All-American honors cap season for field hockey's Henry and Goodbarn

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Senir Paige Henry 
COURTESY OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY

DePauw Unviersity's women’s field hockey team saw its season slip away too quickly. The team lost to Denison University in the first round of the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament. Still, the National Field Hockey Association recognized two DePauw players for their impressive seasons earlier this week.

Senior Paige Henry and junior Grace Goodbarn were named to the National Field Hockey Association All-America Teams. Additionally, Henry was also awarded the NCAC’s Offensive Player of the Year.

With two players receiving honors, it speaks to their individual talents and to the level of the teams’ skill, Head Coach Gina Preston said.

“It is a great honor to have both Paige and Grace named to the All-American teams,” Preston said. “Both are outstanding players and are highly deserving of the awards they received. Paige has been a huge part of our success over the last four years. It is a great capstone for an outstanding career.”

This is not Henry’s first time earning an honor. At the conclusion of her junior year she made the third team.

This past season Henry led the Tigers with 18 goals and 43 overall total points. Those numbers include five game winning goals for the Tigers. Henry also chipped in with seven assists on the season.

Junior Grace Goodburn
COURTESY OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY

Henry says it’s humbling to be named to the All-America team.

“After four years on the DePauw field hockey team, it is really rewarding when you can see your hard work paid off,” Henry said.  “Every year I focused on improving my individual skills, and it means a lot to me to be selected as NCAC Offensive Player of the Year and the All-America team.”

Goodbarn scored six times this year and added the same number of helpers. Two of her shots on goal were game-winning shots. This is the third year Goodbarn has been named an all-region honoree. With 18 points, Goodbarn has earned all-NCAC first team honors.

Preston describes Goodbarn as “skilled.”

“She is the one always working to make the play happen,” Preston said. “Both players did an outstanding job this year, and had great support on and off the field from their teammates.”

Goodbarn saw her award as a reflection of her team.

“This recognition to me shows how hard our team works together,” Goodbarn said. “You are only ever as good as the people you practice with, and I contribute my success as an individual to the team for how hard they push me everyday.”