April 30, 2008
STANFORD, Calif.- The Stanford field hockey program held its annual awards banquet on Apr. 25 in front of approximately 100 people at the Stanford Stadium Skybox.
Award winners included the following:
Sophomore Midori Uehara received the Most Improved Award. During the 2007 campaign, Uehara played in 15 games, scoring three goals and adding an assist for a total of seven points. She fired off 12 shots as well.
Senior Jess Zutz was selected as the Most Valuable Player. Zutz capped her stellar career earning the 2007 NorPac Offensive Player of the Year award. A four-time All-NorPac selection, Zutz enjoyed yet another impressive season as the Cardinal's top scoring threat. She led the club in goals scored (13), assists (6) and points (32). One of five players to start all 21 games this year, Zutz was also second on the squad with 63 shot attempts and four game-winning goals. A First Team West Regional All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), Zutz was also selected to participate in this year's NFHCA Division 1 Senior All-Star Game.
Additionally, next year's team captains were announced by head coach Lesley Irvine. Captains for the 2008 season will include: junior Hillary Braun, junior Bailey Richardson, sophomore Rachel Mozenter and freshman Xanthe Travlos.
Zutz and fellow senior Madison Bell each gave a senior speech, sharing memories from their four-year careers and offering thanks to those in attendance.
The event also featured a strong alumni turnout, with attendees such as Amanda Billmyer, Jamie Hais, Liz Robinson, Alison Paige Smith, Sara Sanders, Melissa Stai and Kat Thomas. The awards banquet served as the official kick-off for Alumni Weekend, which was highlighted by a hike-and-eat event on Saturday and concluded with a 7-a-side tournament on Sunday.
Stanford is coming off one of the best years in school history, recording its first winning season in six years at 13-8 overall. The 13 victories rank second all-time in program history and the Cardinal advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. Led by NorPac Coach of the Year Lesley Irvine and a pair of First Team West Regional All-Americans, Stanford cracked the national rankings for the first time since 2001 and defeated California to claim the NorPac Tournament title.