Miami Sweeps Weekly Field Hockey Honors
Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week
Kendall Hunker, Miami
Back, Senior, Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty)
Kendall Hunker played a significant role in Miami's MAC victory this weekend as the RedHawks notched their fourth consecutive shutout in conference play with a 4-0 victory on the road. Hunker's presence limited Longwood to 10 shots, of which only five made it on cage, and four short corners. In addition, Hunker broke up numerous entries into the 25. Over the weekend, the RedHawks posted a 1.00 GAA that was best in the conference and gave up a conference-best 4.00 corners per game and 6.00 shots on goal/game.
Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week
Paula Portugal, Miami
Midfielder/Forward, Senior, Madrid, Spain (IES Diego Velazquez)
Paula Portugal led the RedHawks to a MAC victory, scoring twice in a 4-0 road victory for Miami. Portugal, who led the conference in scoring this week, also drew multiple corners for the RedHawks in the two games, giving Miami valuable minutes of possession and creating many offensive chances.
Other nominees
Courtney Weise, Kent State
Midfield/Forward, Senior, Oley, PA (Oley Valley)
The senior out of Oley, Pa. was instrumental to the Kent State defense and provided a spark of offense against Central Michigan, notching her second goal of the season and recording an assist on the day. In the 10th minute of play, Weise gained possession of the ball on the left corner of the net and fired a pass that led to the first goal of the game. In addition to providing key defensive turnovers in the midfield, in the 54th minute, Weise added to the offensive action, netting a goal to extend the Kent State lead.
Annette Jarosz, Appalachian State
Midfielder, Sophomore, Elkridge, Maryland (Howard)
Jarosz has been a force all season for the Mountaineers. On Sunday against No. 16 Wake Forest, Jarosz notched her fourth defensive save of the season. The sophomore came into the weekend leading the conference in the category with three. Jarosz played all 146 minutes between two games this weekend. Her play on the back line has been a constant part of the Mountaineers' defense.
Rachel Pereira, Ball State
B/MF, Redshirt Sophomore, Howick, South Africa
Ball State field hockey redshirt sophomore Rachel Pereira hit the game-winning goal in double overtime to push the Cardinals past Ohio University by a score of 3-2 Friday afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex. Pereira netted the game-winning goal 5:47 into the doubles overtime frame after aggressively attacking the circle. The goal was Pereira's third of the season. Pereira also registered an assist on the day. She helped Ball State improve to 2-1 in Mid-American Conference action.
Hailie Balachick, Kent State
Forward, Sophomore, Binghamton, NY (Windsor Central)
Sophomore Hailie Balachick exploded offensively for the Flashes against Central Michigan, netting two goals on the day. The Binghamton, New York native came up with the first goal of the contest in the 10th minute to start off Kent State's attack, collecting a pass in front of the cage and firing a shot past the Central Michigan goalkeeper. She added her second goal (her third of the season) in the 47th minute, unassisted to extend the Kent State lead.
Veerle Van Heertum, Appalachian State
Midfielder, Sophomore, Valkenswaard, Netherlands (SG Weredi)
Van Heertum put together one of her best weekends of the year with a total of five points, netting two goals and recording an assist. The sophomore's goal Friday against Saint Francis brought the Mountaineers level in the second half. Van Heertum made a clever move before rifling a shot from the top left corner of the circle into the back of the net. Her head coach, Meghan Dawson, said Van Heertum's game has improved from last season. Dawson said the sophomore couldn't have scored a goal like that one as a freshman. Van Heertum finished with a game-high eight shots, four of which were on target against the Red Flash. The midfielder followed up her performance with a goal and an assist against No. 16 Wake Forest. Van Heertum assisted Friederike Stegen's goal right before the end of the game. The sophomore now leads the team in points (15), goals (six), shots (37) and shots on goal (16).
