Northwestern University Athletics
Nielsen, Finch Honored With Inside Lacrosse Annual Awards
6/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
June 2, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The postseason accolades continue for senior Christy Finch (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and junior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) as Nielsen was named the Inside Lacrosse Player of the Year while Finch captured Defender of the Year honors. In addition, they were two of four Wildcats named to the All-American teams, joined by junior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) on the first team with junior Meredith Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) earning second team recognition.
Nielsen and Finch served as the offensive and defensive anchors of Northwestern's fourth-consecutive national championship. The 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, Nielsen's 114 points was the second-highest single-season total in Wildcat history, and she is NU's all-time assist leader at 141. Finch, who finished her career in Evanston with an 83-3 record and four national titles, led the nation in caused turnovers with 70 and ranks fourth all-time in NCAA history with 183.
Bowen and Frank also were instrumental in the championship run for the `Cats. Bowen's 81 goals was tops in the nation and set a single-season Wildcat goal record, while her 17 goals in the NCAA tournament tied a championship record as she earned her second consecutive tournament MVP award. Frank spent the entire year recovering from an achilles tendon injury, and still managed to net 29 goals and add eight assists. She is currently ninth on the Wildcats' all-time goals (122) and assist (47) lists.
Northwestern fans are invited to celebrate the team's fourth-straight national championship at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, at Lakeside Field. The Wildcats will be on hand to sign autographs and mingle with fans, and a tailgate also will be provided. In case of inclement weather, festivities will be moved inside Patten Gymnasium.
2008 Inside Lacrosse Award Winners and All-Americans
Player of the Year: Hannah Nielsen, Northwestern
Midfielder of the Year: Dana Dobbie, Maryland
Defender of the Year: Christy Finch, Northwestern
Goalie of the Year: Laura Shane, Stanford
Rookie of the Year: Emma Hamm, Duke
Coach of the Year: Sandy Bridgeman, New Hampshire
First team
Claire Bordley, Virginia, D
Hilary Bowen, Nothwestern, A
Sasha Cielak, Vanderbilt, D
Margie Curran, Vanderbilt, A
Sarah Dalton, Boston University, A
Carolyn Davis, Duke, A
Ali DeLuca, Penn, M
Dana Dobbie, Maryland, M
Amber Falcone, North Carolina, D
Christy Finch, Northwestern,D
Kelly Kasper, Maryland, M
Aiyana Newton, Duke, D
Hannah Nielsen, Northwestern, A
Halley Quillinan, Syracuse, A
Katie Rowan, Syracuse, A
Laura Shane, Stanford, GK
Second Team
Jill Byers, Notre Dame, A
Christina Dove, Syracuse, M
Meredith Frank, Northwestern, M
Hillary Fratzke, Towson, M
Ashby Kaestner, Georgetown, A
Tarah Kirnan, Penn, D
Rachel Manson, Penn, A
Ashley McCulloch, Virginia, A
Caitlyn McFadden, Maryland, M
Holly McGarvie, Princeton, M
Lauren Morton, Boston University, M
Kelly O'Connell, Denver, D
Whitney Richards, Temple, M
Lindsay Rogers, Syracuse, D
Jordan Trautman, Georgetown, D
Sarah Waxman, Penn, GK
Third Team
Christine Casaceli, Princeton, A
Jess Champion, Yale, D
Laura Cohen, Maryland, A
Megan Del Monte, Duke, A
Sarah Gallion, Johns Hopkins, D
Michaela Hardy, UNH, M
Laura King, George Mason, A
Jessi Lieb, Penn State, M
Jen May, Oregon, M
Kendall McBrearty, Virginia, GK
Marie McKenna, Princeton, D
Kristen Millar, Vermont, M
Karen Morton, Denver, M
Kristen Slahor, Ohio State, A
Kristen Stone, Loyola, D
Lauren Taylor, Yale, M
