University of Albany’s Heuser Named NFHCA National Player of the Year - UAlbany Sports 2014

Courtesy: UA Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. – On the heels of being named an NFHCA All-American for the second straight year, University at Albany field hockey midfielder Paula Heuser was selected as the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year on Tuesday morning. She is the first non-senior all-time to earn NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year honors.

Heuser has earned a number of postseason honors, and is the first Great Dane all-time to win NFHCA National Player of the Year honors. The midfielder is the NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year, and earned NCAA All-Tournament honors following UAlbany’s run to the NCAA Semifinals. She is a two-time NFHCA All-American, NFHCA All-Region first team pick, as well as the two-time America East Midfielder of the Year.

Heuser was the America East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer after recording an all-time tournament record nine points in two games. The sophomore led the league in points per game and goals per game throughout the regular season, and topped the nation in both categories entering the NCAA First and Second Rounds.

The midfielder broke the 15 year-old record in UAlbany all-time single-season points against Yale on Oct. 26. Heuser also ranks third all-time in career points with 114, in just her sophomore season. She concluded 2014 with 29 goals and 69 points to her credit.

Heuser is the first sophomore to garner the prestigious honor in the five-year history of the NFHCA National Player of the Year Award. All four previous awardees were in their final year of eligibility at their respective institutions.