FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S-60-05-06
Monday, November 28, 2005

Elizabethtown College Senior Mel Slessinger Named NFHCA All-American in Field Hockey

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- For the first time in her career, Elizabethtown College senior forward Mel Slessinger (Westminster, MD/North Carroll) has been named an All-American in field hockey by the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association (NFHCA). Slessinger has been named to the Dartfish/NFHCA All-America Third Team, released today. She is the first Elizabethtown field hockey player to be named an NFHCA All-American since 1995.

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.

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.

This year, she was also an All-Commonwealth Conference First Team honoree and an NFHCA All-South Atlantic Region First Team member for the first time in her career.