CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – American senior midfielder Rafaela Rubas and Boston University senior defender Ally Hammel were selected as the Patriot League Field Hockey preseason major award winners in addition to earning spots on the preseason all-League team, while the Terriers and Eagles were picked first and second, respectively in the poll when the League office announced preseason honors on Monday.
2018 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Rafaela Rubas, American, Sr., M
*The 2017 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time first-team all-League selection. Rubas finished second in the League with 33 points (12 goals, 9 assists).
*Last year, she garnered National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team accolades for the third time during her career.
*The 2015 Patriot League Rookie of the Year has accumulated 25 or more points in each of her three seasons at American and enters her final campaign with 85 career points on 32 goals and 21 assists.
2018 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Ally Hammel, Boston University, Sr., D
*In addition to being the 2017 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Hammel was the first Boston University back to be named an NFHCA First Team All-American and the first BU player to earn Northeast Region Player of the Year.
*Hammel was a Patriot League All-Tournament Team selection after helping the Terriers to the championship while holding opponents to just one goal during the two-game tournament.
*She finished with four points and four assists during the 2017 season, while helping the Terriers’ defense to a League-best 1.59 goals allowed per game.
Defending Champion Terriers Top the Preseason Poll; Eagles Picked Second
Defending champion Boston University was picked to finish atop the League in the preseason poll, receiving 68 points and eight first-place votes. The Terriers return four all-League selections, including Hammel, and have claimed the League crown and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament three times since joining the League in 2013.
American finished close behind with 66 points and collecting six first-place votes with Rubas and the 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year sophomore forward Noor Coenen back in the fold. Bucknell was third in the voting with 52 points after advancing to the 2017 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship Game. Lafayette holds the fourth spot with 41 points, while Holy Cross (32), Lehigh (23) and Colgate (12) round out the preseason order.
2018 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Boston University, 68 points (8 first-place votes)
2. American, 66 (6)
3. Bucknell, 52
4. Lafayette, 41
5. Holy Cross, 32
6. Lehigh, 23
7. Colgate 12
Four of 2017’s Major Award Winners Highlight the Preseason All-League Squad
Four of the five 2017 Patriot League Major Award winners were recognized on the 2018 Preseason Field Hockey All-Patriot League squad with American’s Rubas, Coenen and senior goalkeeper Maura Jacobs – the 2017 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year - and Boston University’s Hammel making the team. All 11 members of the preseason all-League honorees were selected to the 2017 all-League members.
The Terriers lead the way with four preseason selections, including Hammel, sophomore forward Ailsa Connolly, senior midfielder Allie Doggett and junior midfielder Kiley Gallagher. The Eagles’ trio made the squad, while Bucknell had two recipients with senior defender Alexis Quick and junior forward Brittany Willwerth. Holy Cross senior midfielder Emily Loprete and Lafayette junior defender Lisa van der Geest were also recognized.
2018 Field Hockey Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Noor Coenen, American, So., M/F
Maura Jacobs, American, Sr., GK
Rafaela Rubas, American, Sr., M
Ailsa Connolly, Boston University, So., F
Allie Doggett, Boston University, Sr., M
Kiley Gallagher, Boston University, Jr., M
Ally Hammel, Boston University, Sr., D
Alexis Quick, Bucknell, Sr., D
Brittany Willwerth, Bucknell, Jr., F
Emily Loprete, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Jr., D
*Student-athletes are listed alphabetically by institution
Voting for the preseason major awards, poll, and the all-League team was conducted by the Patriot League field hockey head coaches and sports information directors, who could not vote for their own players.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.