STOCKTON, Calif. — Headlined by Paula Heuser becoming the first student-athlete in conference history to win the same major award all four years of their career, Albany took home three of the six major awards as the 2016 America East Field Hockey All-Conference teams and major award winners were announced Wednesday at the league’s annual awards banquet. Student-athletes from Pacific and Stanford also earned major honors. The awards, along with the all-conference teams, were determined in a vote by the league’s nine head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Heuser, the Midfielder of the Year, was joined as a major award winner by teammate Maxi Primus, the Goalkeeper of the Year, and her coaching staff, led by head coach, Phil Sykes, which earned Coaching Staff of the Year recognition. Pacific’s Marguerite van Wyk was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year, while Stanford’s Caroline Beaudoin earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and Kelsey Bing was named Rookie of the Year.
Coaching Staff of the Year
University at Albany – Head Coach, Phil Sykes
- Albany won 13 regular-season games, including nine of their last 10.
- The Great Danes captured its second-straight Eastern Division title and enter the conference championship as the 17th-ranked team in the nation.
- This is the fourth-ever Coaching Staff of the Year honor for Sykes and his staff.
- Sykes is assisted by Andy Thornton and Michelle Simpson.
Rookie of the Year
Kelsey Bing, Fr., Goalkeeper, Stanford
- The first Stanford student-athlete to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
- Leads the league in shutouts (4), ranks second in goals against average (1.15 GAA) and third in save percentage (.740).
- Also named the West Division All-Conference goalkeeper and was an All-Rookie selection.
Goalkeeper of the Year
Maxi Primus, Sr., Goalkeeper, Albany
- Just the second player in conference history to be named Goalkeeper of the Year twice as she also won the award in 2014.
- Leads the league with a 1.11 goals against average and a .761 save percentage.
- Also named the East Division All-Conference goalkeeper.
Defensive Player of the Year
Caroline Beaudoin, Sr., Back, Stanford
- Leads a Cardinal defense that has allowed a league-low 20 goals this season and ranks second with a 1.17 team goals against average.
- Helped Stanford shut out five opponents this season.
- Also a West Division All-Conference and All-Academic choice.
Midfielder of the Year
Paula Heuser, Sr., Midfielder, Albany
- Is the first field hockey player in America East history to win the same major award all four years of her career and the first America East student-athlete in any sport to accomplish the feat.
- The four-time All-Conference selection ranks second in the league with 44 points and 16 goals.
- Was a two-time Offensive Player of the Week this season.
- Will conclude her career as America East’s all-time leading scorer.
Offensive Player of the Year
Marguerite van Wyk, So, Forward, Pacific
- Leads the league and fourth in the nation with 50 points.
- Tops in the conference and tied for fifth in the country with 19 goals.
- Also an America East West Division All-Conference and All-Rookie selection.
- Earned Offensive Player of the Week honors once and Rookie of the Week recognition three times.
Twenty-eight players earned All-Conference recognition while 16 were All-Rookie choices and 13 garnered All-Academic recognition. View a complete list of All-Conference, All-Rookie & All-Academic selections.
The 2016 America East Field Hockey Championship takes place Thursday-Sunday at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. For more information on the 2016 America East Championship, visit the Championship Central page at www.AmericaEast.com.
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