O’Donnell wins second straight Honda Award

Terrapin field hockey forward Katie O'Donnell has been named the best collegiate field hockey player for the second straight year.

O'Donnell won the 2011 Honda Award in field hockey yesterday, laying claim to an award that is equivalent to college football's Heisman Trophy.

"I am absolutely thrilled to win the Honda Sports Award again," O'Donnell said in a statement. "The first was amazing and the second is a dream come true. … I am proud to be a part of such a remarkable legacy here."

The award, which is in its 35th year, caps a successful career for O'Donnell. Earlier this season, she was named the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation — an award Mia Hamm and Venus and Serena Williams have previously won — and the Division I National Player of the Year by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

"Katie O'Donnell's a superstar," coach Missy Meharg said earlier this year. "Not just for the University of Maryland, but for the game. It'll be interesting to find a player that can fill the shoes of number 16."

O'Donnell, who has an ACC-record 306 career points, led the Terps to their seventh national championship this season. She led the nation in points (98) and assists (34) and scored her seventh career hat trick in a Final Four match against Ohio State to propel the Terps into a title rematch against defending champion North Carolina.

The senior co-captain set up the game-winning goal against the Tar Heels in the national championship. In the game's second overtime, O'Donnell forced a turnover and found midfielder Megan Frazer at the top of the shooting circle, who then deked around a couple of Tar Heel defenders before rifling a hard shot into the back of the net.

Immediately after the score, O'Donnell ran over to Frazer, jumping into her teammate's arms in celebration.

"This season has probably been my most favorite season as a Terp," O'Donnell said earlier this year. "The team got along so well off the field, and it definitely showed on the field. … To go out as national champs is something I would've never dreamed of coming in as a freshman."

O'Donnell, who could not be reached to comment, is the only player in NCAA history to record more than 300 points and 100 assists in a career. She also is one of four Terps to win the Honda Award and the second to win it twice. Midfielder Paula Infante won the award in 2006 and 2007.

With the honor, O'Donnell has a chance to be named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, which will be announced June 27. The award is selected from the pool of Honda Award winners in basketball, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball and track and field.

jengelke@umdbk.com