Woods Named ACC Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Louisville's Nicole Woods has been named the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year and leads the sport's All-ACC Academic Team, as announced Friday by the conference office. Woods is one of six players representing the Cardinals on the All-ACC Academic Team. She is joined by Carter Ayars, Abby Grimes, Marigrace Ragsdale, Taylor Stone and Madison Walsh.

A Beverly, Massachusetts, native majoring in middle and secondary education, Woods was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America First Team, All-ACC First Team, and became the first player in program history to be named NFHCA West Region Player of the Year. The team co-captain started all 22 games for the Cardinals, tallying six goals and 19 points. This marks the third All-ACC Academic Team honor for Woods who is also a member of USA Field Hockey's National Team.

Ayars, an exercise science major from Wilmington, Del., is making her first appearance on the ACC All-Academic squad. The sophomore started all 21 games in the backfield and was an ACC-All Tournament selection in 2017.

Grimes, an accounting major from St. Louis, Mo., picks up her first ACC All-Academic nod. The team co-captain is coming off of a career-best senior campaign in which she tallied six goals and dished out two assists for 14 points.

Ragsdale, a senior co-captain and finance major from St. Louis, Mo., is making her second appearance on the ACC All-Academic team. The forward played in all 22 games while starting 21. She tallied a career-best seven goals and added eight assists for 22 points.

Stone, a junior from Herndon, Va., earns her first ACC All-Academic nod. The marketing major was a 2018 NFHCA All-America selection after scoring seven goals and dishing out three assists. The 2017 NFHCA All-West Region and All-ACC honoree garnered ACC Defensive Player of the Week, NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week and Synapse National Defensive Player of the Week for her performances. Stone is a member of USA Field Hockey's Under 21 team.

Walsh, a freshman from St. Louis, Mo., makes her debut on the ACC All-Academic Team after playing in all 22 games with 19 starts. The political science major scored five goals in her rookie campaign.

The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September of 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their careers, as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.

The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.

Louisville Field Hockey
The Cards finished the 2017 season with a 14-8 overall record after earning their fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance and posting a runner-up finish in the ACC championship. UofL also posted a 4-2 record in ACC play - the most wins since joining the conference in 2014 - and finished tied for second in the regular season standings. Louisville was ranked No. 8 in the final National Field Hockey Coaches' Association poll after being ranked in the top 10 for six weeks in 2017.

2017 ACC Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Nicole Woods, Sr., F/M, Louisville; Middle/Secondary Education

2017 All-ACC Academic Field Hockey Team
Ymke Rose Gote, Jr., M, Boston College; Psychology
Frederique Haverhals, Jr., B/M, Boston College; Finance
Lucy Lytle, Jr., M/F, Boston College; Information Systems
Caroline Andretta, Jr., F, Duke; Psychology
Alyssa Chillano, Sr., B, Duke; Psychology
Sarah Furey, Sr., B, Duke; Psychology
Ashley Kristen****, Sr., F, Duke; Psychology
Alexa Mackintire, Sr., M, Duke; Sociology
Margaux Paolino **, So., M, Duke; Undeclared
Samantha Steele**, R-So., GK, Duke; Visual Arts
Rose Tynan, Jr., F, Duke; Psychology
Carter Ayars, So., B, Louisville; Exercise Science
Abigail Grimes, Sr., B/M, Louisville; Accounting
Marigrace Ragsdale**, Sr., F, Louisville; Finance
Taylor Stone, Jr., M/B, Louisville; Marketing
Madison Walsh, Fr., F, Louisville; Political Science
Nicole Woods***, Sr., F/M, Louisville; Middle/Secondary Education
Marissa Creatore, Jr., F, North Carolina; Psychology
Malin Evert***, Jr., M/F, North Carolina; Sociology
Morgan Goetz, Jr., B, North Carolina; Biomedical And Health Science Engineering
Feline Guenther, Fr., M, North Carolina; Business Administration
Ashley Hoffman**, Sr., M/B, North Carolina; Sociology
Meredith Sholder, Fr., F, North Carolina; Biology
Jennifer Bleakney, Jr., F, Syracuse; Child & Family Studies
Elaine Carey**, GS, F, Syracuse; Nutrition Science
Laura Hurff****, Sr., M/F, Syracuse; Health & Exercise Science
Elise Lagerweij**, Sr., B, Syracuse; Sport Management
Claire Webb, So., B, Syracuse; Biology
Nadine de Koning, Sr., B, Virginia; Psychology
Carrera Lucas**, R-Jr., GK, Virginia; Media Studies
Rachel Robinson, Fr., B, Virginia; Kinesiology
Dominique van Slooten**, So., B, Virginia; Undeclared
Anzel Viljoen, So., B, Virginia; Undeclared
Becca Zamojcin***, Sr., B, Virginia; Biology
Megan Anderson***, Jr., M, Wake Forest; Health & Exercise Science
Juliane Grashoff***, Jr., F, Wake Forest; Finance
Rachel Hirsch, Sr., F, Wake Forest; Elementary Education

* - Number of previous All-ACC Academic honors

Released in conjunction with the ACC.

University of Louisville Athletics

Woods Named ACC Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year

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Carter Ayars

Abby Grimes

Marigrace Ragsdale

Taylor Stone

Madison Walsh

Nicole Woods

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