Blackhurst earns Longstreth/NFHCA Division III National Player of the Year

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Skidmore field hockey team's season ended in the NCAA Division III semifinal, as they lost to Salisbury on a rare overtime penalty stroke. The season was one of the program's most successful, and it also marked the end for Kelly Blackhurst '14, the program's all-time leading scorer. Blackhurst, though, is continuing to pull in national recognition for her season and her career.
On Tuesday, Blackhurst was selected as the 2013 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III National Player of the Year on the strength of her 32 goals and 15 assists this season. Her 79 points this season give her a career total of 264 points (105 G, 54 A), which is 5th all-time in career scoring in Division III.
This season, Blackhurst was also tabbed as a Longstreth/NFCHA All-American for the third time in her career, and she was selected as North Atlantic Region Player of the Year for the second time in her career. Additionally, this season marked the second time Blackhurst was named the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year as well as being named to the All-Liberty League team, and she finished her career as the League's all-time leading scorer.
Blackhurst's 32 goals this season was a record for most in a season, and the eight of those goals that were game-winners was also a record. Blackhurst also slashed a couple other records, including most career game-winning goals (20) and most points in a season.
Blackhurst's career goals per game (1.24) is fifth all-time in Division III, her career goals (105) and career assists per game (0.64) are both seventh all-time.
The Thoroughbreds ended the season at 19-4, won the Liberty League championship and made it to the Final Four for the third time in program history.