2015 MAC Field Hockey Postseason Awards Announced
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday its postseason award-winners for the 2015 field hockey season. Head coaches in the league select members for the All-MAC First and Second Teams, along with a Freshman, Player and Coach of the Year.
Miami’s senior Bea Dechant highlights the list earning first-team honors for the fourth straight season and being named the 2015 MAC Player of the Year. Dechant started in all 18 games for the RedHawks. In conference play, she leads the MAC in shots (35), points (14), and assists (4).
Joining Dechant on first-team is her teammate, Paula Portugal, who also was selected as MAC Freshman of the Year. Portugal, a midfielder from Madrid, Spain started all 18 games for Miami. Throughout the season, she caged 10 goals, two of which were game winners.
The league’s head coaches voted Kathleen Wiler of Kent State and Inako Puzo of Miami as Co-Coaches of the Year. The Golden Flashes and the RedHawks captured a share of the regular season MAC title, posting 5-1 conference records and respectively earning the 1 & 2 seeds in the championship.
Miami’s Carla Romagosa, Mariona Heras, and goalkeeper Alysa Xavier joining their teammates on first team All-MAC. Earning honors for the second year in a row are Longwood’s Jennifer Burris and Ohio’s Adele Sammons. Kent State’s Ines Delpech and Madison Thompson, along with Longwood’s Edel Nyland, Missouri State’s Liz Young, and Ohio’s Maria Russell round out the first team.
Regular season co-champs, Kent State placed three ladies on second team, in Alison Harmatz, Alayna Harris, and goalkeeper Andrea Rinehart. Ohio claimed two spots with Clarissa Leickly and Kendall Ballard. Missouri State also grabbed two honors with Charlie Redhead and Patrice Ahl. Lexi Kavanaugh of Ball State, Kaysie Gregory of Central Michigan, Longwood’s Lil-Sophie Achterwinter, and Miami's Caroline Pritchard complete the All-MAC second team.
The 2015 MAC Field Hockey Championship will be streamed live online. The tournament begins Friday as No. 1 Kent State takes on No. 4 Ohio at 11:30 am. Following is No. 2 Miami and No. 3 Missouri State at 2:00 pm. The MAC Championship game is set for Saturday, November 7th at 2 pm. Visit the championship
website for live stream links and more.
Freshman of the Year: Paula Portugal, Miami
Player of the Year: Bea Dechant, Miami
Co-Coaches of the Year: Kathleen Wiler, Kent State & Inako Puzo, Miami
2015 All-MAC First Team
Ines Delpech, Sophomore, Kent State
Madison Thompson, Junior, Kent State
Edel Nyland, Sophomore, Longwood
Jennifer Burris, Senior, Longwood
Alysa Xavier, Junior, Miami
Bea Dechant, Senior, Miami
Carla Romagosa, Junior, Miami
Paula Portugal, Freshman, Miami
Mariona Heras, Sophomore, Miami
Liz Young, Junior, Missouri State
Adele Sammons, Senior, Ohio
Maria Russell, Sophomore, Ohio
All-MAC Second Team
Lexi Kavanaugh, Junior, Ball State
Kaysie Gregory, Senior, Central Michigan
Alayna Harris, Senior, Kent State
Alison Harmatz, RS Sophomore, Kent State
Andrea Rinehart, Junior, Kent State
Lil-Sophie Achterwinter, Sophomore, Longwood
Caroline Pritchard, Junior, Miami
Charlie Redhead, Senior, Missouri State
Patrice Ahl, Senior, Missouri State
Clarissa Leickly, Senior, Ohio
Kendall Ballard, Freshman, Ohio
