Three Members of the Orange Compete at National Championships
5/31/2011 10:36:22 AM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE – Syracuse University players Nicole Nelson and Heather Susek along with alum Shannon Taylor '09 all recently participated in the USA Field Hockey Senior National Championship for the Pennsylvania Region team. Syracuse head coach Ange Bradley served as coach and associate head coach Lynn Farquhar was the region's administrator. The squad finished fourth, behind the New Jersey and South and Mid Atlantic regions.
Nelson was recognized on the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Mideast Region Second Team for her efforts in 2010. The senior was also named to the BIG EAST Conference Second Team.
Susek earned a spot on the 2010 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-American Third Team and Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Mideast First Team. She was also named to the BIG EAST Conference Second Team and earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Taylor also made the USA Travel Squad for the Champions Challenge June 18-28 in Dublin, Ireland where she'll play against former SU player, Leigh Fawcett (representing Scotland).
A first-team 2008 Longstrenth/NFHCA Division I and womensfieldhockey.com All-America, Taylor was also named to the All-BIG EAST First Team and the ECAC All-Star squad. A Honda Collegiate Women Sports Award finalist for field hockey, she was also the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player and a member of the All-BIG EAST Tournament Team.
Taylor made a huge impact with the Orange in 2007-08. Taylor was the statistical champion for points per game (3.29) and goals per game (1.29). Her 79 points and 31 goals are both Orange single-season records. Taylor's points, goals and assists are both Syracuse senior records. Taylor was also named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
USA Field Hockey's High Performance Training Centers identify and train potential National Team athletes through comprehensive training/skill enhancement sessions and premier level competitions. The Centers allow athletes to train in regional areas close to their homes by some of the country's top coaches.
The 2011 Orange opens the season on Saturday, August 27 when it hosts Monmouth at J.S. Coyne Stadium at 1 p.m.
