Three Cardinals Earn Longstreth/NFHCA All-America Honors
December 10, 2019 | Field Hockey
Mercedes Pastor selected to first team, Alli Bitting and Carter Ayars named to second and third teams respectively
Three University of Louisville field hockey players earned 2019 Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I All-America honors. Mercedes Pastor was selected to the first team while Alli Bitting and Carter Ayars were named to the second and third team respectively. Â
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Louisville is one of four teams with three honorees among the 48 student-athletes recognized by the NFHCA.
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This marks the third straight year the Cardinals have had three NFHCA All-America selections matching a  program record set in 2017.
"This was a historic year for our program as we hosted a round of the NCAA tournament and then advanced to the elite eight for the first time," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "The success was a culmination of the team's collective efforts and to have Carter, Ali, and Mechi recognized for the roles they played in our achievements is absolutely amazing. I am so proud to have been part of this season."Â
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Pastor, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina, earns her second All-America nod after being named to the second team last season. The midfielder is coming off of a career-high season scoring nine goals and dishing out four assists to stand tied for second on the team with 22 points. The two-time NFHCA All-Region selection is also a two-time All-ACC first team honoree.
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Bitting (Hummelstown, Pa.) takes home her first All-America accolade. The junior defender earned all-ACC honors after helping the Cardinals to eight shutouts on the season and registering one goal and four assists. The two-time NFHCA All-West Region selection was also a member of the 2017 ACC All-Tournament team. Â Â
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Ayars, a senior defender from Wilmington, Del., earns All-America honors after tallying a career-high five goals and 12 points. The three-time NFHCA All-Region honoree and 2019 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. She 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.
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About Louisville Field Hockey
The 2019 Cardinals posted a 16-6 overall record, tying a program mark for wins and earned the overall No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, serving as a host site for the first time in program history. Louisville also made its first foray into the NCAA quarterfinals after defeating Michigan 2-1 in double-overtime in its first-round matchup.
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Louisville is one of four teams with three honorees among the 48 student-athletes recognized by the NFHCA.
Â
This marks the third straight year the Cardinals have had three NFHCA All-America selections matching a  program record set in 2017.
"This was a historic year for our program as we hosted a round of the NCAA tournament and then advanced to the elite eight for the first time," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "The success was a culmination of the team's collective efforts and to have Carter, Ali, and Mechi recognized for the roles they played in our achievements is absolutely amazing. I am so proud to have been part of this season."Â
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Pastor, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina, earns her second All-America nod after being named to the second team last season. The midfielder is coming off of a career-high season scoring nine goals and dishing out four assists to stand tied for second on the team with 22 points. The two-time NFHCA All-Region selection is also a two-time All-ACC first team honoree.
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Bitting (Hummelstown, Pa.) takes home her first All-America accolade. The junior defender earned all-ACC honors after helping the Cardinals to eight shutouts on the season and registering one goal and four assists. The two-time NFHCA All-West Region selection was also a member of the 2017 ACC All-Tournament team. Â Â
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Ayars, a senior defender from Wilmington, Del., earns All-America honors after tallying a career-high five goals and 12 points. The three-time NFHCA All-Region honoree and 2019 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. She 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.
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About Louisville Field Hockey
The 2019 Cardinals posted a 16-6 overall record, tying a program mark for wins and earned the overall No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, serving as a host site for the first time in program history. Louisville also made its first foray into the NCAA quarterfinals after defeating Michigan 2-1 in double-overtime in its first-round matchup.
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Players Mentioned
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