Bolton Named 2021 NFHCA South Region Player of the Year

NFHCA Release

Liberty senior Jill Bolton has been named the 2021 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I South Region Player of the Year.

Bolton is the first player in program history to receive this prestigious honor in a strong South Region. An NFHCA All-South Region first team honoree, Bolton led Liberty in goals (19) and points (45) this fall. She finished the season ranked No. 8 in the nation in points per game (1.96) and No. 10 in goals per game (0.83).

Bolton earned NCAA Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament team honors for her performance in the Final Four. The forward from Souderton, Pa. was also an All-BIG EAST first team selection, BIG EAST Championship MVP and All-Tournament team selection. Bolton also received one NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week recognition, two BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors and one BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll distinction.

Bolton wraps up her decorated Liberty career as the program record holder in goals (61) and points (156) and ranks third in assists (34). She is also No. 1 in program history in career games (95), starts (94), shots (330) and shots on goal (203).

Bolton and Liberty finished this past season as the national runner-up. The Lady Flames played in the Final Four of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship, defeating No. 5 Maryland 3-2 in double overtime before falling 2-0 to No. 7 Northwestern in the national championship game. Liberty finished the season with a program-record 20 wins, including a 17-game winning streak.

Bolton is one of only five players in the country to earn NFHCA Region Player of the Year recognition and is now in the running for NFHCA National Player of the Year.  The next set of awards to be announced will be the NFHCA All-American teams on Dec. 14, followed by the NFHCA National Player of the Year on Dec. 16.