Greta Nauck, a sophomore midfielder from the University of Delaware field hockey team, was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Field Hockey as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 41 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.  With this honor, Nauck becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2017 Honda Cup which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 26, 2017, in downtown Los, Angeles.

Nauck was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Paula Heuser (UAlbany), Welma Luus (Maryland) and Charlotte Veitner (UConn).

“I am totally speechless,” said Nauck. “It is a huge honor for me to receive the Honda Sport Award for field hockey and I would like to thank everybody who voted for me. Delaware’s 2016 season was an incredible journey. The hard work, commitment and support of an amazing team allowed me to immensely grow throughout the season - on and off the field.”

Hailing from Krefeld, Germany, Nauck scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead Delaware to its first-ever field hockey National Championship. The Blue Hens finished the year with a 19-game winning streak and an overall mark of 23-2.

An NFHCA first-team All-American and the 2016 CAA Player of the Year, she was also named to the 2016 NCAA All-Tournament team and the 2016 All-Mid Atlantic Region Player of the Year.

The NCAA leader in goals (33), points (76), goals per game (1.32) and points per game (3.04). Nauck ranks seventh all-time at UD with 103 career points on 44 goals and 15 assists in just two seasons. She also set the school’s single-season record in points and goals and finished the year with 10 game-winning goals.

“Congratulations Greta Nauck!” exclaimed head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof.  “What a joy it was for me to share with Greta and her family the announcement that she is the 2016 Honda Sport Award winner for field hockey. Even better to see was her initial reaction and more emotions throughout our conversation as it registered she just won the highest individual award in all of NCAA Division I field hockey.”

Honda Sport Award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year.

The CWSA, in its 41st year, honors the nation’s top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.