Wyman and Nugent Highlight Field Hockey Weekly Awards
MAC Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Week
Lexie Nugent, Miami
Forward/Midfielder, Sophomore, Schwenksville, Pa. (Spring-Ford)
Nugent scored crucial insurance goals for the RedHawks in both their victories over the weekend. She notched Miami's third goal in the contest against Pacific to give the RedHawks an extra cushion. In the game against UC Davis, the sophomore scored Miami's second goal five minutes after the RedHawks took the lead to push the Red & White to a two-goal lead.
MAC Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Wyman, Longwood
GK, Junior, Redshirt Junior
Wyman stood tall against nationally-ranked Virginia, racking up a career-high 12 saves as Longwood held the Cavaliers to their lowest home scoring total against an unranked opponent since 2016. She faced an onslaught of 15 shots on goal but turned away 12 of those to sink her goals against average to 1.50 and increase her save percentage to .864. Wyman has now surrendered just three goals in Longwood's first two games.
Other Offensive Nominees
Karynne Baker, Ohio
Forward, Junior, Falls Church, Va. / McLean
Ohio opened their home campaign this past weekend. Junior forward Karynne Baker lead the charge against Saint Louis with goals at the start of the first and second half. Baker's two goals helped the Bobcats reach a 3-0 lead in the second half. Baker would also throw in an assist to help teammate Jillian Shive score the final goal of the game and finish out 4-1 over the Billikens.
Courtney Weise, Kent State
Forward, Senior, Oley, Pa./Oley Valley High School
Senior forward Courtney Weise has been a pivotal player for the Kent State offense, tallying the game-winning goal in the Flashes' 1-0 victory over Saint Louis. Weise gathered a pass from outside the shooting circle and skipped the ball past the SLU goalkeeper in the 3rd minute of play to give Kent State the 1-0 lead that remained through regulation. The Oley, Pa. native was instrumental against No. 23 Liberty, pressing the Flames and creating key turnovers in the contest.
Chloe Bell, Appalachian State
Forward/Midfield, Sophomore, Amaroo, Australia (Amaroo School)
Bell was a pivotal factor in Appalachian's two victories this weekend. In Friday's game against LIU Brooklyn, the Amaroo, Australia, native totaled four points, including a goal and a pair of assists. Bell served as the setter for almost all of Appalachian's 15 penalty corners this weekend, where the Mountaineers cashed in for five goals between two matches. On Sunday, Bell recorded two assists. Her two assists helped the Black and Gold knot the game at 3-3 before Appalachian knocked off Rider in overtime 4-3. With her help, Appalachian secured a weekend sweep at home for the first time since October 2015.
Other Defensive Nominees
Maddie Passarella, Miami
Goalkeeper, Senior, Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty)
Passarella was solid all weekend long as the RedHawks put together a 2-1 weekend, allowing only two goals in three games. While she was not called upon much, Passarella was up to the challenge when needed, making crucial saves in all three games. In the contest against Pacific, she made a save on a breakaway to preserve the 2-1 lead and again on a corner to keep the RedHawks in front. Against UC Davis, again Passarella made the save on the Aggies' only shot on goal to earn a clean sheet. In the game against Cal, after Passarella made the save on an early corner opportunity, she wasn't called upon again until she made the initial two saves on a breakaway before Berkeley scored on a second rebound for the victory. Passarella did not allow a goal from a short corner all weekend.
Clara Rodriguez Setó , Kent State
Back, Sophomore, Barcelona, Spain/Agora Sant Cugat
Sophomore Clara Rodriguez Setó continued to be instrumental to a consistent Kent State defense, and provided a spark of offense for the Flashes. Against No. 23 Liberty, the Barcelona, Spain native tallied the Flashes' lone goal of the contest (her third of the season), scoring on a penalty corner that she also inserted. With the aid of Rodriguez Setó's play, the Flames were held to a season-low 2 goals in the contest. In Kent State's victory over Saint Louis, Rodriguez Setó and the Kent State defense shut out the Monarchs and allowed just 6 shots on the day.
Veerle Van Heertum, Appalachian State
Midfield, Sophomore, Valkenswaard, The Netherlands (SG Weredi)
Van Heertum served as an integral part of Appalachian's back four this weekend. The sophomore also was deadly on penalty corners, scoring a goal in each game off of a penalty corner. On Friday, Van Heertum's goal on a penalty corner at the end of the first half completely changed the moment. Her strike moved Appalachian's lead to 3-1, where the Black and Gold then piled on early in the second half, scoring three goals to stretch the lead to 6-1. In Sunday's win against Rider, the former SG Weredi player scored the game-tying goal with less than three minutes remaining to send the game to overtime. Van Heertum finished with two goals, an assist, seven shots and three shots on target this weekend.
