SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University senior attack Ali Hughes (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg H.S.) is a 2000 Astro Turf/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III first team All-South Atlantic Region selection. Three Crusaders have been named to the second team - sophomore attack Leah Bailor (Richfield, Pa./Middleburg H.S.), junior goalkeeper Kylie Cook (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon H.S.) and senior midfielder Dani Wenger (Mohrsville, Pa./Hamburg H.S.).
It is the second straight year that Hughes, Bailor and Cook have earned South Atlantic Region honors, as Hughes and Cook were second-team selections last fall and Bailor was a first-team member en route to earning third-team All-America honors. As a first-team selection, Hughes has qualified for the NCAA Division III All-American ballot, with announcement of the All-America team scheduled for later this month.
The quartet helped the Crusaders to an 11-6 record during the 2000 season, including a 5-2 record in the Commonwealth Conference that was good for third place. The six losses were deceiving in the fact that five of the defeats came to teams that were ranked in the NFHCA Top 20 at the time of the game - including four losses to teams ranked in the top six. Susquehanna did break its year-old record for goals in a season (44) with 51 tallies in just 17 matches.
Hughes finished the season tied for second on the team in points with 16, on the strength of seven goals and two assists in 17 games, while her 34 shots on goal were tied for fourth-highest on the team. The Crusaders went 6-0 for the season in games in which Hughes scored a goal. For her career, she scored 24 goals to rank fifth on the school's all-time list and added 17 assists - the second-highest total in Susquehanna history - for a total 65 points in 64 games which ranks second all-time to the 97 points amassed by Cheryl Irvine from 1992 to 1995.
A psychology major, she is the daughter of Michael and Carol Hughes.
Bailor led the Crusaders in goals and points for the second straight season as she netted nine goals and added four assists for 22 points in 17 matches (1.29 points per game). She finished third in the Commonwealth Conference in points per game, sixth in goals per game (0.53) and tied for ninth in assists per game (0.24). After two seasons, Bailor is already seventh in Susquehanna history in goals (21), tied for third in assists (13) and fourth in points (55).
A journalism major, she is the daughter of Mark Bailor and Jane Bailor.
Cook, who never played as a goalkeeper until her freshman year at Susquehanna, finished fifth in the Commonwealth Conference in both goals against average (1.76) and save percentage (.771) while participating in a total of five shutouts. In three years and 50 career matches, Cook has a 1.32 goals against average and a save percentage of .824.
An accounting major, she is the daughter of Rodney and Pamela Cook.
Wenger started all 70 games in her Susquehanna career and finished as the all-time leader in assists with 19. She ended the season sixth on the team in points with nine and tied for the team lead with five assists - good enough for a third-place tie in the Commonwealth Conference. Wenger is eighth in school history in career points with 35.
A marketing major, she is the daughter of Dale and Debra Wenger.
