NDMU Student-Athlete Named CSAC Rookie of the Year

November 5, 2015

Notre Dame of Maryland student-athlete Megan Morales ’19 was named the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Rookie of the Year and named to Second Team All Conference. Morales is the first field hockey student-athlete to receive the award and becomes the third NDMU Gator to earn Rookie of the Year honors.

Morales played every minute of the squad’s 13 games and played a part in 12 of the team’s 15 goals. Her 11 goals led the team and are the most scored by a Notre Dame field hockey player since at least 2006. Morales tied a school record for most goals in a game in NDMU history when she posted five goals in a 5-3 victory over Sweet Briar College, and also scored both game winners this season. This year’s team scored more goals than any team since 2006 and a had a higher shooting percentage than last year’s club, led by Morales .239 average. The defense also featured more defensive saves, posting a total of 25.

“Meg is one of the backbones of our team,” said NDMU field hockey coach Kara Zimmerman. “Not only did she pace the defense but she jumpstarted the offense with her skill work and quick decision making. Her ability to transition the ball up field and dodge defenders made her a force in the midfield. Meg is as passionate as she is talented and I could not be more proud of her. She is the type of player every coach dreams of.”

News of the award came as a big surprise to Morales. “I didn’t know what to say. I was just staring at my coach, then it hit me: This is a really big thing! I feel honored that of all the freshmen in the CSAC conference, I was chosen.” Meg credits her teammates, coach, and supportive professors for her success. “The team is like a family within a family. Notre Dame is like a small community, and within it, you can form lots of other connections with other athletes, students, and faculty know who you are and who are always there to help.”

Morales is from Joppa, Maryland, and attended The Catholic High School of Baltimore.

Notre Dame of Maryland University is an NCAA Division III member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). NDMU fields nine varsity teams: basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming (concluding January 2016), tennis, and volleyball. In 2014-15, 51 Notre Dame athletes (of 80 total) were named to the CSAC All-Academic Team for having a 3.2 cumulative GPA or higher.