Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced on Thursday the 2022 postseason field hockey award-winners. All eight field hockey coaches in the league voted for members of the All-MAC First Team, Second Team, and All-MAC Freshman Team, as well as a Freshman, Offensive Player, Defensive Player, Goalkeeper, and Coach of the Year.
Ohio's Mijntje Ligtenberg and Kent State's Patricia Strunk garnered MAC Co-Freshman of the Year honors. Ligtenberg played and started all 16 games for the Bobcats this season. Ligtenberg lead Ohio with eight assists and was tied for first with seven goals. Ligtenberg also lead Ohio in total points with 22, while recording 57 shots, with 26 on goal. She also registered four game-winning goals for Ohio. Ligtenberg’s first career goal came in game one in a victory over Cal to open the season and followed that up by scoring in her first three collegiate games. Ligtenberg recorded a three-point game against Queens on Sept. 18 and a five-point game on Sept. 23 at Longwood, where she had two goals and an assist in the victory. Ligtenberg also recorded at least one point in 11 of 16 games this season. She was also named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week once this season. Strunk was Kent State's Regular Season Champion; top offensive threat, leading the team with 17 points and ranking in the top-10 in the conference in goals (7) and shots on goal (29). In contests against MAC opponents, Strunk was tied for third overall, and first among freshmen with 6 goals. A starter in all 17 matches, she was tied for fourth in points and third in shots on goal in MAC play. Strunk has contributed at least one goal in five of seven MAC contests including the overtime winner at Ohio.
Kent State’s Maria Cambra Soler was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year for the Flashes. She served as the leader of Kent State’s defense that held six of seven MAC foes to fewer than 10 shots, including three opponents that managed just two shots on goal. Cambra Soler was tied for fourth in the conference with a pair of defensive saves. During league play, she ranked third in points (14) and tied for third in goals (6). Cambra Soler solidified the Kent State defense which finished the season 6-1 in conference and allowed MAC opponents to only 9 goals through seven games.
App State’s Friederike Stegen led the league in scoring in 2022, and helped in giving the Mountaineers their most successful season since 1981 guiding her to MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Stegen’s dynamic abilities have forced opposing defenses to strategize against her all season. Yet, she scored against both of the top two teams in the MAC this year and assisted the crucial double-overtime goal against Ball State to keep the Mountaineers in the race for a tournament seed. The Germany native also had four assists in one game, the second-most by anyone in the nation this season. Against an impressive Rider team, Stegen proved her skill by dribbling through defenders to score the game-winner in double-overtime. Finally, the midfielder is ranked ninth or better in the MAC in every offensive category.
Miami's Isabelle Perese earned MAC Goalkeeper of the Year. Perese not only lead the MAC in goals-against average (1.04) and save percentage (.817), but also she ranked in the top-five nationally in both categories, while facing a schedule In MAC play alone, she posted a GAA of .682 and a save percentage of .815. A MAC Defensive Player of the Week and an Honorable Mention National Player of the Week, Perese set the Miami record this year with her 20th career shutout, one of the four she earned this season. Overall, she has helped Miami post a league-leading six shutouts, including a conference-best three in MAC play.
With their most successful season since 1981, including heading into MAC tournament play on a nine game win-streak, App State's Meghan Dawson was named MAC Coach of the Year.
All-MAC First Team
Friederike Stegen, App State
Anna Smarrelli, App State
Fleur Knopert, Ball State
Amber Hofenk Jerembo, Bellarmine
Patricia Strunk, Kent State
Maria Cambra Soler, Kent State
Luli Rosso, Miami
Claudia Garcia Negrete, Miami
Macy McHale, Miami
Mijntje Ligtenberg, Ohio
GK: Isabelle Perese, Miami
All-MAC Second Team
Pauline Mangold, App State
Sarah Farrell, App State
Kate Biglin, Central Michigan
Alice O’Hagan, Central Michigan
Maia Sarrabayrouse, Kent State
Iris Bekker, Kent State
Maroussia Walckiers, Longwood
Paula Navarro, Miami
Paula Pena Martinez, Miami
Katelyn Whittle, Ohio
GK: Addie Clark, App State
All-MAC Freshman Team
Lise Boekaar, App State
Bridget Donovan, App State
Henriette Stegen, App State
Fleur Knoper, Ball State
Amelia Lane, Central Michigan
Patricia Strunk, Kent State
Iris Bekker, Kent State
Maia Sarabayrouse, Kent State
Paula Navarro, Miami
Mijntje Ligtenberg, Ohio
Anouk Plaehn, Ohio
Coach of the Year
Meghan Dawson, App State
Defensive Player of the Year
Maria Cambra Soler, Kent State
Offensive Player of the Year
Friederike Stegen, App State
Goalkeeper of the Year
Isabelle Perese, Miami
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Patricia Strunk, Kent State
Mijntje Ligtenberg, Ohio
