Halus garners second team honors; Gebhart makes third team

 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 21, 2011 – The Penn State field hockey team earned some national recognition on Monday afternoon, as the National Field Hockey Coaches Association released its 2011 Longstreth Divison I All-American teams. Junior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) was named a first team All-American, while redshirt junior Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) was named second team and freshman Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.) was named third team.

Joining Amy on the first team from the Big Ten is Northwestern’s Chelsea Armstrong and Ohio State’s Jen Sciulli.

Amy, who wins her first career first-team honors after earning second team last year, is coming off a phenomenal season, where she earned first team All-Big Ten honors and was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP. The junior finished tied for first in the conference in goals (25) and points (57). Her 25 goals in 2011 were the seventh most in a season for a Penn State player. Her 52 career goals rank eighth all-time in program history.

Halus earned her second consecutive All-American honor after also earning first team All-Big Ten laurels earlier this year. The redshirt junior from Hershey had a greatyear in the cage, recording four shutouts against Virginia, Iowa, Ohio State and Northeastern. She made 92 saves on the season, averaging a little over four per contest.

Gebhart had a tremendous freshman year, as she was tied for third on the team with 24 points. Her 12 assists this year was second on the team and good for fifth in the conference. She started in every game at midfield for the Nittany Lionsthis past season.

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