Smithson Picked as an All-Region Honoree

Chandler, Ariz. - Senior Emily Smithson (Richmond, Va./James River) just added another award to her field hockey resume as Smithson was named to the 2008 Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III All-South Region First Team as announced Monday morning by Jennifer Goodrich, NFHCA executive director.

The first team all-region selection is the first for the 5-4 midfielder as Smithson garnered second team all-region laurels as a sophomore in 2006.  Today's accolade comes on the heels of her selection as the Capital Athletic Conference Co-Player-of-the-Year this past Friday.  She earned a spot on the All-CAC First Team as well.

Smithson was also selected to play in the NFHCA Division III North/South Senior All-Star Game this Sunday, November 23 at 9:30 a.m. at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.  The game will take place prior to the start of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship game.

In a career-best campaign, Smithson led the Seahawks with 23 points on team-highs of 10 goals and three assists.  She notched a career-best two goals four times and opened up her senior season with a career-high five points (2g, 1a) in a season-opening 6-1 win over Virginia Wesleyan College.  In the conference, Smithson finished sixth in points per game (1.35) and goals per game (0.59), tied for sixth in goals and tied for seventh in points.

An All-CAC Second Team pick in 2006 and 2007, Smithson earned CAC player-of-the-week honors once this season.

For the second consecutive season, the Seahawks finished as the CAC runners-up, wrapping up the 2008 campaign with an 8-9 record.  St. Mary's ended the regular season second in the conference standings with a 5-1 mark.