Bolton, Petrantonio, Nicholas tabbed as NFHCA National Players of the Year

Dec 16, 2021 | 2021-2022, Division I, Division II, Division III, News

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Jill Bolton, senior forward from Liberty University, Jazmin Petrantonio, senior midfielder/forward from Shippensburg University, and Erin Nicholas, senior midfielder from Middlebury College, have been named their respective division’s National Player of the Year for their performances in the 2021 season.

The NFHCA National Player of the Year announcement is the final announcement in a list of postseason, athletic awards from the NFHCA. The NFHCA will announce academic awards in February.

NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year, Jill Bolton

Division I

Jill Bolton, Liberty University, Sr., Forward (Souderton, Pennsylvania)

  • Selected as NFHCA South Region Player of the Year, an NFHCA Division I First-Team All-American, and an NFHCA Division I South Region, First Team honoree
  • First-Team All-BIG EAST and BIG EAST Championship Tournament MVP
  • Led the Flames and the BIG EAST in goals (19) and points (45)
  • Named to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team
  • Helped the Liberty Flames to their most successful year in program history with a BIG EAST regular-season and tournament championship, and a runner-up finish in the NCAA championship
NFHCA Division II National Player of the Year, Jazmin Petrantonio

Division II

Jazmin Petrantonio, Shippensburg University, Sr., Midfielder/Forward (Saenz Pena, Argentina)

  • Selected as NFHCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year and named to NFHCA Division II All-America First-Team
  • Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) All-Conference first-team selection and PSAC Athlete of the Year
  • Honored on 2021 NCAA Division II Field Hockey All-Tournament team and selected as the tournament’s Most-Outstanding Player
  • Led the Shippensburg Raiders to an undefeated season and the 2021 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship
  • Finished her career with a school-record 106 career goals, the third-most in NCAA Division II history
  • This is Petrantonio’s second NFHCA National Player of the Year honor, she was named a finalist for Division II Honda Athlete of the Year award earlier this month
NFHCA Division III National Player of the Year, Erin Nicholas

Division III

Erin Nicholas, Middlebury College, Sr., Midfielder (Scarsdale, New York)

  • Selected as NFHCA Region II Player of the Year, an NFHCA Division III First-Team All-American, and an NFHCA Division III Region II, First-Team honoree
  • Named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team
  • Earned NESCAC Player of the Year honors and an All-NESCAC First Team selection
  • Led her team to an undefeated season and the Panther’s fourth-straight NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, becoming the first team ever to win four-consecutive titles
  • Finished her field hockey career at Middlebury with 161 points on 65 goals and 31assists
  • This is Nicholas’ third-consecutive NFHCA National Player of the Year honor, she was named a finalist for Division III Honda Athlete of the Year award earlier this month

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.