University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Hand Out Season Awards
April 23, 2007 | Field Hockey
April 23, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina field hockey coach Karen Shelton has announced her team's awards for the 2006 season, recognizing players who made big impacts on the field, in the locker room and behind the scenes.
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Junior Jesse Gey was named the recipient of the Anderson Mark of Excellence Most Valuable Player Award. A midfielder from Green Lane, Pa., she started every game and finished the season with 21 points, including a team-best nine assists to go with six goals. She earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and All-South Region second team honors during the year.
"Jesse played center midfield and was on corner offense and corner defense," Shelton said. "She came into the season as one of the fittest players and she improved game by game. She was always positive and quietly led the team by example with her attitude, confidence and work ethic."
Gey also was selected by her teammates as the recipient of the Lingo Award as Players' Player of the Year. Players determine the award's winner by voting for the teammate who represents Carolina with the most dedication, commitment and intensity, and embodies what it means to wear a Tar Heel uniform. Additionally, Gey received the Keller Award for Open-Play Assists, which recognizes an unselfish player who sets up open-field goals for her teammates and demonstrates outstanding skill, vision and decision-making in the offensive circle.
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Senior Laree Beans received the Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award, which recognizes a Tar Heel who provides significant leadership throughout the season and inspires her teammates to perform at a higher level in practices and in games. Beans, a forward from Bethlehem, Pa., served as a team captain and was selected for the award despite not playing last fall while she took a redshirt season. She will return for her final campaign in 2007.
"Even though Laree didn't play last season, she was incredibly positive and influential to the team," Shelton said. "She made an impact as a practice player, she led the redshirting freshmen in fitness, she made insightful and positive comments from bench, and she was a great leader by example. Others look to her for leadership and she's all about the team."
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Freshman Brianna O'Donnell was the winner of the Ken and Cheryl Williams Rookie of the Year Award. A goalkeeper from Collegeville, Pa., she played the entirety of all 22 games and finished the season with a goals against average of 1.30. She was named All-ACC Tournament and All-South Region second team.
"Bri follows in a long line of outstanding rookies for us," Shelton said. "She did a great job this year of handling the pressure of being not only a freshman in the starting lineup, but a freshman playing in goal. She provided good vocal leadership in the back and she continued to learn and grow throughout the season." O'Donnell is the first goalkeeper to win the award, which dates back to 1994.
Freshman Riley Foster received the Marjorie Moses Schwab Unsung Hero Award, which goes to an individual who plays an integral part in the team's overall success but receives little attention.
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A back from Fort Worth, Texas, she started all 22 games and was named All-South Region second team. She is the first freshman to win the UNC honor, which dates back to 1994.
"Riley consistently exceeded expectations," Shelton said. "Playing the center back position, she was pivotal for us all year and has been a joy to work with."
Senior Rachel Dawson was honored as the Practice Player of the Year. She missed the first part of the fall while representing the U.S. at the World Cup, where she was selected as one of the top young players in the world. Upon returning to campus, she practiced with the team throughout the rest of the season and in the spring of 2007. She will return for her final season of collegiate competition this fall.
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"Rachel wasn't with us for the entire season because of her commitments to the National Team, but she made a huge impact when she was here," Shelton said. "When she steps on the field, everyone improves. She commands respect and practices with an intensity and aggressiveness that brings out those qualities in others. She influences others with her presence and her work ethic."
The 2006 Tar Heels finished the season 13-9 and made the program's 24th NCAA Tournament appearance.
