CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – American junior midfielder Noor Coenen and Lafayette senior defender Lisa van der Geest were named the Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively when the League office announced its postseason major awards and All-League teams on Tuesday.
Coenen and van der Geest both received the Patriot League's 2019 preseason major awards.
Bucknell senior goalkeeper Olivia Harris was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and Boston University freshman midfielder Jodie Conolly captured Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors.
Lafayette Head Coach Jennifer Stone received Patriot League Coach of the Year accolades for the first time, after leading the Leopards to their best finish since 2012.
Twelve student-athletes were named to both the 2019 All-Patriot League Field Hockey First Team and Second Team due to ties in voting. American, Bucknell and Lafayette each placed five student-athletes on the two All-League teams with the Eagles and Bison putting three apiece on the first team, while the Leopards received two first-team selections. Boston University and Holy Cross each had three representatives on the two All-League teams with Lehigh receiving two and Colgate placing one on the first team.
Van der Geest and Bucknell senior forward Brittany Willwerth became the 17th and 18th-players in Patriot League Field Hockey history to be voted onto the All-League team four times. Coenen, a three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, Boston University junior forward Ailsa Connolly and senior midfielder Kiley Gallagher, along with Lehigh junior defender Lenke Havas join the list of 63 student-athletes to earn All-League recognition in three seasons. Overall, nine members of the 2019 first- and second-team have been honored in previous campaigns. Harris and Lafayette sophomore forward Molly McAndrew, the 2018 Patriot League Rookie of the Year both received accolades for the second time. Holy Cross senior goalkeeper Marcia LaPlante, the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year in 2016, also received her second All-League selection.
The Major Awards and All-League teams were voted on by the seven Patriot League field hockey head coaches who could not vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
The 2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Championships begin on Friday, Nov. 8 at American University's William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex in Washington, D.C. Both of Friday's semifinal round games and Sunday's Patriot League Field Hockey Championship Game will be streamed live on the
Patriot League Network (PLN).
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year
Noor Coenen, American, Jr., Midfielder, Naarden, Netherlands/Laar en Berg
*Coenen led the Patriot League and finished among the NCAA DI leaders in points per game (2.12) and goals per game (0.88), while finishing third in the League in assists per game (0.38). Her 34 points and 14 goals are both career-highs.
*The Netherlands native led the Eagles to the Patriot League's top-scoring offense (2.51gpg) and scoring margin (+1.29) to claim the program's first regular-season title since 2013.
*Coenen was dominant in League play, leading the Patriot League with 17 points and eight goals in six League games.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Sr., Defender, Oegsgeest, Netherlands/Rijnlands Lyceum
*Van der Geest led all Patriot League defenders with 21 points (7 goals, 7 assists), including two game-winning goals in League play.
*She anchored a Leopards' defense to allowing a League-low four goals over six League games to help the squad to its best regular-season finish since 2012.
*She tied the Patriot League record for consecutive weekly honors with five, while receiving NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 30.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Year
Olivia Harris, Bucknell, Sr., Goalkeeper, Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley
*Harris finished among the League leaders in save percentage (.764), saves per game (5.53), goals-against-average (1.69) and shutouts (3) to help Bucknell to the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.
*In League play, Harris recorded a save percentage of .700 with a GAA of 1.50 to record four wins in six games played.
*Harris is 14th among all active NCAA DI goalkeepers with a .751 career save percentage and 22nd with a 1.78 GAA in 36 career games.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Rookie of the Year
Jodie Conolly, Boston University, Fr., Midfielder, Pietermartizburg, South Africa/ St. Mary's School
*Conolly led all Patriot League freshmen in points (19), points per game (1.12), goals (8) and goals per game (0.47) through 17 games during her rookie campaign.
*The South Africa native was just as effective in League play, finishing second in goals (6) and third in points (13) among all League players, while putting 18 of her 25 shots on goal during the six-game Patriot League schedule.
*Her 13 points and six goals in League play led Boston University in both categories.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Coach of the Year
Jennifer Stone, Lafayette
*Stone led the Leopards to the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament for its best regular-season finish since 2012.
*In six Patriot League games, Lafayette recorded a League-high three shutouts, while limiting opponents to four goals.
*The Leopards recorded a +0.73 scoring margin in 18 regular-season games, with a League-best six shutouts and 2.17 goals per game to help Stone to her first Patriot League Coach of the Year award.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year – Noor Coenen, American, Jr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Olivia Harris, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Jodie Conolly, Boston University, Fr., M
Coach of the Year – Jennifer Stone, Lafayette
2019 First Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*
Noor Coenen, American Jr., M
Georgia Davies, American, So., D
Atina Pagani, American, So., F/M
Ailsa Connolly, Boston University, Jr., F
Olivia Harris, Bucknell, Sr., GK
Allie Christopher, Bucknell, Sr., M
Leah Fogelsanger, Bucknell, Jr., F
Taylor Casamassa, Colgate, Jr., M
Madeline Alderfer, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Sr., D
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, So., F
Lenke Havas, Lehigh, Jr., D
2019 Second team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*
Jette Dieckmann, American, Sr., F
Lauren Fredricks, American, Jr., M
Jodie Conolly, Boston University, Fr., F
Kiley Gallagher, Boston University, Sr., M
Kaelyn Long, Bucknell, Jr., D
Brittany Willwerth, Bucknell, Sr., F
Marcia LaPlante, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Emily Devine, Holy Cross, Jr., D
Sarah Park, Lafayette, Sr., GK
Anna Steps, Lafayette, Jr., M
Sydney Woolston, Lafayette, Fr., D
Drew Pecora, Lehigh, Jr., F
*12 student-athletes on the first- and second-team due to ties in voting
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.