CWSA Honda Sports Award Release

Capping off an incredible year for the Princeton field hockey program, senior Katie Reinprecht was named the Honda Sports Award winner for field hockey, given annually to the nation's top field hockey player by the Collegiate Women Sports Award (CWSA). Monday's announcement marks the first-ever Honda Award winner in program history.

"I am extremely honored to be recognized amongst such an elite group of female athletes," said Reinprecht. "It has been a privilege to represent Princeton University and while accepting this honor as a personal accolade, I full-heartedly acknowledge my incredible teammates, family, and coaching staff for, undoubtedly, shaping me into the person and athlete I am today."

Reinprecht returned to the pitch after spending the 2011-12 year training fulltime with the U.S. Senior National Team and competing in the London Summer Olympics. Upon her return, she helped guide the Tigers to their eighth consecutive Ivy League title behind a perfect 7-0 conference record. The midfielder then played an integral role in Princeton capturing its first NCAA Championship in a 3-2 come-from-behind effort over top-ranked North Carolina and finish with a program-best 21-1 overall record.

A four-time All-America, All-Ivy and All-Region selection, Reinprecht concludes her career as a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year and the 2012 Longstreth/NFHCA Player of the Year and Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year.

In 2012, she dished a team-best 19 assists and scored nine goals for 37 points. Reinprecht averaged 0.90 assists per game, ranking second in the nation. She concludes her decorated career ranked second in career assists with 49, second in assists in a season with 19 and fourth in a career in points with 155.

"Katie is an Olympian, a four-time All-America and a National Champion. As is obvious from her accomplishments, she has all the qualities of an exemplary athlete: speed, quickness, endurance, power and grace," said head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn.

The CWSA presents the Honda Sports Award annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. With this honor, Reinprecht becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2013 Honda Cup. Reinprecht was chosen by a vote of coaches from 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Chelsea Armstrong (Northwestern), Megan Frazer (Maryland, 2011 Honda winner) and Paige Selenski (Virginia).

"I couldn't be more pleased for Katie, personally, the field hockey team and the athletics department. We are so lucky to have someone of Katie's stature represent us on the field, in the classroom and all aspects of Princeton life. She is a credit to her family, to her team and to this University. It is a great honor and I cannot think of anyone more deserving," said Gary Walters '67, The Ford Family Director of Athletics.

A three-time team captain, Reinprecht is a sociology major and will graduate in the Spring of 2013. She played on the field hockey team with her sister Julia '14. Her older sister Sarah '09 also played field hockey at Princeton.

The Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for 37 years, recognizing not only superior athletic skills, but also leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Honda has been a sponsor of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards for the past 27 years. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $2.5 million in institutional grants to universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions. Previous Honda Cup winners include Brittney Griner, Ann Meyers Drysdae, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mia Hamm, Lisa Fernandez, Misty May-Treanor, Courtney Kupets, Maya Moore and Candace Parker.