BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Defending champion American finished atop the 2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll, while Eagles’ sophomore goalkeeper Bryn Underwood was named the preseason goalkeeper of the year when the League office announced honors on Thursday.
Bucknell sophomore forward Lily Neilson was named preseason offensive player of the year after leading the Patriot League in goals as a rookie. Lafayette senior defender Simone Hefting collected preseason defensive player of the year honors after helping the Leopards to the League title game in 2021.
The Eagles received 69 points and nine first-place votes to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. League runner-up Lafayette finished close behind with 65 points and five first-place votes. Bucknell (44), Lehigh (42) and Boston University (40) finished third through fifth, respectively, while Colgate and Holy Cross tied for sixth place with 17 points apiece.
Voting for the 11-member Preseason All-Patriot League Field Hockey Team, major awards and preseason poll was completed by Patriot League field hockey coaches and sports information directors, who cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., Forward, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia/The Armidale School
*Neilson led the Patriot League in goals (15, including 10 in League play, during her freshman campaign to earn First-Team All-Patriot League honors.
*She finished ninth in NCAA DI in goals per game (0.83) and 16th in points per game (1.72), tops among all Patriot League student-athletes.
*The Australia native was a five-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week and one-time offensive player of the week last season.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Sr., Defense, Den Bosch, Netherlands/Stedelijk Gymnasium Den Bosch
*Hefting, a 2021 First-Team All-Patriot League selection, finished with nine points on two goals and five assists while posting two defensive saves, tied for second place in the League.
*The Netherlands native anchored a Lafayette defense that limited opponents to 9.9 shots per game and 1.35 goals-against per game, the second-best mark in the League last season.
*Hefting is a four-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and two-time NFHCA Division I All-Mideast Region during her career.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., Goalkeeper, Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson
*Underwood was selected 2021 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year in addition to earning first-team All-League honors after leading the League in goals-against average (1.26) and save percentage (.794) while tying for the League lead in shutouts (4).
*She was named the Patriot League Championship MVP, allowing one goal in two games, to lead the Eagles to their 11th League title.
*The Sinking Spring, Pa. native received Second Team NFHCA DI All-Mideast Region. She was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year following the spring 2021 season.
Eight All-League Selections Highlight Preseason Squad
Hefting, Neilson and Underwood highlight a Preseason All-Patriot League squad that features eight returning All-League selections from last season. The three preseason major-award winners and Holy Cross senior midfielder Sinead Walsh and Lafayette sophomore midfielder Lineke Spaans were first-team honorees in 2021. Boston University senior midfielder Rachel Borzymowski and sophomore forward Payton Anderson, Lafayette senior forward Molly McAndrew and Lehigh senior midfielder Sarah Bonthuis were second-team selections last season.
Seven seniors were selected to the preseason squad, including, Bonthuis, Borzymowski, Hefting, McAndrew, Walsh, American senior defender Charllene Boshoff and Bucknell senior forward Mackenzie Kile. Sophomores Anderson, Neilson and Spaans and junior Underwood round out the team.
Lafayette’s Hefting and McAndrew are the lone multi-year All-League honorees to make the 2022 preseason team. McAndrew was a first-team selection in 2018 and 2019 before making the second team last season. Hefting was a first-team honoree last year and second-team selection following the 2021 spring season.
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. American (9 first-place votes), 69 points
2. Lafayette (5), 65
3. Bucknell, 44
4. Lehigh, 42
5. Boston University, 40
T6. Colgate, 17
T6. Holy Cross, 17
2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., F
Defensive Player of the Year – Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., GK
2022 Preseason All-Patriot League Field Hockey Team
Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., GK
Charllene Boshoff, American, Sr., D
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, Sr., M
Payton Anderson, Boston University, So., F
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., F
Mackenzie Kile, Bucknell, Sr., F
Sinead Walsh, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, So., M
Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Sr., D
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, Sr., F
Sarah Bonthuis, Lehigh, Sr., M
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.