29, 2007 | Field Hockey
Nov. 29, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina senior Rachel Dawson is among four finalists for the 2007 Honda Award for field hockey, recognizing the national player of the year. A back/midfielder from Berlin, N.J., Dawson led UNC to the 2007 NCAA Championship with a 24-0 record.
In addition to Dawson, finalists are Jen Long (Penn State), Katie O'Donnell (Maryland) and Pam Spuehler (Boston University). Senior woman administrators from NCAA schools vote on the award, the winner of which will be announced in early December. The field hockey recipient will be a nominee for the Honda-Broderick Cup, awarded annually to the nation's outstanding collegiate woman student-athlete.
The 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP, Dawson led the Tar Heels offensively and defensively this season. With 19 goals, she was the top goal scorer on the No. 1 offensive team in the country. She also anchored a defense that totaled a school-record 16 shutouts and gave up just 12 goals in 24 games.
Dawson already has been named National Player of the Year by Womensfieldhockey.com and also was a first-team All-America selection for 2007, the second time in her career she has been so honored.
In addition to starring on the field for North Carolina, she is a starter for the U.S. National Team and was a nominee for the 2006 WorldHockey Young Player of the Year Award, recognizing her as one of the world's top six players under age 23.
Dawson is a business major and has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the NFHCA National Academic Squad.
UNC's last recipient of the Honda Award was Cindy Werley, who won the honor in 1996 and 1997. Leslie Lyness became the first Tar Heel to receive the award in 1989.
Carolina coach Karen Shelton is the only three-time winner of the award. She earned the honor in 1976, '77 and '78 while at West Chester.
Other Tar Heels who have been finalists for Honda Award are Lori Bruney (1986, '87), Mary Ellen Falcone (1987), Laurel Hershey (1990), Peggy Storrar (1993), Kate Barber (1995,'97) and (1998).
American Honda will donate $1,000 to the women's athletic fund of each nominee's university. The winner's program will receive $5,000.
