FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S-58-05-06
Monday, November 21 , 2005

Elizabethtown College Senior Mel Slessinger Named to NFHCA All- South Atlantic Region First Team in Field Hockey

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- The National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association (NFHCA) released its NCAA Division III All-Region Teams today, and Elizabethtown College senior forward Mel Slessinger (Westminster, MD/North Carroll) has been named to the Dartfish/NFHCA All-South Atlantic Region First Team. It is the first time in her career that she has received the honor.

Slessinger had a breakthrough season for Etown in 2005 as she led the team in goals with 19 and in points with 44, and she finished second on the team in assists with six. She also led the Blue Jays in game-winning goals this season with eight. She led the entire Commonwealth Conference in goals per game with 1.06, and she was ranked second in the conference in points per game with 2.39. Slessinger also led the conference in shooting percentage with .404. Earlier this month, she was named to the All-Commonwealth Conference First Team.

Her 19 goals this season were the most by an Etown player since 1996, and the total ranks in a tie for seventh all-time at Elizabethtown. Her 44 points in one season rank ninth all-time in Etown history. In her career, Slessinger tallied 30 goals, six assists and 66 points.

The Elizabethtown College field hockey team finished the 2005 season ranked 17th in the nation by the NFHCA with a 13-5 overall record, and the team reached the semifinals of the Commonwealth Conference playoffs. It was a dramatic reversal of fortune for Elizabethtown, which had a 4-16 overall record in 2004.