University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Hand Out 2007 Season Awards
February 26, 2008 | Field Hockey
Feb. 26, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - As part of a weekend-long celebration of the 2007 season, North Carolina field hockey coach Karen Shelton announced her squad's annual team awards, which recognize players who made major impacts on and off the field during the past season. The announcements came Saturday night during UNC's team banquet honoring the squad's achievements, including an undefeated season and NCAA Championship.
Not surprisingly, senior Rachel Dawson was selected for the Anderson Mark of Excellence Most Valuable Player Award. As a senior, Dawson won the Honda Award as the national player of the year, was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP, and also earned All-America honors after leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA title, the program's fifth. "Rachel is an artist and an inspiration," Shelton said. "Her special talents include a relentless work ethic coupled with uncanny game sense and a passion to win. She is one of a kind."
Dawson is the second player in school history to win the honor twice, following her first nod in 2005. Kelsey Keeran was the other two-time MVP, in 2003 and 2004. After graduating from UNC in December, she is now playing with the U.S. National Team.
Dawson and fellow senior Laree Beans served as team captains in 2007, and the two shared the Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award. "Laree and Rachel were the perfect combination as co-captains," Shelton said. "These two complement each other and successfully led their team to a historic season."
Two more seniors were selected for the Marjorie Moses Schwab Unsung Hero Award, which goes to someone who who plays an integral part in the team's overall success but receive little attention. The honor was shared by Xan Funk and Heather Kendell, both of whom grew up in Chapel Hill and stayed to play for their hometown school. "Xan was solid as a rock, particularly in the national championship game when we needed her most," Shelton said. "Heather quietly contributes in so many ways that could have gone unnoticed. Her poise and consistency off the bench were instrumental and her attitude and grace uplifting."
Freshman Katelyn Falgowski was the recipient of the Ken and Cheryl Williams Rookie of the Year Award. Already a member of the U.S. National Team as a high school player, she was a starter from the beginning of her freshman season and was recognized as the ACC Freshman of the Year. "Katelyn was never really a rookie," Shelton said. "Her wealth of international experience enabled her to play like a veteran, especially down the stretch when the prize was on the line."
For the second year in a row, Jesse Gey was honored with the Lingo Award as the Players' Player of the Year. The award is selected by a vote of the players, who select a teammate that represents Carolina with the most dedication, commitment and intensity, and embodies what it means to wear a Tar Heel uniform. "Jesse loves the game and has exhibited a passion for it," Shelton said. "She plays with a mental and physical toughness that is respected by her peers."
eans was honored with the team's Practice Player of the Award, recognizing her for maintaining the highest level of intensity in practice throughout the year, helping to make her teammates better by keeping workouts as competitive as possible. "Laree's work ethic at practice was inspiring," Shelton said. "Her leadership, particularly on the press, made a difference for our team."
The Keller Award for Open-Play Assists went to Falgowski and Gey, who led the team - and the NCAA - in assists. Falgowski had 21 for .91 per game and Gey had 20 for .87 per game. "It is no surprise that the student-athletes who ranked first and second in the nation in assists won the Keller Award," Shelton said. "They were tied with seven open-field assists, which is a credit their vision and unselfishness in setting up goals for their teammates."
