University of North Carolina Athletics
Sophomore Erin Matson led the nationl in scoring as UNC won its second-straight NCAA title.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Matson Named South Region Player of the Year
December 5, 2019 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On the heels of an outstanding sophomore season, UNC's Erin Matson has been named First Point USA/NFHCA Division I South Region Field Hockey Player of the Year. Her award and four other region honors were announced on Thursday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
Matson, a forward from Chadds Ford, Pa., led Carolina to the 2019 national championship, the Tar Heels' second in a row, and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
In 20 games, she 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.
Matson was the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row as UNC completed back-to-back 23-0 seasons.
"What an amazing season Erin had," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "In addition to her considerable talent, she's such a hard worker and a great team player, as evidenced by all the assists she has. She balanced her commitments to the U.S. National Team and traveled to India at the end of the season, and still was able to lead us to another conference championship and NCAA title. She has a great supporting cast around her, but was obviously the standout and I'm thrilled to see her honored this way."
The winners from each region are:
South Region Player of the Year: Erin Matson, University of North Carolina, So., Forward (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)
Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year: Clara Roth, Princeton University, Jr., Forward (Schwetzingen, Germany)
Mideast Region Player of the Year: Svea Boker, University of Connecticut, Sr., Forward (Bremen, Germany)
Northeast Region Player of the Year: Bente van Vlijmen, Harvard University, Sr., Midfielder (Zeist, The Netherlands)
West Region Player of the Year: Katie Birch, University of Iowa, Sr., Midfielder/Defender (York, England)
Read the full release from the NFHCA here.
The First Point USA/NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Last week the 2019 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region teams were announced and next to be released are Longstreth/NFHCA All-America teams (December 10) and the First Point USA/NFHCA National Player of the Year (December 16).
Matson, a forward from Chadds Ford, Pa., led Carolina to the 2019 national championship, the Tar Heels' second in a row, and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
In 20 games, she 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.
Matson was the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row as UNC completed back-to-back 23-0 seasons.
"What an amazing season Erin had," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "In addition to her considerable talent, she's such a hard worker and a great team player, as evidenced by all the assists she has. She balanced her commitments to the U.S. National Team and traveled to India at the end of the season, and still was able to lead us to another conference championship and NCAA title. She has a great supporting cast around her, but was obviously the standout and I'm thrilled to see her honored this way."
The winners from each region are:
South Region Player of the Year: Erin Matson, University of North Carolina, So., Forward (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)
Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year: Clara Roth, Princeton University, Jr., Forward (Schwetzingen, Germany)
Mideast Region Player of the Year: Svea Boker, University of Connecticut, Sr., Forward (Bremen, Germany)
Northeast Region Player of the Year: Bente van Vlijmen, Harvard University, Sr., Midfielder (Zeist, The Netherlands)
West Region Player of the Year: Katie Birch, University of Iowa, Sr., Midfielder/Defender (York, England)
Read the full release from the NFHCA here.
The First Point USA/NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Last week the 2019 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region teams were announced and next to be released are Longstreth/NFHCA All-America teams (December 10) and the First Point USA/NFHCA National Player of the Year (December 16).
Players Mentioned
Forward
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