As the Patriot League field hockey regular season comes to a close, the conference released its annual awards Tuesday. Six Boston University student-athletes made it on two all-conference teams, while three Terriers came away with Player of the Year awards. Senior backer Ysi Schieb won Defensive Player of the Year, junior goalkeeper Valentina Cerda Eimbcke took Goalkeeper of the Year and freshman forward Amanda Cassera earned Rookie of the Year.
Schieb led the defense all season as the lone senior on the backline. She had the best statistical year of her BU career, recording two goals and a team-leading seven assists along with one defensive save. The Gold Coast, Australia native earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors three times this season before winning Defensive Player of the Year.
It has already been an exciting week for Schieb, as last Thursday, she was asked to participate in the 2013 Front Rush/NFHCA Division 1 Senior Game. The game, which will take place Nov. 23 in Virginia Beach, Va., features some of the top talent amongst NCAA field hockey seniors.
Starring in the cage for a Terrier team that allowed just 24 goals in 18 games, Eimbcke dominated in BU’s first season in the Patriot League. She ranked eighth in the country with a .784 save percentage and led the Patriot League with a 1.30 GAA. Eimbcke was named Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week three times this season before being named the conference’s best goalkeeper.
A 2012 NFHCA All-American Second Team member and the New Jersey Player of the Year as a senior at West Essex High School, Cassera continued her momentum from high school and made a seamless transition to the college game. She not only tied for the team lead in goals (eight) and points (16), but also led BU in shots on goal (46). Cassera made her presence felt on the field right away, as she scored a hat trick in her first collegiate game, the first Terrier ever to accomplish such a feat. The two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week winner adds another impressive trophy to her collection with the Patriot League Rookie of the Year award.
Four Terriers made First Team All-Patriot League, including Schieb, Eimbcke, senior midfielder Madeleine Hackett, and sophomore midfielder Sofi Laurito. Laurito scored three goals in the final three games of the regular season and finished the year tied for the team lead in goals and points while Hackett paced the midfield all season-long as a senior leader while collecting three assists.
Freshman midfielder Hester van der Laan and senior midfielder Anne Fruitema also represented the Terriers well this awards season with Second Team All-Patriot League honors. Fruitema vocally guided a young BU squad through the season’s ups and downs and maintained a strong offensive presence with four goals. In her rookie year, van der Laan impressed the coaches with a 13-point season, good for third on the team.
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