Three Tar Heels Earn All-America Honors
December 10, 2019 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On the heels of UNC's second consecutive undefeated season and NCAA field hockey title, three Tar Heels have been recognized with All-America honors, as announced on Tuesday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Senior Yentl Leemans and sophomore Erin Matson were named to the first team and senior Marissa Creatore was named to the third team.
Matson was honored for the second year and becomes the 20th player in program history to earn first-team All-America honors more than once. This year's honors are the first for Leemans and Creatore.
Leemans's and Matson's inclusion on the first team boosts the total number of Tar Heels earning first-team All-America selection to 40, on 67 occasions.
Leemans, a midfielder from Breda, Netherlands, earned Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Matson, a forward from Chadds Ford, Pa., was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Creatore, a forward from Chapel Hill, was named MVP of the ACC Tournament as UNC won its 22nd title.
A total of 48 athletes were honored across Division I. For the complete list, click here.
http://nfhca.org/Awards/Release-AllAmerican_D1_2019.pdf
Leemans, who played two seasons for the Tar Heels and never lost a game, had five goals and 14 assists for UNC as a senior. A team co-captain, she will graduate in May with a degree in psychology.
Creatore also wrapped up her playing career with the national championship game. A starter in all 23 games this season, she finished her senior campaign with a career-high 16 goals. She served as the team's other co-captain and will graduate this month with a degree in psychology.
In 20 games with UNC (she missed three while with the U.S. National Team), Matson totaled 33 goals and 15 assists for 81 points, leading the nation in goals per game and points per game and ranking second in assists per game. She was announced on Dec. 5 as the South Region Player of the Year.
Matson was honored for the second year and becomes the 20th player in program history to earn first-team All-America honors more than once. This year's honors are the first for Leemans and Creatore.
Leemans's and Matson's inclusion on the first team boosts the total number of Tar Heels earning first-team All-America selection to 40, on 67 occasions.
Leemans, a midfielder from Breda, Netherlands, earned Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Matson, a forward from Chadds Ford, Pa., was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Creatore, a forward from Chapel Hill, was named MVP of the ACC Tournament as UNC won its 22nd title.
A total of 48 athletes were honored across Division I. For the complete list, click here.
http://nfhca.org/Awards/Release-AllAmerican_D1_2019.pdf
Leemans, who played two seasons for the Tar Heels and never lost a game, had five goals and 14 assists for UNC as a senior. A team co-captain, she will graduate in May with a degree in psychology.
Creatore also wrapped up her playing career with the national championship game. A starter in all 23 games this season, she finished her senior campaign with a career-high 16 goals. She served as the team's other co-captain and will graduate this month with a degree in psychology.
In 20 games with UNC (she missed three while with the U.S. National Team), Matson totaled 33 goals and 15 assists for 81 points, leading the nation in goals per game and points per game and ranking second in assists per game. She was announced on Dec. 5 as the South Region Player of the Year.
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Midfielder
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Forward
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