Pastor Named NFHCA West Regional Player of the Year
June 07, 2021 | Field Hockey
The University of Louisville's Mercedes Pastor was named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region Player of the Year as announced by the organization today.
Â
The NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the NFHCA. Last week the 2020 NFHCA Division I All-Region teams were announced. The Division I All-American teams, National Scholar-Athlete, and National Player of the Year will be announced during the NFHCA Awards Show sponsored by AstroTurf® streaming live on YouTube at 7:00 p.m. ET on June 15, 2021.
Â
Pastor becomes the second player in program history to earn the honor after Nicole Woods was named NFHCA West Region Player of the Year in 2017.
Â
Pastor, a senior midfielder/forward from Buenos Aires, recently picked up her third straight NFHCA All-West Region honors after leading the Cardinals with 13 goals – five of them game-winners. She also dished out six assists, including one in Louisville's 1-0 win over No. 6 UConn in the NCAA quarterfinals and totaled 32 points. With her career-best season efforts, she finished the year ranked second in goals and points and was selected to the NFHCA Senior Team. The preseason all-conference selection was named ACC Player of the Week four times and NFHCA National Player of the Week three times. She is a two-time NFHCA All-American (2018, 2019) and a three-time All-ACC selection (2018, 2019, 2020).
Â
About Louisville
Louisville finished the 2020-21 season with a 14-6 overall record and ranked No. 3 in the NFHCA coaches poll and achieved numerous milestones along the way, including reaching the program's first NCAA Final Four. In the fall, the Cards won the ACC regular season title and earned the top seed in the conference tournament after producing a 5-1 record which included a win over two-time defending national champion North Carolina, snapping the Tar Heels' NCAA-best 47-game win streak. Louisville posted a runner-up finish to UNC in the fall ACC tournament.
Â
In the spring, Louisville went on to earn the highest ranking in program history at No. 2 despite the loss of three seniors who opted out for the spring campaign. UofL earned the overall No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, marking the second straight season as a national seed, and went on to beat No. 6 UConn in the quarterfinals to advance to its first NCAA semifinal. Competing in their first-ever Final Four, the Cardinals battled with the No. 2 seed Michigan but eventually fell 2-1 in a sudden-victory shootout.
Â
Â
The NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the NFHCA. Last week the 2020 NFHCA Division I All-Region teams were announced. The Division I All-American teams, National Scholar-Athlete, and National Player of the Year will be announced during the NFHCA Awards Show sponsored by AstroTurf® streaming live on YouTube at 7:00 p.m. ET on June 15, 2021.
Â
Pastor becomes the second player in program history to earn the honor after Nicole Woods was named NFHCA West Region Player of the Year in 2017.
Â
Pastor, a senior midfielder/forward from Buenos Aires, recently picked up her third straight NFHCA All-West Region honors after leading the Cardinals with 13 goals – five of them game-winners. She also dished out six assists, including one in Louisville's 1-0 win over No. 6 UConn in the NCAA quarterfinals and totaled 32 points. With her career-best season efforts, she finished the year ranked second in goals and points and was selected to the NFHCA Senior Team. The preseason all-conference selection was named ACC Player of the Week four times and NFHCA National Player of the Week three times. She is a two-time NFHCA All-American (2018, 2019) and a three-time All-ACC selection (2018, 2019, 2020).
Â
About Louisville
Louisville finished the 2020-21 season with a 14-6 overall record and ranked No. 3 in the NFHCA coaches poll and achieved numerous milestones along the way, including reaching the program's first NCAA Final Four. In the fall, the Cards won the ACC regular season title and earned the top seed in the conference tournament after producing a 5-1 record which included a win over two-time defending national champion North Carolina, snapping the Tar Heels' NCAA-best 47-game win streak. Louisville posted a runner-up finish to UNC in the fall ACC tournament.
Â
In the spring, Louisville went on to earn the highest ranking in program history at No. 2 despite the loss of three seniors who opted out for the spring campaign. UofL earned the overall No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, marking the second straight season as a national seed, and went on to beat No. 6 UConn in the quarterfinals to advance to its first NCAA semifinal. Competing in their first-ever Final Four, the Cardinals battled with the No. 2 seed Michigan but eventually fell 2-1 in a sudden-victory shootout.
Â
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Field HockeyFH: Justine Sowry Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, November 04
FH: Justine Sowry on the 2025 senior class
Saturday, November 01
FH: Highlights vs No. 9 Syracuse
Saturday, November 01
FH: Highlights vs #19 Cal
Saturday, October 18
