2015 Field Hockey Major Awards Announced
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2015 field hockey major award winners and All-MAAC teams, voted by the leagues 7 head coaches.
Headlining the major award winners is Fairfield University’s Julie de Paeuw, who was selected as the MAAC Player of the Year, while her teammate, Ann Burgoyne, received MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Honors.
In addition, Monmouth University’s Casey Hanna received the MAAC Defensive Player of the year honor, Fairfield’s Ruth Smalbraak received MAAC Rookie of the Year, and Monmouth’s Christen Piersanti and Siena College’s Mary Drabich earned Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. The Quinninpiac Bobcats head coach Becca Main was chosen as the MAAC Coach of the Year.
A Belgium native, de Paeuw, earned a spot on the All-MAAC First team and was amongst the team leaders in several statistical categories including shots, goals, and points. The junior forward helped the Fairfield Stags clinch the number four seed in the tournament in the team’s inaugural season in the MAAC. The MAAC Player of the Year had 13 points, scoring 5 goals, including 3 game winning goals, and dished out 3 assists this season.
Burgoyne, a junior from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, led the MAAC in points with 35, and in goals, 17, and was one of the top statistical leaders on her team in several categories including shots, goals, and points earning her a spot on the All-MAAC First Team. She earned spots in the MAAC record book, in most goals posted (17) and points per game (2.19). In addition Burgoyne becomes third all-time leader in goals per game with 1.06.
Hanna, a junior from Seaville, NJ, earned her second consecutive MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honor after winning the award in 2014. The All-MAAC First Team member, ranks 13th nationally in defensive saves with 4 this season. She leads one of the top defensives team in the NCAA with Monmouth ranking 5th in defensive saves The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, earned three defensive MAAC player of the week awards.
Smalbraak, a freshman from Holland, registered 15 total points during the regular season and 11 in conference play, which ranked 2nd in the MAAC. This earned her a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team. She also ranked 2nd in points per game with 1.83 during MAAC action. The MAAC Rookie of the Year earned one rookie of the week award.
Piersanti, a sophomore from Bridgewater, NJ, led the league in save percentage with a .759 percentage during conference play. Her 80 overall saves ranked 6th in the MAAC. Piersanti had one shutout game this season. The MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year earned one defensive player of the week honor.
Drabich, a senior from Alexandria Township, NJ, led the league in total saves with 41, averaging 6.38 saves per game during conference play. She was 2nd in the MAAC in save percentage with a .719 percentage during conference play and the MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year was third in overall saves this season with 99.
First Team All-MAAC selections include, Fairfield’s Ann Burgoyne, Monmouth’s Meg Donahue, and Rider’s Ally Baligian at forward. At midfield Fairfield’s Julie de Paeuw, Monmouth’s Cori Allen and Alyssa Erolino, and Quinnipiac’s Meghan McCullough. The defense features Monmouth’s Casey Hanna, Quinnipiac’s Megan Osanitsch, Rider’s Melyssa Alonso and Carlota Alsina, and Sacred Heart’s Rachel Claroni. Monmouth’s Christen Piersanti is the goalkeeper.
All-MAAC First Team
Forward
Ann Burgoyne, Fairfield
Meg Donahue, Monmouth
Ally Baligian, Rider
Midfield
Julie de Paeuw, Fairfield
Cori Allen, Monmouth
Alyssa Ercolino, Monmouth
Meghan McCullough, Quinnipiac
Defender
Casey Hanna, Monmouth
Megan Osanitsch, Quinnipiac
Melyssa Alonso, Rider
Carlota Alsina, Rider
Rachel Claroni, Sacred Heart
Goalkeeper
Christen Piersanti, Monmouth
All-MAAC Second Team
Forward
Victoria Danby, Bryant
Ruth Smalbraak, Fairfield
Carlie Spaeder, Rider
Midfield
Erin Karcher, Bryant
Jessica Randazzo, Rider
Nichole Tolli, Sacred Heart
Defender
Erin Buckley, Fairfield
Maclaine Matties, Fairfield
Sydney Southard, Monmouth
Angie King, Quinnipiac
Kate Gillespie, Siena
Goalkeeper
Mary Drabich, Siena
Major Award Winners
Player of the Year
Julie de Paeuw, Fairfield
Offensive Player of the Year
Ann Burgoyne, Fairfield
Defensive Player of the Year
Casey Hanna, Monmouth
Co-Goalkeepers of the Year
Christen Piersanti, Monmouth
Mary Drabich, Siena
Rookie of the Year
Ruth Smalbraak, Fairfield
Coach of the Year
Becca Main, Quinnipiac