Indiana University Athletics
Field Hockey Team Awards Announced
4/25/2018 12:30:00 PM | Field Hockey
The Hoosiers revealed their season honorees at the year-end banquet
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers commemorated their 2017 season and 2017-18 academic year last weekend at their team banquet, hosted at the Henke Hall of Champions. Among the reflection on their season and accolades achieved was the announcement of the team award winners.
Senior forward Maddie Latino received Indiana's Most Valuable Player award, while redshirt senior Katie Johnson earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Junior Taylor Swope picked up the team's Hustle Award. A pair of underclassmen—freshman Rylee Pearson and sophomore Jessica Morford—shared recognition as the team's Most Improved Players of the Year.
Latino put together one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory. She delivered in the clutch with four game-winning goals and crossed the 10-goal mark in the Big Ten Tournament. By scoring 10 goals in her final year, Latino became just the fourth player in program history with two double-digit scoring seasons and the first since Audra Heilman (2013, 2014).
Latino landed on the All-Big Ten team and garnered NFHCA All-West Region honors for the first time in her career. The Louisville, Kentucky native capped her career in signature fashion, scoring two goals at the NFHCA Senior All-Star game in her hometown. Latino ends a high-scoring career with 24 goals (5th – IU history), 8 game-winning goals (t-3rd, IU history), and 64 points (5th – IU history).
Johnson made the most of her opportunity as the Hoosiers' last line of defense. In her first season as the starter between the pipes, Johnson racked up 121 saves—more than anyone else in the Big Ten—with a conference-leading 6.4 saves per game. Johnson deflected 10-plus shots in four games, with a career-high 14 blocks in her career finale against Ohio State, and earned a shutout win over No. 15 Wake Forest.
Johnson's 121 saves in 2017 ranks third in program history and is the highest one-year tally in 12 years (Haley Exner, 138 in 2005). She ends her career with 152 blocks (7th – IU history).
Although she played in all 20 games as a sophomore in 2016, Swope came into her own and increased her impact on the turf last season. She started in all 17 appearances from the wide midfield, setting a career-high four assists with a crucial goal in the Hoosiers' 3-2 home win over Ohio. Swope's intangible contributions came on the defensive end, where she developed a knack for intercepting the opponents' attempts to enter the circle and starting counterattacks.
Pearson made an immediate impact in her first year on the turf, playing in all 19 games with 17 appearances in the starting lineup. Her first career goal came in a high-scoring affair at Iowa, a reverse shot that was arguably the best-looking goal of Indiana's 2017 season. From that score onward, Pearson became a regular fixture in the wide midfield.
Morford jumped from just three games played in her 2016 freshman campaign to appearances in 16-of-17 contests last season, with a drastic increase in usage as the season progressed. The sophomore's progress this offseason contributed to the honor as well, as Morford showcased her versatility in the spring season as a midfielder and a forward.
In addition to the player awards, Indiana recognized their academic achievements and honorees within their team and the IU athletic department. The Hoosiers earned 14 selections to the Academic All-Big Ten team and nine to the NFHCA Academic Squad, with Elle Hempt and Sachi Ananias earning titles as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction.
Indiana also celebrated their team honor as the IU Athletic Department's "24 Sports, 1 Team" Program of Excellence, given to the team with the highest participation in department and community engagement.
Senior forward Maddie Latino received Indiana's Most Valuable Player award, while redshirt senior Katie Johnson earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Junior Taylor Swope picked up the team's Hustle Award. A pair of underclassmen—freshman Rylee Pearson and sophomore Jessica Morford—shared recognition as the team's Most Improved Players of the Year.
Latino put together one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory. She delivered in the clutch with four game-winning goals and crossed the 10-goal mark in the Big Ten Tournament. By scoring 10 goals in her final year, Latino became just the fourth player in program history with two double-digit scoring seasons and the first since Audra Heilman (2013, 2014).
Latino landed on the All-Big Ten team and garnered NFHCA All-West Region honors for the first time in her career. The Louisville, Kentucky native capped her career in signature fashion, scoring two goals at the NFHCA Senior All-Star game in her hometown. Latino ends a high-scoring career with 24 goals (5th – IU history), 8 game-winning goals (t-3rd, IU history), and 64 points (5th – IU history).
Johnson made the most of her opportunity as the Hoosiers' last line of defense. In her first season as the starter between the pipes, Johnson racked up 121 saves—more than anyone else in the Big Ten—with a conference-leading 6.4 saves per game. Johnson deflected 10-plus shots in four games, with a career-high 14 blocks in her career finale against Ohio State, and earned a shutout win over No. 15 Wake Forest.
Johnson's 121 saves in 2017 ranks third in program history and is the highest one-year tally in 12 years (Haley Exner, 138 in 2005). She ends her career with 152 blocks (7th – IU history).
Although she played in all 20 games as a sophomore in 2016, Swope came into her own and increased her impact on the turf last season. She started in all 17 appearances from the wide midfield, setting a career-high four assists with a crucial goal in the Hoosiers' 3-2 home win over Ohio. Swope's intangible contributions came on the defensive end, where she developed a knack for intercepting the opponents' attempts to enter the circle and starting counterattacks.
Pearson made an immediate impact in her first year on the turf, playing in all 19 games with 17 appearances in the starting lineup. Her first career goal came in a high-scoring affair at Iowa, a reverse shot that was arguably the best-looking goal of Indiana's 2017 season. From that score onward, Pearson became a regular fixture in the wide midfield.
Morford jumped from just three games played in her 2016 freshman campaign to appearances in 16-of-17 contests last season, with a drastic increase in usage as the season progressed. The sophomore's progress this offseason contributed to the honor as well, as Morford showcased her versatility in the spring season as a midfielder and a forward.
In addition to the player awards, Indiana recognized their academic achievements and honorees within their team and the IU athletic department. The Hoosiers earned 14 selections to the Academic All-Big Ten team and nine to the NFHCA Academic Squad, with Elle Hempt and Sachi Ananias earning titles as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction.
Indiana also celebrated their team honor as the IU Athletic Department's "24 Sports, 1 Team" Program of Excellence, given to the team with the highest participation in department and community engagement.
Players Mentioned
Back
/ Field Hockey
Midfield
/ Field HockeyFB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16