CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Defending Patriot League Champion Boston University topped the preseason poll, while American junior midfielder Noor Coenen and Lafayette senior defender Lisa van der Geest were selected as the 2019 Patriot League Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, when the League office announced preseason field hockey honors on Tuesday.
Voting for the 12-member All-Patriot League team, Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and the preseason poll was completed by the Patriot League field hockey head coaches and sports information directors. They cannot vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Noor Coenen, American, Jr., M/F
*Coenen is the Patriot League’s returning leading scorer after finishing second in goals (9), points (24) and points per game (1.33) while tying for fifth in assists (6) in 2018. She claimed First Team All-Patriot League honors for the second time last year.
*The two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection helped the Eagles post the best scoring offense (2.72 goals/gm) in the League and 18th in NCAA DI.
*The 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year has recorded 24 goals, including five game-winners, and nine assists for 57 points through two seasons at American.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Sr., D
*Van der Geest, a three-time All-Patriot League selection, anchored a backline that helped the 2018 Leopards’ make the postseason for the first time since 2015.
*She finished second in the League averaging 3.26 shots per game and tied for fifth with six assists. Her six goals and 18 points were both ninth in the League in 2018.
*The Oegstgeest, Netherlands native has started in 53-of-54 games on defense since arriving at Lafayette as a freshman.
Terriers Picked to Finish Atop the 2019 Preseason Poll
The Terriers earned 70 points and received 10 first-place votes to finish atop the 2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll. Head Coach Sally Starr has guided Boston University to four of the last five League titles and returns a pair of All-League selections with junior forward Ailsa Connolly and senior defender Kiley Gallagher.
American, the 2018 runner-up, finished with 64 points and four first-place votes as Head Coach Steve Jennings welcomes back Coenen. Lafayette placed third in the poll with 50 points, as van der Geest returns to Jennifer Stone’s Leopards, who finished 4-2 in League play last season. Bucknell picked up 44 points to finish fourth in the poll, with Head Coach Jeremy Cook returning a pair of first-team All-League selections in forward Brittany Willwerth and goalkeeper Olivia Harris. Lehigh (30), Holy Cross (22) and Colgate (14) round out the order of finish in the preseason poll.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Boston University, 70 points (10 first-place votes)
2. American, 64 (4)
3. Lafayette, 50
4. Bucknell, 44
5. Lehigh, 30
6. Holy Cross, 22
7. Colgate, 14
Coenen and van der Geest Highlight the 2019 Patriot League Preseason All-League Squad
Eight of the 12 preseason All-League honorees were named to the 2018 postseason All-League team, including preseason major award winners Coenen and van der Geest. Holy Cross senior goalkeeper Marcia LaPlante was a first-team All-League selection and the 2016 goalkeeper of the year.
Willwerth and van der Geest have both received All-League accolades three times while Coenen, Gallagher, Connolly and Lehigh junior defender Lenke Havas are two-time All-League selections. LaPlante and Bucknell senior goalkeeper Olivia Harris have previously been honored by the League’s coaches.
American placed a League-high three student-athletes on the preseason team, with Boston University, Bucknell and Lafayette having two selections apiece. Colgate, Holy Cross and Lehigh each had one representative.
2019 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason All-League Team*
Noor Coenen, American, Jr., M/F^
Jette Dieckmann, American, Sr., F
Georgia Davies, American, So., M
Kiley Gallagher, Boston University, Sr., M^
Ailsa Connolly, Boston University, Jr., F^
Brittany Willwerth, Bucknell, Sr., F^
Olivia Harris, Bucknell, Sr., GK^
Taylor Cassamassa, Colgate, Jr., F
Marcia LaPlante, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Sr., D^
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, So., F^
Lenke Havas, Lehigh, Jr., D^
*12 student-athletes selected due to a tie in voting
^2018 All-Patriot League selection
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.