GILBERT, Ariz. - On Tuesday morning, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced their NCAA Division III All-Region Teams. Among the student-athletes honored were two Messiah field hockey players on the South Atlantic Region Team. Junior defender
Mackenzie Brubaker and junior forward
Hannah Palm were named First Team, both earning the honors for the first time in their careers.
After recording 19 goals, seven assists, and 45 points this season,
Hannah Palm earns her first All-Region honor. After four-straight scoreless games to start the season, Palm began her attack, notching her first goal on Sept. 14 against TCNJ. Palm would go on to score one goal per game in eight contests before having an explosive postseason. In the Conference Tournament, Palm tallied two goals against Arcadia and one against Lebanon Valley to help lift Messiah 4-1 over the Dutchmen, securing the Falcons' 13th-straight Conference Championship. Palm only got better as she entered the NCAA Tournament, striking four goals against Worcester St. in the First Round. Palm then struck twice against the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays to end her season with 19 goals total.
Notably, Palm's 19 goals this year put her 22nd in program history with 35 career goals and tied for 24th in program history for most goals in a season. Palm's four goals against the Worcester St. Lancers ties her with seven other Falcons for second in program history for most goals in a game.
On the defensive side,
Mackenzie Brubaker earns her first All-Region honor with a First Team nod after steadily patrolling the back line while causing turnovers in the midfield all season long. Brubaker was an integral part of a defense that held opponents to just 6.5 shots per game, allowing just 1.18 goals per game. The Falcons ranked 30th in the nation with their 1.18 goals against average. Brubaker not only led the defense for the Falcons but she was also a presence on corners for Messiah. Brubaker proved to be a versatile player for Messiah, finding the cage twice this year while recording two goals while dishing out nine assists. Her nine assists led the team this season, making her a threat up front for the Falcons.
