Field Hockey | 9/4/2023 9:14:18 AM
Seniors Libby Fortin and junior Julie Ruzzi of Hartwick College, juniors Deborah Cross and Jace Hunzinger of Houghton University and juniors Emma Cooper and Selena Emery of St. John Fisher University were named to the 2023 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Watchlist, sponsored by Victory Sports Tours.
This list is intended to showcase those field hockey student-athletes with the strongest potential for consideration to the current year’s NFHCA All-American teams. To be nominated for the 2023 NFHCA Watchlist, student-athletes must have been previously recognized for their outstanding field hockey abilities within the past two years (NFHCA All-Region, NFHCA All-American, All-Conference, Nexus Championship selection, AAU Junior Olympic Games selection, NCAA All-Tournament Team, and/or U.S. National or International Team roster) and the student-athlete’s head coach must be an active NFHCA member.
Fortin, the 2022 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Region second team selection, led a defense that allowed just nine goals in 11 games against Empire 8 foes in 2022. A native of State College, PA, Fortin made two defensive saves and chipped in offensively with eight points on three goals and two assists. Hartwick recorded five shutouts in 2022 and had 11 games allowing one goal or less.
Ruzzi, a native of High Falls, NY, earned NFHCA All-Region first team honors in 2022 and was also selected in 2021. She led the Hawks and was second in the league with 14 assists, while adding three goals for 20 points. The 14 assists were tied for fifth in all of Division III. Her strong play helped fuel Hartwick’s strong transition game en route to leading the league with 80 goals scored in 19 games.
Hunzinger, also a 2022 NFHCA All-Region second team pick in 2022, helped lead Houghton to a 14-6 overall record, its first two Empire 8 postseason victories and a spot in the league championship game this season. She led the Empire 8 and was tied for the national lead in assists with 0.90 per contest and was second overall with 18. She also added seven goals for a 32-point season. In two seasons, Hunzinger has 13 goals and 30 assists for 56 points in 36 career contests.
Cross tallied 23 points on nine goals and five assists in 20 games for the Highlanders last season, earning All-Empire 8 second team honors. She finished the year with 60 total shots and a pair of defensive saves.
Cooper enjoyed a strong 2022 season for the Cardinals on her way to earning NFHCA All-Region second team accolades, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points. She tallied three two-goal games, all in league play. A native of Eden, NY, Cooper has 14 goals and 38 points in 38 career games for the Cardinals.
Emery was the 2021 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and garnered NFHCA All-Region second team honors that season. She led the league with 10 defensive saves in 2021 and helped lead St. John Fisher to the league championship. In 2022, Emery earned her second consecutive All-Empire 8 first team honor.
Empire 8 regular season league play begins on Sept. 20. Hartwick will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions in 2023.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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