Wake Forest Athletics
Field Hockey Lands Six on All-ACC Academic Team
2/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeHockey)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Six members of the Wake Forest field hockey team have been named to the 2016 All-ACC Academic Field Hockey Team, the league announced Wednesday afternoon. Representing the Demon Deacons on the list are seniors Jessy Silfer and Sarah Thornhill, sophomores Jule Grashoff, Megan Anderson and Veerle Bos and freshman Nicola Pluta.
The six members from Wake Forest are the second-most of any team this season behind Duke, who had seven. The last time the Demon Deacons had six or more student-athletes on the All-ACC Academic Team was in 2007.
"What an honor it is to have these six women recognized for their academic and athletic achievements," said head coach Jennifer Averill. "These women embody the discipline and work ethic that is needed to stand out in the competitive environment of the ACC. I am extremely proud of the challenging degrees that they are pursuing while engaging in a sport that they love."
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career for undergraduate students. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
A two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, Silfer is graduating with a degree in Health & Exercise Science. She started in all 38 games for the Deacs in her two season at Wake Forest after transferring from Iowa. Silfer took a total of 74 corners for the Deacs this season while recording one goal and eight assists.
Thornhill, also a two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, is graduating with a degree in Mathematical Economics. Recently, Thornhill was selected to participate on the 2017 U.S. Women's National Development Squad. This past season with the Deacs, she played in all 19 games while recording six goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime against No. 2 Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship Tournament.
Grashoff earned the honor for the second time in her career. This past season, the sophomore was named to the 2016 ACC All-Tournament Team and to the 2016 Lonstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region South First Team. Grashoff started in 18 games for the Deacs in 2016 and finished with 16 goals and 10 assists. She was also named to the 2016 Preseason All-ACC Team. Grashoff has not yet decided on a major.
Anderson earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team for the second consecutive season. This past season with the Deacs, she started all 19 games and recorded a team-leading 11 assists. The sophomore has yet to decide on a major.
Bos has garnered the All-ACC Academic Team honor for the first time as a sophomore. She was named a member of the 2016 Lonstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region South Second Team after being a key defender for the Deacs in the backfield. She started in 11 of 14 games due to injury this past season. Bos is undecided on a major.
Pluta joins three other true freshmen in the ACC in being honored. Pluta had a standout freshman season that ended in 2016 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Third Team All-America honors, Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region South honors, being named ACC Freshman of the Year and a spot on the ACC All-Tournament team. Pluta led the Deacs with 17 goals while also recording seven assists in 19 games. Pluta has not decided on a major.
