Accolades rolling in for Michigan stickers

The Michigan field hockey team has added seven more exclamation points to its most successful season in school history. Seven players have been named to the Regional All-American team and two will play in an All-Star Game today.

Senior midfielder Julie Flachs, junior midfielder/defender Loveita Wilkinson and senior goalkeeper Amy Helber were all selected for the Regional All-American first team.

Flachs turned in the best numbers in Michigan history this season with a school-record 29 goals and 64 points, while Wilkinson was second on the team with seven goals and 70 shots-on-goal. Both Flachs and Wilkinson were also named to the All-Big Ten first team.

Helber turned in an impressive performance late in the season for the Wolverines, finishing with 14 victories and five shutouts.

FILE PHOTO Senior midfielder Julie Flachs ended her career at Michigan on a strong note by being named a Regional All-American, in addition to leading the Wolverines to their best season ever.

Four players were also named to the Regional All-American second team. Senior defender Sandra Cabrera, freshman forward Kelli Gannon, senior defender Shelley Johnson, and senior forward/midfielder Meredith Weinstein each took home honors.

The Big Ten also selected Cabrera, Johnson and Weinstein to its all-conference second team earlier in the season, and Gannon was named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year.

Cabrera started in every one of Michigan's 22 games, bringing strength to the team's defense. Gannon tied for third in goals with a total of five, three of which were game winners. Johnson turned in a record 22 assists, and Weinstein had three goals with four assists on the season.

Two of the Michigan Regional All-Americans will also have a chance to play one more game this season. Cabrera and Weinstein will both participate in the Division I senior All-Star Competition, slated for 5 o'clock today in Storrs, Conn. - site of this year's NCAA Field Hockey final four.

Michigan closed its record-setting season with 16 victories and a first-ever Big Ten regular season title. The Wolverines also played in the championship game of the conference postseason tournament for the first time

11-21-97