Seven Cardinals Earn Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region Honors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville field hockey team placed a program-record seven student-athletes on the 2019 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region teams as announced by the organization on Monday.

Seniors Carter Ayars and Bethany Russ and juniors Alli Bitting and Mercedes Pastor earned first team honors while juniors Meghan Schneider and Madison Walsh and sophomore Erica Cooper were named to the second team.

Pastor, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina, earns her second all-region nod after registering a career-high eight goals and dishing out three assists to stand tied for second on the team with 19 points. The 2018 NFHCA second team All-American is also a two-time All-ACC first team selection.

Ayars, a senior from Wilmington, Del., picks up her third all-region honor. The defender tallied a career-high five goals and 12 points. The second team All-ACC selection was a valuable part of the Cardinals' defense which produced eight shutouts, earning ACC Co-Player of the Week honors on Oct. 8. The team co-captain represented the Cardinals in the NFHCA Senior Game, is a member of USA Field Hockey's Under 21 team and was selected to participate in Development Team Selection Camp.

Bitting (Hummelstown, Pa.) takes home her second straight all-region selection. The All-ACC honoree registered one goal and four assists while providing steady defense to help the Cardinals to eight shutouts on the season. She was also a member of the 2017 ACC All-Tournament team.

Russ (Melbourne, Australia) earns her second consecutive all-region nod after leading the team with a career-best 13 goals and 31 points. The senior forward accounted for all three of Louisville's goals in the NCAA postseason. She finished her career tied for seventh on the Cards' all-time list for goals (26). The two-time All-ACC selection is also ninth among UofL's single-season goal scorers (13).

Schneider (San Diego, Calif.), earns her first all-region honor. The junior defender started all 22 games and was a valuable part of the Cardinals' vaunted defense which accounted for eight shutouts and dished out a career-high five assists.

Walsh, a junior forward from St. Louis, Mo., also picks up her first career all-region nod after registering a career-best season in goals (8), assists (3) and points (17). She played in all 22 games with 20 starts and led the team with four game-winning goals.

Cooper (Louisville, Ky.) earns her first all-region selection. The midfielder finished her sophomore year with a pair of goals. She played in all 22 games with 16 starts and was instrumental in both offense and defense as the Cardinals outscored opponents 49-26.

About Louisville Field Hockey
The 2019 Cardinals posted a 16-6 overall record, tying a program mark for wins. Louisville also made its first foray into the NCAA quarterfinals after defeating Michigan 2-1 in double-overtime in its first-round matchup. UofL also earned the overall No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and served as a host site for the first time in program history.

University of Louisville Athletics

Seven Cardinals Earn Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region Honors

Related News

Players Mentioned

Carter Ayars

Alli Bitting

Erica Cooper

Mercedes Pastor

Bethany Russ

Meghan Schneider

Madison Walsh

Related Videos