LOS ANGELES, California (Dec. 12, 2011) --- A scoring powerhouse whose key goals led her team to back-to-back national championships, Megan Frazer of the University of Maryland has been named the 2012 recipient of the Honda Sports Award in field hockey by the Collegiate Women Sports Award Program.

            Frazer, a junior midfielder from Derry in Northern Ireland, served as team co-captain for the Terrapins reaching the NCAA finals for the fifth time in seven years. Maryland, ranked fourth going into the NCAA tournament, beat Syracuse University and Old Dominion to face the University of North Carolina in the finals.  It was the first time in NCAA history that an unseeded team has taken the national title. The previous year, Frazer put in the game-winning goal with just over two minutes left in double overtime to clinch the national championship for Maryland.

            “I am totally surprised and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award,” says Frazer. “I like to think I got it because I was consistent and I was a good leader for my teammates. I lead by example.” Frazer’s dynamic leadership was noted in 2010 when she received her school’s Keli Smith Award, given to the player showing the most passion for the sport while also setting and achieving high goals.

            Frazer was named 2011 first-team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and the NHFCA Mid Atlantic Region Player of the Year. She was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament team and the All-ACC team, honors she also earned in 2010. Majoring in hearing and speech sciences, she was named to the ACC Academic Honor roll as a freshman. Representing Ireland, she was the youngest member of the 2009 European championship squad. This spring, she will rejoin the Irish national team in its attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The Honda Sports Award is presented annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.  Frazer becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the Honda Cup.  Frazer was chosen by a vote of coaches from 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Chelsea Armstrong (Northwestern University), Katelyn Falgowski (University of North Carolina) and Whitney Frates (University of New Hampshire).