May 19, 2004

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Five Wildcats have earned a place on the NFCA All-Region team, the highest total in 20 years. Freshman Garland Cooper was named to the first team as a designated player while freshman Eileen Canney, sophomore Kristen Amegin, junior Erin Mobley and senior Carri Leto all received second-team honors.

This year marks the second time on the squad for both Leto and Mobley. Leto was named a first-team NFCA All-Region selection in 2001 while Mobley was a second-team choice last season.

Northwestern also placed five players on the squad in 1984, the most successful season in NU history. That year the 'Cats won the Big Ten title before finishing third at the Women's College World Series.

The same Wildcat quintet also picked up All-Big Ten awards this season. Cooper and Mobley were both named first-team All-Big Ten while Leto, Amegin and Canney were tabbed as second-teamers.

No. 3 seeded Northwestern returns to action at 11 a.m. CDT Thursday in the opening game of the NCAA Arizona Regional against the sixth-seeded Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara.