DURHAM, N.C. - Four members of the Duke field hockey team were selected to the 2011 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-American teams as announced by the organization Monday, November 21. The Blue Devils placed a pair of student-athletes on both the second and third teams.
Senior duo Stefanie Fee and Rhian Jones were voted to the second team, while redshirt senior Samantha Nelson and sophomore Emmie Le Marchand picked up third team honors. Duke's four selections tied a program high, which the Blue Devils also matched in 2007, 2006 and 2005. In addition, Duke, along with national champion Maryland, runner-up North Carolina and semifinalist Connecticut, was one of only four schools to have four student-athletes earn All-America honors in 2011.
Virginia Beach, Va., native Fee received her first All-America accolade after picking up all-region honors in each of the past two seasons. Starting all 81 games over her four-year career, the 2011 All-ACC selection anchored a Blue Devils defense which ranked second in the nation and eighth nationally in goals against average (1.2 gaa). Fee also played a key role as Duke's post player on the defensive penalty corner unit and as stick stopped on attack corners, adding three assists this season to bring her career total to 15 helpers.
Jones captured her second consecutive, and third overall, All-America distinction after leading the Blue Devils with a career-high eight assists on the year. A three-time All-ACC pick, the Havertown, Pa., native has also started 81 games during her four-year career, totaling four goals and 13 assists in addition to serving as a key contributor on both attack and defensive penalty corners.
Le Marchand paced the Duke offense for the second straight season with 45 points in 2011 to earn her first career All-America nod. The Worcester, England, native's 19 goals this past season ranks as the 10th-highest single season total in the Duke record books, while her seven assists also led the team. One of Duke's most consistent offensive threats, Le Marchand has tallied 27 goals in her first two seasons with the Blue Devils to rank 18th in the Duke career records as well.
Goalkeeper Nelson earned her first career All-America selection after starting every game for the Blue Devils for the second consecutive season. The Rockville, Md., native played a career-high 1599 minutes in 2011, allowing just 28 goals in 22 games. Nelson posted a 1.23 goals against average for the season, ranking second in the ACC and eighth nationally in that category. With 73 saves this past season, she also tied her career high in both saves and save percentage (.723).
The Blue Devils finished the 2011 season with a 14-8 overall record, including eight victories over ranked opponents. Duke earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history, advancing to the quarterfinals.
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