Heras and Apelt Named Field Hockey Players of the Week
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Mariona Heras, Miami
back/midfielder, R-Senior, Terrassa, Catalonia (IES Terrassa)
For the third consecutive week, Mariona Heras led a defense that led the league in shots allowed, shots on goal allowed, and corners allowed. One week after limiting opponents to four total shots and four total corners in two games, the RedHawks held MAC-rival Central Michigan to three total shots, none of which were on goal, and only three penalty corners in the contest this week. At the other end of the field, Heras led all scorers with two goals, including the game-winning goal. Over the course of the last five games, Heras' defense has surrendered only 22 total shots, with only eight on cage, and a total of 16 corners.
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Jessica Apelt, Kent State
Forward, Senior, Hilliard, Ohio (Hilliard Darby)
The senior out of Hilliard, Ohio exploded offensively against Longwood, notching 2 goals and one assist on the day. Apelt scored the first goal of the day to give the Flashes a 1-0 lead in the first half off a long pass from outside the shooting circle. She followed with the Flashes’ second goal to regain the lead, 2-1 in the second half collecting the ball in front of the net following a penalty corner, and skipping it past the Longwood goalie. Apelt continued to shine offensively in extra time as she picked up the assist on the game-winning goal in the 86th minute of play. On the season, she has notched 4 goals, totaling 9 points and 599 minutes.
Other Nominees
Clara Rodriguez Setó, Kent State
Back, Sophomore, Barcelona, Spain (Agora Sant Cugat)
A steady defensive leader for Kent State, Clara Rodriguez Seto helped hold Longwood to just 8 shots on goal in the contest. Instrumental to the Kent State defense, the Barcelona, Spain native created key turnovers and defensive plays and has consistently delivered as the inserter on penalty corners. On the season, the back has tallied 5 goals, 4 assists, and 2 defensive saves in her 873 minutes of play.
Grace Chavez, Ball State
Goalkeeper, Sophomore, Norfolk, Va. (Matthew Fontaine)
Chavez tallied 25 saves for the week, including nine and a penalty stroke, against the nation's top field hockey team North Carolina on Sunday afternoon. She began the week with eight saves against UC Davis helping the Cardinals to their first overtime contest of the season. Chavez then helped the Cardinals earn their first victory on Friday afternoon in MAC action after defeating Appalachian State 1-0 in overtime. For the week, Chavez registered 22 saves and played the entire 224:17 minutes of action, including two overtime games. She has totaled 77 saves so far this season.
Brenna Schoenbachler, Appalachian State
Midfielder, Freshman, Louisville, Kentucky (Mercy)
Schoenbachler played over 140 minutes this week for the Mountaineers. The freshman made her biggest impact in the first half against Ball State on Friday, batting a ball out of the air to record her second defensive save of the season. Schoenbachler's two defensive saves rank second on the team just behind Annette Jarosz, who won this honor a few weeks ago.
Leonor Berlie, Miami
Midfielder, Sophomore, Geneva, Switzerland (College De Candolle)
Leo Berlie was a part of four of the Miami goals this weekend, assisting on a pair of goals and starting sequences that led to two others en route to a 5-0 win against Central Michigan. In Miami's first goal, her shot was saved out to teammate Noor Breedijk, who then sent the ball to Mariona Heras for Miami's first goal. On the second goal, Leo earned the corner for Miami that was scored by Paula Portugal. Berlie assisted the third goal after an interception in the 25 and sent the ball to Lexie Nugent for the goal. Berlie assisted on the fifth goal as well, picking up a loose ball and sending it to Gabby Luxardo for the final goal of the game.
Olivia Wawrzyniak, Longwood
Forward, Junior, Hilliard, Ohio (Hilliard Bradley)
Wawrzyniak came through in the clutch again, punching in the game-tying goal in the closing minutes of regulation to send Longwood into overtime against MAC dynasty Kent State Sunday. With Longwood trailing 2-1 and just 4:22 left on the clock, Longwood's leading goal-scorer finished off a penalty corner with a strike from just inside the arc to tie the game at 2-2. The Lancers went on to take the Golden Flashes into double-overtime, falling in the closing minutes of the second extra period, 3-2. Wawrzyniak now leads Longwood with seven goals of the season, three of which have been game-winners.
Anna Smarrelli, Appalachian State
Midfield, Freshman, Mt. Airy, Maryland
Smarrelli was one of Appalachian's most productive players on the field in Friday's overtime loss to Ball State. The freshman recorded one shot and one shot on target. She also created many opportunities for teammates with her work in the midfield. Smarrelli totaled 101 minutes of game action between the two contests.
