Fort Hays State’s Mallory Diederich, Hannah Smith and Hailey Davey continued to pick up accolades for the 2014 season, earning NSCAA All-Central Region Third Team honors, announced Tuesday (Dec. 2) by the organization.
Diederich joined Davey as the Tigers’ first ever All-MIAA First Team selections this season, and was picked to the Daktronics All-Central Region First Team last week. The junior center back played every minute for the Tigers’ defense this season (1,887), assisting in two goals with three scores of her own for eight points. From Topeka, Kan., Diederich played a key role in the Tigers’ 11 shutouts this season.
Smith was a Second Team All-MIAA pick this season, starting all 20 games for FHSU. A defensive midfielder, Smith scored the game-winner against Emporia State (W, 2-1) and had one assist on the season. From Garland, Texas, the sophomore was a key component for a defense that allowed just 13 goals and reached the MIAA Semifinals.
Davey joined Diederich as the Tigers’ first-ever selections to the All-MIAA First Team this year, and was named Daktronics All-Central Region Second Team last week. A senior from Evergreen, Colo., Davey finished the season with 20 points (second most on the team), tallying five goals with a team-high 10 assists (tied for most in school history). The forward also set the single-game record for assists twice this year, tallying three against Sioux Falls and Northwest Missouri State.
The three selections are the first-ever NSCAA Regional nods for FHSU, which finished the year 13-5-2 overall and just missed a berth to the NCAA Tournament, sitting seventh in the final regional poll with the Top 6 advancing.