Three Spartans Named All-West Region Honorees
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 17, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Three Michigan State field hockey players have been named 2011 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-West Region selections. Redshirt sophomore Molly Cassidy, junior Adelle Lever and freshman Abby Barker were selected as second-team All-West Region honorees.
In her second season in net for the Spartans, Cassidy recorded two shutouts, with one over No. 7 Virginia, 3-0, and the other over Ball State, 1-0. She notched a save percentage of .745 and a goals-against-average of 3.12. Cassidy recorded a total of 150 saves this season, leading the conference in saves per game with an average of 7.50 a contest. She was honored twice this season as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Her first accolade came after her 3-0 shutout over No. 7 Virginia and following the team's 2-1 win over Miami of Ohio the week of Sept. 13th. She again was honored for the week of Oct. 18th after tying her career-high with 14 saves against the Buckeyes, notching two game-changing saves in the penalty stroke victory to gave the Spartans their first conference win of the year. Cassidy was named to the All-Big Tournament team after the Spartans were eliminated in the first round by Ohio State. This is Cassidy's second time being recognized as an All-Region player, as the goaltender was honored last year on the 2010 All-Region West First Team.
Lever, a midfielder for the Spartans, led the team in defensive saves, with four, tying her for second in the conference. Lever was not only a force for the Spartans on defense but on offense, as well. She tallied two goals and one assist this past season. Lever was also one of five players to start and play in every match for the Green and White. Lever was also honored as a second-team All-Big Ten selection this season.
Barker was the leading scorer for the Spartans in her debut season in the Green and White. The freshman scored nine goals and one assist this season. Three of her goals were game-winners, which was also a team high. She was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the week of Oct. 11th after scoring the lone tally in MSU's 1-0 win over Ball State, and scoring two goals in the Spartans' 4-2 loss to Indiana. She notched a five game goal-scoring streak which spanned from MSU's match against New Hampshire to the loss to Indiana (10/2-10/9). Barker was also named a second-team All-Big Ten recipient this season.
