BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bucknell sophomore forward Lily Neilson and Boston University sophomore back Payton Anderson were selected Patriot League Field Hockey Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, when the League office announced its postseason major awards and All-League teams.
Patriot League regular-season champion Boston University collected three of the five major awards, as Anderson received defensive player honors, Martu Coulo earned rookie of the year and Sally Starr won her sixth Patriot League Coach of the Year honor.
American junior Bryn Underwood was named Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year for the second-consecutive season.
In addition to the three major awards, the Terriers finished with a League-high six players on the two All-Patriot League teams, including two on the first team. American, Bucknell and Lehigh received four all-League honorees apiece, with the Eagles placing a League-high three student-athletes on the first team. The Bison and Mountain Hawks each had two first-teamers. Holy Cross and Lafayette had three All-League selections, with the Leopards placing two on the first team. Colgate finished with two All-League representatives.
The League's seven field hockey head coaches voted on the Patriot League field hockey major awards and All-League teams. They were not eligible to vote for their student-athletes or themselves.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., Forward, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia/The Armidale School
*Neilson led the Patriot League and ranked 12th in NCAA DI in goals per game (0.82) while leading the League and placing 24th in points per game (1.71).
*She scored goals in 11 of the Bison’s 17 games, including tallying goals in the season's first five games.
*The two-time All-League selection received Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12 after recording a pair of two-goal games against Central Michigan and Temple.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year
Payton Anderson, Boston University, So., Back, Christchurch, New Zealand/Burnside
*Anderson led a Boston University defense that tied for a League-low 1.17 goals per game in League play while posting the second-best scoring margin (+1.16) in the League.
*The three-time Patriot League weekly honoree started all 17 games and finished fifth in the Patriot League with nine goals, including the game-winner against Bucknell to clinch the regular-season title.
*She placed sixth in the League with 19 points and tied for eighth with one defensive save.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Goalkeeper of the Year
Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., Goalkeeper, Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson
*Underwood recorded a Patriot League-best save percentage (.816) and goals-against average (1.328) to claim her second straight Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year honor.
*She recorded a League-high four shutouts and made 5.71 saves per game, the second-highest mark in the League.
*The Sinking Spring, Pa. native was named Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week four times, the most weekly honors by a field hockey student-athlete this season.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Rookie of the Year
Martu Coulo, Boston University, Fr., Forward, Buenos Aires, Argentina/All Saints School
*Coulo started all 17 games at forward, finishing with eight points on three goals, including two game-winners, and two assists.
*In League play, the Buenos Aires native tied for fifth in goals (3) and eighth in points (7). She also tied for the League lead with two game-winning goals.
*She earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors after scoring two goals in a victory over Colgate on Oct. 8.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Coach of the Year
Sally Starr, Boston University
*Starr led Boston University to a 5-1 League record and the Terriers’ fifth Patriot League regular-season title since joining the League in 2013.
*The Terriers tied for a League-low 1.17 goals-against average in six League games while placing second in League play with 8.67 shots on goal per game.
*She claimed her sixth Patriot League Coach of the Year and improved to 46-12 in League play since 2013.
2022 All-Patriot League Field Hockey by the Numbers
Fourteen of the 26 All-Patriot League field hockey selections are multi-year honorees, including Anderson, Neilson and Underwood, who both received accolades for the second straight season. Lafayette senior forward Molly McAndrew became the 21st Patriot League student-athlete to earn All-League honors four times, while teammate Simone Hefting made the All-League squad for the third time.
Boston University senior back Rachel Borzymowski and senior goalkeeper Caroline Kelly, Bucknell senior midfielder Kayla Kisthardt, Holy Cross senior defender Gabby Venezia and senior midfielder Sinead Walsh, Lafayette sophomore midfielder Lineke Spaans, Lehigh senior attacker Sarah Bonthuis, junior defender Julia Gatelein and senior goalkeeper Maddie Kahn all received All-League honors for the second time.
The Terriers’ Coulo highlighted a list of four first-year League student-athletes to garner All-League recognition, including American defender Lotta Curanz, Bucknell defender Kira Leclercq and Lehigh midfielder Kiki Mes. American forward Federica Turina Dellamaggiore and Holy Cross attacker Meggan Fourie joined Anderson, Neilson and Spaans, representing the League’s five-person sophomore class on the All-League squad. Boston University midfielder Thalia Steenssens, forward Tess Csejka, Colgate defender Rachel Alderfer, junior midfielder Ella Murphy, along with Gatelein and Underwood, make up the six-member All-League junior class. Eleven seniors made the All-League squad, including first-time honorees American defender Charllene Boshoff and Bucknell forward Mackenzie Kile.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year – Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., F
Defensive Player of the Year – Payton Anderson, Boston University, So., B
Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Martu Coulo, Boston University, Fr., F
Coach of the Year – Sally Starr, Boston University
2022 First Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey
Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., GK
Federica Turina Dellamaggiore, American, So., F
Charllene Boshoff, American, Sr., D
Payton Anderson, Boston University, So., D
Thalia Steenssens, Boston University, Jr., M
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., F
Kayla Kisthardt, Bucknell, Sr., M
Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Sr., D
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, So., M
Sarah Bonthuis, Lehigh, Sr., A
Julia Gatelein, Lehigh, Jr., D/M
2022 Second Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*
Lotta Curanz, American, Fr., D
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, Sr., B
Martu Coulo, Boston University, Fr., F
Tess Csejka, Boston University, Jr., F
Caroline Kelly, Boston University, Sr., GK
Mackenzie Kile, Bucknell, Sr., F
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Fr., D
Rachel Alderfer, Colgate, Jr., D
Ella Murphy, Colgate, Jr., M
Meggan Fourie, Holy Cross, So., A
Gabby Venezia, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Sinead Walsh, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, Sr., F
Maddie Kahn, Lehigh, Sr., GK
Kiki Mes, Lehigh, Fy., M
*15 student-athletes selected to the second team due to ties in the voting
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete 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.