ECAC Announces 2016 Division I Field Hockey All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division I Field Hockey All-Star team.
University of Delaware sophomore Greta Nauck was tabbed Offensive Player of the Year, while junior Christen Piersanti of Monmouth University earned Defensive Player of the Year honor. Rider University freshman Daane Koch was named Rookie of the Year and University of Delaware Head Coach Rolf van de Kerkhof was tabbed Coach of the Year.
Nauck broke Delaware’s single-season goals record set at 22 during the 2009 season. She led the Blue Hens in points (76), goals (33), shots (148), shots on goal (98) and game winning goals (10). Her most memorable game winning goal came with just under six minutes remaining in the NCAA National Championship game to break the tie. In just her second season Nauck became the ninth player in program history to surpass 100 career points. The sophomore led the country in both goals per game averaging 1.32 and points per game averaging 3.04. Nauck was also tabbed the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year. The midfielder has been awarded CAA Player of the Week accolades four times this season.
Piersanti had a standout season for the Hawks. The junior goalkeeper was named NFHCA National Player of the Week, honorable mention Sept. 8 and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 6. Piersanti finished the season 17-3 starting all 20 games in goal for the Hawks racking up 69 saves with a 1.20 goals against average in addition to 10 shutouts.
Koch produced a fantastic rookie campaign, earning MAAC Rookie of the Year. The freshman was named to the First Team All-MAAC in addition to being named MAAC Rookie of the Week four times and MAAC Offensive Player of the Week once during the 2016 season. She started all 19 games for Rider leading the team in goals, points, shots and shots on goal. Koch ranks among the top-five in the MAAC for shots, shots per game, points, points per game, goals, goals per game and game winning goals.
Delaware’s head coach Van de Kerkhof led the Blue Hens to a 23-2 mark, a National Championship and the CAA Tournament title. Van de Kerkhof is in his sixth season, now with four straight conference titles; he also garnered CAA Coach of the Year. His squad finished the season ranked in the top five nationally in assists per game, goals per game, points per game, scoring average, scoring margin and top winning percentage.
2016 ECAC Division I Field Hockey All-Star Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Greta Nauck, So., University of Delaware
Defensive Player of the Year
Christen Piersanti, Jr., Monmouth University
Rookie of the Year
Daane Koch, Fr., Rider University
Coach of the Year
Rolf van de Kerkhof, University of Delaware
First Team
Miranda Rigg, So., James Madison University
Anna Willocks, So., Saint Joseph’s University
Alexa Hoover, Jr., University of Pennsylvania
Anne Burgoyne, Sr., Fairfield University
Hannah Hall, Jr., James Madison University
Greta Nauck, So., University of Delaware
Alyssa Ercolino, Sr., Monmouth University
Ashley Mendonca, Jr., University of New Hampshire
Shannon Pereira, Jr., Saint Francis University
Julie Laszlo, Jr., Monmouth University
Christen Piersanti, Jr., Monmouth University
ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 77 years since its inception, the ECAC has emerged as the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In 2015-16, the ECAC hosted nearly 100 championships in men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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