BROCKPORT, N. Y. – The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced its Division III All-Region teams on Tuesday as senior forward
Jennie Young, junior defender
Nicole Shank, and junior midfielder
Ashlyn Smith all received First Team nods. Shank, Smith, and Young earn their first-career NFHCA All-Region honors, becoming the 124th, 125th, and 126th players in program history to receive the accolade.
Receiving All-MAC Commonweath First Team recognition two weeks ago by the Middle Atlantic Conference, the three Falcons played integral roles in Messiah's 2021 campaign.
Smith recorded 11 goals and four assists for a career-high 26 points on the season. The junior midfielder tallied a pair of goals in the Falcons' 3-0 victory over visiting Stevens Institute of Technology in the NCAA First Round (11/10). Smith, in addition to scoring two goals in the First Round matchup, found the back of the cage in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game, a 7-3 victory over visiting Widener University on Nov. 6.
Shank made lasting postseason contributions as well. Scoring goals in both the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals and the Championship contest, the junior midfielder ended the season with six goals and six assists, both career-high marks.
Young, who earned MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year, tied the team lead in points (30) with 11 goals and eight assists. The senior forward had a team-high six points in a home win over Eastern University (Oct. 16), recording a hat trick during Senior Day festivities.
With the help of the three All-Region honorees, Messiah clinched its sixth-straight undefeated regular season in MAC Commonwealth play, earning its 14th-consecutive conference crown.
The NFHCA will announce the Regional Players of the Year next Monday, Nov. 29, followed by the All-American teams on Dec. 14 and the National Player of the Year on Dec. 16.
