GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Adding her name to an exclusive list of legendary student-athletes, Abby Asuncion became just the third field hockey player in Christopher Newport history to earn Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America after hauling in the prestigious accolade on Thursday afternoon.

With the award, she joined Christopher Newport Athletics Hall of Famer Marlene Lichty (2013) and former standout Ashley Alston (2002) as the only field hockey players to receive the recognition. Additionally, Asuncion became the first Captain to secure the honor as an underclassman.

Asuncion was one of 11 honorees from District 5, which includes 11 states ranging from Florida to Missouri. The Sterling, Virginia native is now eligible for a spot on the Academic All-American Team, which will be announced on June 15.

The CoSIDA Academic All-American program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Overall, Asuncion was one of only 15 field hockey players from around the country to receive the award. She was selected in the highly-competitive "At-Large" category, which includes athletes from field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, golf, tennis, and a variety of other sports.

Orchestrating one of the most decorated campaigns in Christopher Newport athletics history, Asuncion picked up nearly every award possible for her performance in the fall. She was selected as a first-team All-American by both Synapse Sports and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Additionally, she was named both the State and Region Player of the Year while hauling in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honor as well.

Fittingly, she was also a first-team All-Conference, All-State, and All-Region performer.

An elite contributor on the offensive side of the ball, Asuncion ranked first in the league with 13 goals, while her 29 total points placed her second among conference competitors. Consistent throughout the year, she contributed four multi-goal efforts and became only the fifth Captain to notch two hat-tricks in a single campaign.

On September 11, Asuncion erupted for four goals at Washington & Lee, which equaled the third-highest total in school history. She came back with seven points, including three more strikes, against Catholic on September 15. The five-day span between her hat-tricks marked the shortest in program lore.

In addition to her offensive exploits, Asuncion was also a force on the defensive side of the ball. Serving as a flyer on the penalty corner unit, she ranked second on the squad with 13 blocked shots during the year, including a team-high 11 deflections on corner attempts. Aided by those efforts, Christopher Newport successfully cleared 92 percent of the opposition's corners in 2021.

Making her mark on the record books, Asuncion already stands 10th in school history with 27 career goals. Her 58 points also place her 15th on the all-time charts, while her eight game-winning strikes stand seventh overall.

Off the field, Asuncion is a psychology major and a three-time member of the NFHCA National All-Academic Team. She is also a perennial Academic All-Conference honoree and Dean's List student for her scholarly endeavors.

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