Field Hockey

Four 'Wick Field Hockey Players Named All-Empire 8

ROCHESTER, NY - The Empire 8 announced its 2008 Field Hockey all-conference selections on Wednesday. Hartwick, after its third place finish in the E8 this season, landed four players on the first and second teams tying for the most in the conference with Stevens and Washington & Jefferson. Sophomore midfielder Amanda Barton (Endicott, NY) and junior defender Jenny Murphy (Vineyard Haven, NY) were first-team selections, while senior Annie Yager (Greene, NY) and junior Amanda Valliere (Lebanon, NH) were selected to the second team.

Barton controlled the middle of the field for the Hawks in 2008 starting in 17 of 'Wick's 18 games. Offensively, she recorded the highest number of shots on goal and finished the year tied for second in goals and points. She earned two assists in a 4-1 win over Ithaca to open up Empire 8 Conference play, and scored her first of the season in a 2-0 shutout of Elmira. She then netted the game-winning tally against local rival Oneonta State in a 2-1 victory over the Red Dragons. This is the second straight season the sophomore has received Empire 8 accolades. In 2007, she received honorable mention from then league following her four-goal, three-assist season.

Murphy earns first-team recognition after finishing as the team's leader in assists as a defender. She started in all 18 games for the Hawks and created several goals with her powerful drives from the top of the circle. Murphy recorded a streak of three games this season in which she picked up an assist from Sept. 20-Sept. 27 in matches against Rochester, Morrisville, and Ithaca. She also earned three helpers in the Hawks' last four games of the season, including a two-assist performance in the 2-1 regular-season finale victory over Nazareth.

Yager has now received all-conference honors in each of her three of years at Hartwick College. She earned honorable mention in 2006 and was a first-team pick in 2007. This season, she scored two goals and assisted two others to finish tied for second on the team in points. She scored in consecutive games in 4-1 victories over Morrisville and Ithaca and assisted goals against Union and Oneonta State. She finishes her career at Hartwick with 13 goals and six assists for 32 points.

Valliere started in all 18 of the Hawks' matches this season. She finished 2008 as a valuable player on the defensive side of the ball leading the team in defensive saves with three. Valliere ended up second in the Empire 8 in the defensive save category recording one in each of the 'Wick matches against Scranton, Union and Morrisville.

Lindsay Kurtz (Sherburne, NY) was named Hartwick's representative on the E8 Sportswoman of the Year team, which is a distinction that goes to the student-athlete that exhibits sportsmanship and leadership on the field of play. Kurtz was one of five seniors this season. She played in 14 games and scored the game-winning goal against Morrisville.