Oct. 17, 2005
NORFOLK, Va. - In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships, the NCAA has announced the 25th Anniversary Division I Field Hockey Team, which includes former Lady Monarch field hockey legends Marina DiGiacomo, Christy Morgan, and Robin Smith along with veteran head coach Beth Anders.
Marina DiGiacomo, Old Dominion, Midfielder
NCAA All Tournament (1997, 98, 2000)
NCAA National Champion (1998, 2001)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year (2000)
All American (1999, 2000)
Marina DiGiacomo is the NCAA's all-time leading scorer and a member of two national championship teams. During her Old Dominion career (1997-2000), DiGiacomo was a two-time AstroTurf/NFHCA All-American, a four-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, four-time CAA Tournament MVP. She is the only player in the history of field hockey to be ranked in the top three of each statistical category (goals, assists, points). DiGiacomo made an incredible mark in the NCAA record books with 414 points on 167 goals and 80 assists during her career ranking her first in points, third in goals, and fourth all-time in assists. With DiGiacomo on the turf, the Lady Monarchs captured an outstanding 87-13 record including national championship in 1998 with a 23-2 overall mark and in 2000 with a 25-1 record. The Argentina native won the prestigious Honda Award trophy her senior season during the Lady Monarchs' 2000 campaign, which ended with Old Dominion's ninth national championship trophy. She became the fifth Lady Monarch to earn the National Player of the Year award leading the nation with an outstanding 151 points from 63 goals and 25 assists. DiGiacomo was a member of the Argentine National Team helping her native country to a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games and the gold medal at the 2004 Pan American Cup.
Christy Morgan, Old Dominion, Forward
NCAA All Tournament (1982, 83, 84)
NCAA National Champion (1982, 83, 84)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year (1985)
Christy Morgan is the only three-time All-American in ODU field hockey history, and is the only field hockey player in NCAA history to earn a spot on the all-tournament team four times. Morgan earned the sports top honor in 1985 as she was awarded the Broderick Cup, as being the nation's top female collegiate athlete. During her four years, ODU won three consecutive NCAA national Championships from 1981-84. Morgan completed her career as then ODU's all-time leading scorer with 86 career goals and 133 career points. She is also the school's fifth all-time assist leader with 47.During her career at ODU, Morgan was a member of the World Cup team, an alternate on the 1984 United States Olympic squad and later a member of the 1988 United States Olympic team
Robin Smith, Old Dominion, Back
NCAA All Tournament (1997, 98)
NCAA National Champion (1998)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year (1997)
All American (1997, 98)
Robin Smith was an integral part in the Lady Monarchs field hockey dominance in the early 1990's. She helped lead Old Dominion to three straight NCAA National Championships and was a three-time NCAA All-Tournament selection in 1990,1991 and 1992. During her four years at Old Dominion, the Lady Monarchs compiled a 98-4-1 record, and two undefeated seasons. A two-time All-American, Smith was a member of the United States National field hockey team from 1990 to 1992, and played on the 12th ranked 1990 World Cup team and the 1991 bronze medal team at the Pan American games. The three-time All-South Region pick completed her career with 66 goals, 18 assists for 150 points.
Beth Anders, Old Dominion, Coach
NCAA National Champion (1982, 83, 84, 88, 90, 91, 92, 98, 2000)
NCAA runner-up (1985, 89, 87)
NFHCA National Coach of the Year (1998, 2000)
Beth Anders has cemented her status as one of the greatest in field hockey in all facets of the game. As player, she has participated at every level possible, including World Cup and Olympic events and as a coach. Her coaching achievements are nothing short of impressive, including nine national collegiate titles, a bronze medal at the Pan American World Cup Games, and the distinction of being the winningest Division I field hockey coach in the country. Considered by many to be a pioneer of her sport, her resume is dotted with a long list of incredible achievements and monumental firsts.
At Old Dominion, Anders has mentored the field hockey team for over 22 years and has led her teams to perennial appearances in the NCAA tournament. Under her tutelage, the Lady Monarchs have achieved more honors than any other field hockey program in NCAA history. Among the most prestigious, Anders and her teams have brought the NCAA Championship trophy back to Norfolk an unprecedented nine times.In national coaching records, Anders has coached more games than any other active Division I coach, having been on the sidelines of 521 games over her 22-year career. She became the first Division I coach to reach the 400-career victory mark, a milestone only reached by five other coaches in the sport, and Anders' 442 wins entering this season are the most of any Division I coach in history. With a 442-72-7 overall career record entering the 2005 season, Anders posts an amazing 85.5 winning percentage.
Anders' coaching experience has not been limited to the Old Dominion sidelines. Internationally, Anders guided the 1991 U.S. National Team to the bronze medal and masterminded the qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup. Most recently, in the summer of 2003, Anders was asked to take over the U.S. National Team and prepare them for the Pan American games in the Dominican Republic, the stepping stone necessary to qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Anders challenges her teams to not only excel on the field, but in the classroom as well. Since 1989, the Lady Monarch teams have had a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better. This past season, the team put forth six National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Academic All-Americans.
Other 25th Anniversary Division Field Hockey Team Members Include:
Kelly Doton, Wake Forest, Back
NCAA All Tournament (2000, 01, 02, 03)
NCAA National Champion (2002, 03)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year(2003)
Womensfieldhockey.com Player of the Year (2002, 03)
All American (2001, 02, 03)
Tracey Fuchs, Connecticut, Forward
NCAA All Tournament (1985)
NCAA National Champion (1987)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year(1987)
All American (1985, 86, 87)
Kristy Gleason, Iowa, Forward
NCAA All Tournament (1990, 93)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year(1993)
All American (1989, 90, 92, 93)
Leslie Lyness, North Carolina, Midfielder
NCAA All Tournament (1987, 89)
NCAA National Champion (1989)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year(1989)
All American (1988, 98)
Judy Strong, Massachusetts, Forward
NCAA All Tournament (1981)
National Player of the Year (1981)
Carla Tagliente, Maryland, Forward
NCAA All Tournament (1999)
NCAA National Champion (1999)
All American (1997, 98, 99, 2000)
Cindy Werley, North Carolina, Midfielder
NCAA All Tournament (1994, 96, 97)
NCAA National Champion (1996, 97)
Honda Broderick Field Hockey Player of the Year(1995, 96)
All American (1994, 96, 97)
Jana Withrow, North Carolina, Goalkeeper
NCAA All Tournament (1995)
NCAA National Champion (1995, 96, 97)
All American (1996, 97)