EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern seniors Elena Curley, Pascale Massey and Sophia Miller have been named Big Ten Players to Watch by the Conference office Monday.
It is the second straight year that Curley has been named to the preseason list. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, the midfielder started all 21 of the team's matches a year ago after playing her first two seasons at Ohio University. Curley ranked fourth on the team with seven goals during the 2016 campaign.
Massey also started all 21 matches last season following her return from a knee injury suffered during her freshman season in 2015. The Bromsgrove, England, native finished second on the team with 13 goals a year ago. The forward was named the NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week last season after tallying game-wining goals in wins over then-No. 4 and then-No. 6 Maryland.
Miller has been a stalwart in the back for Northwestern over her first three seasons. In 2016, the Medford, New Jersey, native earned first-team All-Big Ten and second-team NFHCA All-West Region honors. Offensively, she ranked first on the Wildcats with 12 assists.
Northwestern opens its 2017 season this weekend when it travels to Storrs, Connecticut. The Wildcats take on Stanford at noon Central time Saturday before facing host UConn at the same time Sunday.
NU returns eight starters from last year's team that posted a 13-8 record and earned a top-10 national ranking for the fifth consecutive season.
It is the second straight year that Curley has been named to the preseason list. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, the midfielder started all 21 of the team's matches a year ago after playing her first two seasons at Ohio University. Curley ranked fourth on the team with seven goals during the 2016 campaign.
Massey also started all 21 matches last season following her return from a knee injury suffered during her freshman season in 2015. The Bromsgrove, England, native finished second on the team with 13 goals a year ago. The forward was named the NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week last season after tallying game-wining goals in wins over then-No. 4 and then-No. 6 Maryland.
Miller has been a stalwart in the back for Northwestern over her first three seasons. In 2016, the Medford, New Jersey, native earned first-team All-Big Ten and second-team NFHCA All-West Region honors. Offensively, she ranked first on the Wildcats with 12 assists.
Northwestern opens its 2017 season this weekend when it travels to Storrs, Connecticut. The Wildcats take on Stanford at noon Central time Saturday before facing host UConn at the same time Sunday.
NU returns eight starters from last year's team that posted a 13-8 record and earned a top-10 national ranking for the fifth consecutive season.