Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University field hockey standout Boo Vernon, class of 2011 from Lake Bluff, Ill., was rewarded for her outstanding 2009 season with third-team All-America awards from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) and womensfieldhockey.com.
The NFHCA All-America honor was the second of Vernon's collegiate career, to go along with her third-team award in 2007. In addition, Vernon has earned first-team All-Great Lakes Region and first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in each of her first three collegiate seasons, in addition to NCAC Newcomer of the Year honors in 2007. She was one of five Wittenberg players who earned NFHCA all-region awards last week.
Vernon led the Tigers and ranked among the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and NCAA Division III leaders in scoring with 46 total points (17 goals and 12 assists). She stands No. 2 in school history with 54 career goals, 23 behind Amy Kraus, who ranks No. 2 in NCAC history.
The Tigers got off to a slow start in 2009, losing the opener at home to Denison and falling to 1-2 in the NCAC with a 7-2 loss at Wooster on Sept. 19. However, the Tiger defense stiffened and the team caught fire, winning nine of 11 games to close the regular season, including their last nine against conference competition. After an overtime 1-0 loss to Ohio Wesleyan in the NCAC Tournament semifinals, the Tigers were selected to compete in the program's eighth NCAA Division III Tournament. Wittenberg was defeated by seventh-ranked Lebanon Valley in the first round.
Written by: Ryan Maurer