BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh field hockey team looked back at its 2012 season on Sunday, Jan. 13, at its annual team banquet in the University Center. Team awards were handed out to three student-athletes who displayed excellence, on and off the field, while head coach Stacey Blue looked back at this past season, which saw big wins over Towson, Georgetown and Monmouth.
Athlete of the Year honors went to sophomore Steph Fratoni. Following an All-Patriot League season as a freshman, Fratoni started 16 games in 2012, posting five points behind a goal and three assists as the team’s center midfielder. Her impact came at both ends of the field as she made a pair of defensive saves and was a staple in the center of the field.
Scholar-Athlete laurels went to freshman Katherine Koomar, who posted a 4.0 in her first semester at Lehigh. In the College of Arts and Sciences, Koomar played in 13 games her rookie campaign (starting three) while posting a defensive save at Penn.
The Coaches Award, presented to the student-athlete who made notable contributions to the well-being of the team in the areas of attitude, improvement and leadership, went to senior Carly Smith. Smith was a mainstay in the back for Lehigh over a strong four-year career. She was one of only three Mountain Hawks to start all 17 games this season, posting a career-high four defensive saves (second on the team). Smith finished her career in the Brown and White playing 61 games (with 44 starts) while making six defensive saves.
A highlight video/slideshow was shown at the banquet as well. To view the video, please click here.
The 2012 season saw the Mountain Hawks beat a CAA team for the first time since 2006 while scoring their most goals since 2004 in that contest. Lehigh also topped perennial NEC power Monmouth for the first time since 2005. A young squad sees Lehigh lose only six seniors to graduation.
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