University of North Carolina Athletics
Matson Selected As National Player of the Year
December 16, 2019 | Field Hockey
North Carolina sophomore Erin Matson has been selected as the 2019 First Point USA/NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year after leading the Tar Heels to a 23-0 season that culminated in an NCAA Championship.
Matson is the second Tar Heel to win the NFHCA honor, which dates back to 2010. UNC midfielder Katelyn Falgowski won in 2011.
"I'm so pleased for Erin to get this recognition," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "She's so talented, but she's also such a hard worker. The fact she led us in assists in addition to goals says a lot about the unselfish way she plays. We're all proud she's a Tar Heel."
The National Player of the Year honor means that Matson's No. 1 jersey will be retired by UNC following her playing career. She'll become the sixth Tar Heel field hockey player to have her number retired.
Matson is also a finalist for the Honda Sport Award, which will be announced later this month. UNC's Ashley Hoffman won the Honda Award for the 2018 season.
Matson, the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First Point USA/NFHCA South Region Player of the Year, led the nation in points and goals per game in 2019. She finished her sophomore season with 33 goals, 15 assists, and 81 points, helping the Tar Heels to their second-consecutive undefeated season. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and last week was named to the All-America first team for the second year in a row.
So far in her career, Matson has been part of two NCAA Championships, two ACC regular-season championships, and two ACC Tournament championships and has yet to lose a game as a Tar Heel.
Matson is the second Tar Heel to win the NFHCA honor, which dates back to 2010. UNC midfielder Katelyn Falgowski won in 2011.
"I'm so pleased for Erin to get this recognition," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "She's so talented, but she's also such a hard worker. The fact she led us in assists in addition to goals says a lot about the unselfish way she plays. We're all proud she's a Tar Heel."
The National Player of the Year honor means that Matson's No. 1 jersey will be retired by UNC following her playing career. She'll become the sixth Tar Heel field hockey player to have her number retired.
Matson is also a finalist for the Honda Sport Award, which will be announced later this month. UNC's Ashley Hoffman won the Honda Award for the 2018 season.
Matson, the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First Point USA/NFHCA South Region Player of the Year, led the nation in points and goals per game in 2019. She finished her sophomore season with 33 goals, 15 assists, and 81 points, helping the Tar Heels to their second-consecutive undefeated season. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and last week was named to the All-America first team for the second year in a row.
So far in her career, Matson has been part of two NCAA Championships, two ACC regular-season championships, and two ACC Tournament championships and has yet to lose a game as a Tar Heel.
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