The National Field Hockey Coaches Association named UNC sophomore Ryleigh Heck the Division 1 National Player of the Year on Friday. It’s the fifth time a Tar Heel has won the honor; Erin Matson won the award three times, and Katelyn Falgowski won it in 2011.

Heck was named first team All-ACC in 2023 and MVP of the ACC Tournament. This season, she totaled a team-high 34 points (13 goals, eight assists) to pace the Carolina offense. That includes the game-winning penalty stroke in a shootout against Northwestern in the national championship. Heck was named to the NCAA’s All-Tournament team.

In addition, the NFHCA named freshman Charly Bruder a second team All-American and sophomore Sietske Brüning a third team All-American. Bruder finished as Carolina’s leading goal-scorer with 15, the first freshman to lead the team in goals since Erin Matson. Bruder was named ACC Freshman of the Year and second team All-ACC.

Brüning started all 21 games for UNC as both a midfielder and a back. She was named first team All-ACC for her efforts.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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