PAC alums garner NFHCA first team honors
Spring-Ford alumnus Chillano, Major, Vagnoni among those honored
Pioneer Athletic Conference alums could be found all over the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region teams upon their announcement on Nov. 27.
Penn senior Alexa Hoover (Methacton), Connecticut senior Casey Umstead (Upper Perkiomen) and Duke senior Alyssa Chillano (Spring-Ford) and sophomore Sammi Steele (Methacton) were named NFHCA All-Region first team in their respective regions. North Carolina senior Gab Major (Spring-Ford) was named to the South Region second team and Michigan State senior Simone Vagnoni (Spring-Ford) was named to the West Region second team.
Hoover capped an outstanding season at Penn as the all-time leader in goals (68) and points (163) and ranks fourth all-time in the Ivy League in both categories as well. This season, Hoover led Penn with 12 goals and eight assists for 32 points and started all 67 games of her college career.
Umstead provided yet another scoring threat on the UConn offense with 15 goals and 16 assists for 46 points. A force on both sides of the ball, Umstead helped UConn turn in a NCAA-leading 3.57 scoring margin. The two-time All-Mideast Regional First Team selection finished her career fifth all-time in assists (40) and tied for sixth in career points (160) and goals (60).
An all-region selection for the third time inher career and a first team honoree for the second consecutive season, Chillano totaled eight goals, four assists and three defensive saves during her senior campaign. The Phoenixville native notched two multiple-goal games and was part of a back line that ranked among the best in the country all season in goals against average (1.28). She garnered first team All-ACC recognition to go along with ACC All-Tournament Team laurels and was tabbed the MVP of the NFHCA Division I Senior Game.
Steele collected All-South Region first team accolades for the second consecutive season following another successful campaign as the Blue Devils’ starting goalkeeper. The Eagleville native wrapped upthe season ranked eighth nationally in goals against average (1.28) and was second in the ACC in save percentage (.725). MARK FORREST (THE HILL SCHOOL) » The junior was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was selected to the All-ECAC first team last
Wednesday after a standout season with the Lehigh men’s soccer team. Earlier, the 6-foot-3 forward was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team selection. Forrest, from Douglassville, led the ECAC and the league in goals (15), points (38) and penalty kick goals (four). Hewas third in the ECAC in game-winners with three and fourth in assists with eight. The Mountain Hawks finished the season 11-7-1 overall and 5-3-1 in league play.
JIMMY FRATANTONI (OWENJ. ROBERTS) » Fratantoni has competed in just four bouts in the early going this season with the Muhlenberg wrestling team but when the junior is on themat, he’s been dominating.
Fratantoni (Owen J. Roberts) opened his season by going 2-0 at 174 pounds at the Roger Williams Invitational on Nov. 11 in Bristol, R.I. He forfeited his next match to a teammate.
On Nov. 18, at the Mules’ Scotty Wood Duals in Allentown, he wrestled in two of the four matches and won both of them as Muhlenberg defeated Washington & Jefferson 26-21 and Camden County 27-20. His performance in the latter match earned him the tourney’s Most Valuable Wrestler Award. The Mules were trailing 14-12 but he posted a 21-6 technical fall victory to provide the team the lead.
“Jimmy works extremely hard and comes into the room with vigor and excitement on a daily basis,” coach Jason McLean said. “He is extremely talented and now his confidence is starting to be on the same level. He wants to get better every day and is willing to do extra to get there. He’s done a great job trusting the coaches as well. There were days when he’s been dying to compete but we have held him back.”
SYDNEY WAGNER (SPRINGFORD) » The 5-foot-6 freshman guard has played in all seven games with four starts for the Stetson women’s basketball team. She’s averaging 8.6 points with 15 rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Wagner had a career-game in an 85-71 victory over Florida of the Southeast Conference on Nov. 22 when she scored a team-high 20 points and was 8-for-10 from the field and 4-for-4 from outside the arc. The Hatters are 3-4 and one of the losses came at the hands of No. 2-ranked Texas.