Steele-Norton and Chavez Named All-American
2012 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-Americans
Utica sophomore Louise Steele-Norton and Stevens Institute of Technology junior forward Marguerite Chavez have been named All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Steele-Norton earned first-team honors, while Chavez was selected to the second team.
Steele-Norton was the only sophomore, and one of only three non-seniors to earn first-team All-American accolades. The Avondale, PA native was also the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year, a First-Team All-Conference Selection, the North Atlantic Region Player of the Year and a First-Team All-Region honoree.
Her record-breaking season included setting a new Empire 8 record for goals in a season (27) and goals per game (1.35) and tied the single-season conference record with seven game-winning goals. She had 11 more goals and 13 more points the second place person in scoring in the conference. She also shattered the College’s single season records for goals, points (56), points per game (2.80), and goals per game.
Steele-Norton’s 87 career points rank fourth all-time in program history. She needs two points to surpass Carla Behe ’06 for third on the list and just 23 to become the highest scorer in UC history. She also has 42 career goals, which ranks third all-time, just four goals behind Shannon Rohacek '05 for first on the list.
The Pioneers finished the season with a 15-6 overall record on their way to capturing the first Empire 8 Championship in program history and advancing to the “sweet sixteen” of the NCAA Tournament, also a UC-first.
Chavez is the sixth player in Stevens' program history to earn the distinction and the fourth to earn second-team acknowledgement.
Chavez finished 2012 tops on the team in goals (14), assists (12) and points (40). She was third in the conference in goals and points and tied for second in assists. Her 14 markers are third in single-season history at Stevens, while her 12 assists and 40 points rank second.
After storming onto the scene as a freshman with nine goals and 10 assists, Chavez missed 2010 due to an injury. She came back last year with a monster season (11 goals and four assists) and was even better this year. She helped lead the Ducks to an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Mid-Atlantic title – the first in the program's nine-year history – and an overall record of 16-7.
Chavez was a first-team all-conference performer and a member of the 2012 Empire 8 Championship All-Tournament Team. She also earned first-team All-North Atlantic Region honors from the NFHCA.
Chavez had goals in 11 games this year, including a four-tally, eight-point performance in Stevens' 6-2 win over Houghton College on September 8. She added assists in eight different games, including multiple helpers in three contests. Her three assists in Stevens' win over Swarthmore were a career-high and the best single game total for the Ducks this year.
Heading into her senior season, Chavez's 34 goals are second in program history, while her 26 assists are already a program-record. She moved into the top spot with a pair in Stevens' ECAC semifinal win over Lebanon Valley College. The Oceanport, N.J. native is second in Stevens history with 94 career points in 70 contests played. Her 1.34 points per game is third.