BOSTON – The top three teams in the conference claimed all six major awards, led by top seed UMass Lowell with three, and five different programs had at least one first-team All-Conference selection as the 2023 America East Field Hockey All-Conference awards were released on Wednesday afternoon.
Eight different programs had at least two All-Conference honorees, led by New Hampshire and UAlbany with four apiece. Following UMass Lowell’s first regular-season title, Alissia de Vries was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year, Marie Oliemans was honored as Rookie of the Year and UMass Lowell took home Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
UAlbany’s Alison Smisdom repeated as Midfielder of the Year, while New Hampshire’s Tasmin Cookman was honored as Offensive Player of the Year. Fellow Wildcat Jemma Woods earned Goalkeeper of the Year recognition.
The major awards, All-Conference and All-Rookie teams were determined in a vote by the league's head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players. The All-Academic team was voted on by a committee of administrators from the conference’s member institutions.
Every member of the All-Conference first team and all five major award winners will be competing in the #AEFH Tournament, hosted by UMass Lowell, which begins with quarterfinal action on Thursday at 12 p.m. as No. 4 Cal faces No. 5 Vermont. No. 3 New Hampshire battles No. 6 Maine in the second games of the day at 3 p.m.
COMPLETE AWARDS LISTING
2023 #AEFH Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year
Tasmin Cookman, So., New Hampshire
- Tied for the league lead in points (41) and first overall in goals (18).
- Has five multi-goal games this season and ranks 4th nationally in total goals.
- First Wildcat since 2011 to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Midfielder of the Year
Alison Smisdom, Jr. UAlbany
- Tied for the league lead in points (41) and second in goals (17).
- Helped UAlbany earn share of regular season title for first time since 2018.
- Repeat selection as Midfielder of the Year after winning the award in 2022.
Defender of the Year
Alissia de Vries, Sr., UMass Lowell
- Registered five goals and two assists on the season while starting all 17 games.
- Anchored a defense which has only given up more than one goal four times and only allowed seven goals in eight conference games.
- First player in program history to be named Defender of the Year.
Goalkeeper of the Year
Jemma Woods, Gr., New Hampshire
- Among qualifying goalkeepers, ranks first in save percentage (.710) and shutouts (3).
- Leads the league in minutes played (1004:40 and second in total saves (76).
- First Wildcat to be named Goalkeeper of the Year since 2013 and just the second overall.
Rookie of the Year
Marie Oliemans, Fr. UMass Lowell
- Appeared in 13 games as a goalkeeper with a 7-1 record, 0.53 GAA and .879 save percentage.
- Has one shutout and four combined shutouts while splitting goalkeeping duties.
- First player in program history to be honored as Rookie of the Year.
Coaching Staff of the Year
UMass Lowell
- Led program to first-ever regular season championship and No. 1 seed.
- Helped the team rank second in the league in scoring (3.2 goals per game) and first in scoring defense (1.19 goals per game).
- Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc is assisted by associate head coach Taylor O’Regan and assistant Caitlin Little.
New Hampshire led all schools with four first-team all-conference selections, while Maine had a league-best three on the second team.
Oliemans and Star Horlock of Stanford led an impressive 11-member All-Rookie Team.
Six members of the All-Academic Team have also been named All-Conference during their careers, highlighted by Defender of the Year Alissia de Vries and Midfielder of the Year Alison Smisdom.
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