Blue Field Hockey's Peterson, Sharkin, Hamilton Earn All-NEWMAC Honors

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced the 2016 Field Hockey All-Conference team on Tuesday and Wellesley College seniors Courtney Peterson (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Nikki Sharkin (Summit, N.J.) and junior Emmy Hamilton (New York, N.Y.) have each been honored by the conference for their play during the 2016 season. Peterson and Sharkin each earned a spot on the All-Conference first team, while Hamilton grabbed a spot on the All-Conference second team.

It is the second-consecutive first team All-Conference award for Peterson. Sharkin earns her first NEWMAC All-Conference honor in field hockey following her final season for the Blue. Hamilton was named to her second All-Conference team, having also been named to the NEWMAC second team in 2015. 

Wellesley's leading scorer in 2015, Peterson tallied nine goals and five assists for 23 points over 18 games. Peterson opened the season with back-to-back two goal games, before going on to score at least one point in 10 of Wellesley's 18 games. The Blue midfielder also picked up a pair of defensive saves, while serving as a key part of Wellesley's defense and penalty corner offense. Peterson finished her Wellesley career with 45 goals and 28 assists in 82 career games. 

Sharkin earns her first All-Conference honor following a four-year career that saw the midfielder record 37 goals and 29 assists in 81 career appearances. This season, Sharkin scored eight goals and added three assists to finish second on the Blue in points with 19. The senior midfielder also scored a pair of game-winning goals, with both coming in conference play versus Wheaton and WPI. 

Hamilton makes a return to the All-Conference second team for the second time in her career. Hamilton earned the selection despite missing six games due to injury, an injury that showed her importance, as Wellesley went 8-4 with the defensive sweeper in the lineup and just 2-4 with her off the field. 

Wellesley field hockey finished the season with a 10-8 overall record, advancing to the NEWMAC tournament for the sixth consecutive season under the direction of Head Coach Julia King. Peterson and Sharkin will each have the opportunity to represent the Blue one more time before they close out their field hockey careers, as the duo was selected to participate in the annual NFHCA Senior Game on November 19 at William Smith College.  

2016 NEWMAC Field Hockey All-Conference 

First Team

Second Team