Four Wildcats Earn All-Big Ten Recognition

11/4/2015 9:18:00 AM | Field Hockey

McCarthy picks up fourth all-conference accolade

By: Nick Brilowski

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Four individuals from the Northwestern field hockey team earned All-Big Ten recognition Wednesday on the eve of the start of the conference tournament. Senior back Lisa McCarthy was named to the first team while seniors Charlotte Martin and Caroline Troncelliti as well as junior Isabel Flens were recognized as second-team selections.

The All-Big Ten honor is the fourth of McCarthy's career. After being chosen to the second team as a freshman and sophomore, she received a first-team nod last season. The 2012 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a native of Dublin, Ireland, McCarthy has been the anchor of the Wildcats' stout backline of defense for the last four seasons. Offensively, she has contributed 3 goals and 11 assists this season with the latter total ranking tied for second in the Big Ten.

Martin, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, earns her second selection to the second team after receiving the same honor in 2014. A commanding presence in the midfield the last four years, she has helped Northwestern rank among the Big Ten leaders in both goals scored and fewest goals allowed this year. Martin ranks second on the team behind only McCarthy and fourth in the conference with 11 assists this season.

A Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania, native, Troncelliti receives the first All-Big Ten recognition of her career, helping lead the Wildcats' high-powered attack that ranks second in the Big Ten in goals scored. The speedy senior has scored 10 goals this season to rank tied for seventh in the Big Ten. She has also contributed 3 assists and ranks third on the team with 23 points.

Flens, a native of Hattem, Netherlands, picked up her first all-conference nod as well. Along with teammate Dominique Masters, Flens ranks tied for second in the Big Ten and tied for ninth in the nation with 15 goals. Her four game-winning goals and 36 points rank tied for first in the league.

In addition, senior Kirsten Ward was recognized as Northwestern's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

Northwestern (12-7) is ranked No. 17 in this week's Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll. The Wildcats are the No. 4 seed for this week's Big Ten tournament which gets underway Thursday in Bloomington, Indiana. NU opens tourney play with a quarterfinal round matchup against fifth-seeded Ohio State at 9 a.m. Central time. The contest is being televised live by Big Ten Network.

2015 All-Big Ten Teams

First Team
KATE BARBER, B, Jr., IND
Stephanie Norlander, F, Jr., IOWA
ANNA DESSOYE, M, Sr., MD
SARAH SPRINK, B, Sr., MD
Shannon Scavelli, F, Sr., MICH
Sam Swenson, GK, So., MICH
LAUREN THOMAS, B, Sr. MICH
Heather Howie, M, Sr., MSU
Lisa McCarthy, B, Sr., NU
Peanut Johnson, F, Sr., OSU
Aurelia Meijer, F, Fr., PSU

Second Team
Noelle Rother, GK, Fr., IND
Sydney Supica, B, Sr., IND
Chandler Ackers, B, Jr., IOWA
Linnea Gonzales, F, Fr., MD
Welma Luus, F, Sr., MD
Isabel Flens, Jr., F, NU
Charlotte Martin, M, Sr., NU
Caroline Troncelliti, M, Sr., NU
Maddy Humphrey, M, So., OSU
Emma Royce, B, Sr., OSU
Linde van Schaik, M, Fr., RU

Player of the Year: Sarah Sprink, MD
Offensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Norlander, IOWA
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Thomas, MICH
Freshman of the Year: Linnea Gonzales, MD
Coach of the Year: Missy Meharg, MD

Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Nicole Volgraf, IND
Sophie Plasteras, IOWA
Shari Jones, MD
Shannon Scavelli, MICH
Mallory Tyler, MSU
Kirsten Ward, NU
Sydney Stype, OSU
Haley Kerstetter, PSU
Nicole Imbriaco, RU

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS