Kaitlin Hatch, a senior forward from West Chester University, was named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Field Hockey as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
Hatch is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 43rd year.
“I am immensely grateful to be named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for field hockey,” Kaitlin Hatch said. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the committee among some of the most dynamic female athletes in the country; and it’s with great pride that I represent my team, my school, and Division II field hockey.”
“My success as a student-athlete, on and off the field, could not have been achieved without the unconditional support of my coaches and teammates. Moreover, I owe so much to my family for teaching me to be a go-getter and the importance of making an impact in everything I pursue.”
Hatch led her squad to a No. 1 national ranking through most of the season and the top-seed in the 2018 NCAA Championship before falling in the semifinals. The Golden Rams won both the PSAC regular season and postseason championships and Hatch was named the 2018 PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The forward from Sewell, N.J., ranked second on the team in goals (14) and points (31) and added three assists on the season. She also ranked second on the team in game-winning goals (3). She is a two-time All-PSAC honoree and a NFHCA DII All-American and earned ECAC Athlete of the month honors in the month of September.
Off the field, she was twice named to the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area team and earned NFHCA All-Academic honors last season.
All Honda Sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2018 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 24, 2019, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.
THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 43 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.
About Honda
Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future.
Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda’s involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work.
Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/