Field hockey: UVA midfielder Tara Vittese repeats as National Player of the Year

UVA field hockey junior midfielder Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) has been named the 2016 Longstreth/NFHCA National Player of the Year, as announced on Wednesday (Dec. 14) by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, her second-straight year winning the honor.

“I am very proud of Tara for this tremendous accomplishment, being selected for this honor from such a talented pool of players” said Virginia head coach Michele Madison. “I think Tara’s overall game stands out, her impact on the field and her ability to change the game, and the country recognizes that.”

Vittese repeated as the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year after previously claiming the South Region Player of the Year honor for the second year in a row. She was also named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Offensive Player of the Year in 2016.

Vittese finished the season with 15 goals and 11 assists for 41 points, and ranked fourth in the ACC with 1.71 points per game. She made the Longstreth/NFHCA first-team All-South Region list for the third year in a row and has career totals of 47 goals and 37 assists through her first three seasons.

Vittese helped the Cavaliers advance to the second round of the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship and claim their first-ever ACC Championship.