Sophie Hamilton from the University of Connecticut, Erin Matson of the University of North Carolina, University of Louisville’s Megan Schneider and Corinne Zanolli from Stanford University are the four finalists for the Class of 2021 Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 45 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2021 Honda Cup which will be presented on a telecast on CBS Sports Network, on June 28th, at 9 pm ET.
The field hockey finalists were selected by a panel of coaches and experts from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). The Honda Sport award winner for Field Hockey will be announced next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Hamilton, a sophomore from Bruton, England, was named the 2020-21 Big East Player of the Year and is a two-time All-Big East first-team honoree and All-Big East Tournament team member. She led the nation in in assists per game (1.07), points per game (3.79) and ranked third in goals per game (1.36). The midfielder represented England on the U-16, U-18 and U-21 teams.
A junior forward from Chadds Ford, Pa., Matson was the Class of 2020 Honda Sport Award winner for field hockey and led the Tarheels to their third-straight NCAA Championship title. She led the led the nation in goals per game (1.45) and ranked second in points per game (3.35) and has lost just one game in three years as a collegiate player. She is the two-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and three-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
Named to the NFHCA DI Senior Team, Schneider led her team to the ACC regular season title and tournament top seed. The defender from San Diego, Calif., earned the Elite 90 Award for the 2020-21 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship posting the highest GPA (4.0) of participating semifinal teams. She has helped the Cardinals to 17 shutouts over the last four years. She is a four-time NFHCA National Scholar of Distinction.
Zanolli, a senior forward from Newtown Square, Pa., is a three-time America East Player of the Year and was named to the NFHCA DI Senior Team. She is a two-time NFHCA All-American and a four-time American East first-team honoree and All-Championship team member. This year, she ranks second nationally in goals per game (1.43) and third in points per game (3.29). Overall, she has produced 94 career goals for most goals scored in school history and ranks 16th in NCAA history.
The CWSA, celebrating its 45th anniversary year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
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For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.