University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Blue Hens Quartet Earn NFHCA All-Region Honors
11/25/2019 5:05:00 PM | Field Hockey
RICHMOND, Va. – For the third straight season, Delaware had four Blue Hens represented as Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Mid Atlantic honorees, as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Monday.
Junior Femke Strien and freshman Ashlyn Carr earned First Team honors while juniors Sophie Giezeman and Emily Kresho were named to the Second Team. All received Regional honors for the first time in their careers.
"Congratulations to our four Blue Hens for being recognized by the NFHCA," stated Delaware head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "Throughout the season they earned the respect of their teammates and coaches for their performance and team play; we are proud that the NFHCA acknowledges their contributions to our team."
The 2019 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, Strien finished the year fourth in Delaware single-season history with 45 points (17g, 11a). In what was a career-best season, the forward ranked seventh nationally with 2.25 points per game and 10th with 0.85 goals per. A four-time CAA Player of the Week, Strien was the lone conference player to earn the honor more than once this season.
"Femke had a one-of-a-kind season that was all triggered by position change from a defender to a forward, from stopping the opponent and ball to eliminating opponents and scoring goals," Van de Kerkhof commented. "She has done an outstanding job all season and lead her team on attack while others were out with injuries. Not only has she improved her performance on the offensive line at both sides of the ball, she has further grown in her leadership and communication so her senior season could become her and this team's best while being a Blue Hen."
Carr, a two-time CAA Rookie of the Week, wrapped the year second for the Hens with 21 points on nine goals and three assists. She has also added three game-winning goals in her first season in a Delaware uniform.
"Kudos to Ashlyn for her First Team selection as a true freshman," remarked Van de Kerkhof. "Her outstanding performance this season was no surprise as she entered the year as a back-to-back State of Delaware High School Player of the Year and she continued to showcase her talents and passion for the sport as a Blue Hen. She could be one of the best in-state players Delaware has ever welcomed and as a coaching staff we are excited to working with her in the years to come!"
Kresho started all 20 games as center back for the Blue Hens this season. She headed a defensive unit that ranked first in the CAA in scoring margin (1.45; ninth NCAA), shutouts (0.35; 11th NCAA) and GAA (1.30; 15th NCAA).
"Not many people would have known Emily's success story as she has little to no stats speaking for her," Van de Kerkhof said. "It is not the stats that tell us her story but her overall performance as an outstanding center back for this team. She was 'the lock on the door' and did a phenomenal job playing individual defense, directing defense, being key on our defensive corner unit as well as a member of the Team Council. A player that took it on herself to develop her understanding and abilities during the two plus years and being a small name coming into college field hockey has become a player any defensive unit want to call one of them."
A first-year member of the Blue Hens, Giezeman finished fourth on the team with 17 points off six goals and five assists. She has also tallied two game-winning goals and has been the inserter on 56 penalty corners.
"Sophie continues to work like no other and shares her passion and knowledge with her teammates daily," commented Van de Kerkhof. "In her first season with the Blue Hens as a transfer and captain; she took the lead on the screen positions and helped build the attack out of the back and set up our press. She also took pride in representing her teammates as a member of the Team Council. Now that she has experienced Delaware hockey for a season, we are looking to her for more good stuff to come from her as a go-to player and leader on this team in 2020."
The Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region team announcement is the first in a list of postseason awards to come from the NFHCA over the next several weeks. Next to be announced are the First Point USA/NFHCA Regional Player of the Year awards (December 5) — they will be followed by the Longstreth/NFHCA All-American Teams (December 10) and the First Point USA/NFHCA National Player of the Year (December 16).
Follow Delaware Field Hockey on Twitter at @DelawareFH, on Instagram at @Delaware_FH and on Facebook at Delaware Field Hockey.
Junior Femke Strien and freshman Ashlyn Carr earned First Team honors while juniors Sophie Giezeman and Emily Kresho were named to the Second Team. All received Regional honors for the first time in their careers.
"Congratulations to our four Blue Hens for being recognized by the NFHCA," stated Delaware head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "Throughout the season they earned the respect of their teammates and coaches for their performance and team play; we are proud that the NFHCA acknowledges their contributions to our team."
The 2019 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, Strien finished the year fourth in Delaware single-season history with 45 points (17g, 11a). In what was a career-best season, the forward ranked seventh nationally with 2.25 points per game and 10th with 0.85 goals per. A four-time CAA Player of the Week, Strien was the lone conference player to earn the honor more than once this season.
"Femke had a one-of-a-kind season that was all triggered by position change from a defender to a forward, from stopping the opponent and ball to eliminating opponents and scoring goals," Van de Kerkhof commented. "She has done an outstanding job all season and lead her team on attack while others were out with injuries. Not only has she improved her performance on the offensive line at both sides of the ball, she has further grown in her leadership and communication so her senior season could become her and this team's best while being a Blue Hen."
Carr, a two-time CAA Rookie of the Week, wrapped the year second for the Hens with 21 points on nine goals and three assists. She has also added three game-winning goals in her first season in a Delaware uniform.
"Kudos to Ashlyn for her First Team selection as a true freshman," remarked Van de Kerkhof. "Her outstanding performance this season was no surprise as she entered the year as a back-to-back State of Delaware High School Player of the Year and she continued to showcase her talents and passion for the sport as a Blue Hen. She could be one of the best in-state players Delaware has ever welcomed and as a coaching staff we are excited to working with her in the years to come!"
Kresho started all 20 games as center back for the Blue Hens this season. She headed a defensive unit that ranked first in the CAA in scoring margin (1.45; ninth NCAA), shutouts (0.35; 11th NCAA) and GAA (1.30; 15th NCAA).
"Not many people would have known Emily's success story as she has little to no stats speaking for her," Van de Kerkhof said. "It is not the stats that tell us her story but her overall performance as an outstanding center back for this team. She was 'the lock on the door' and did a phenomenal job playing individual defense, directing defense, being key on our defensive corner unit as well as a member of the Team Council. A player that took it on herself to develop her understanding and abilities during the two plus years and being a small name coming into college field hockey has become a player any defensive unit want to call one of them."
A first-year member of the Blue Hens, Giezeman finished fourth on the team with 17 points off six goals and five assists. She has also tallied two game-winning goals and has been the inserter on 56 penalty corners.
"Sophie continues to work like no other and shares her passion and knowledge with her teammates daily," commented Van de Kerkhof. "In her first season with the Blue Hens as a transfer and captain; she took the lead on the screen positions and helped build the attack out of the back and set up our press. She also took pride in representing her teammates as a member of the Team Council. Now that she has experienced Delaware hockey for a season, we are looking to her for more good stuff to come from her as a go-to player and leader on this team in 2020."
The Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region team announcement is the first in a list of postseason awards to come from the NFHCA over the next several weeks. Next to be announced are the First Point USA/NFHCA Regional Player of the Year awards (December 5) — they will be followed by the Longstreth/NFHCA All-American Teams (December 10) and the First Point USA/NFHCA National Player of the Year (December 16).
Follow Delaware Field Hockey on Twitter at @DelawareFH, on Instagram at @Delaware_FH and on Facebook at Delaware Field Hockey.
Players Mentioned
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