University of Delaware Athletics
Duffhuis, Strien Earn NFHCA All-American Nods
12/14/2021 4:16:00 PM | Field Hockey
BROCKPORT, N.Y. - Â Julia Duffhuis and Femke Strien of the Delaware field hockey team were named National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Americans, as announced by the organization on Tuesday.
Duffhuis, a sophomore, earned her first career All-American Second Team honor and was tabbed to the Synapse Sports Division I All-American Third Team Monday as well. The Bergeijk, The Netherlands native was tabbed to the NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, named CAA Defensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on the All-CAA First Team and was named CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.Â
"Congratulations to Julia for earning Second Team All-America honors as a sophomore," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "We – coaching staff and Julia – knew she had All-American potential but such an honor would have to be earned throughout the entire season.  A big compliment to her for making the commitment and allowing her performance to speak for itself! She knows she has gotten better and still has so much more potential to further improve her and her team's game. We are excited to see what the future holds for Julia as a University of Delaware field hockey student-athlete."
Duffhuis appeared in all 22 games for the Blue Hens, making 21 starts. She led the team in goals (13) and points (29). Her 0.59 goals per game average ranked 31st in NCAA Division I, while her 1.32 points per game average ranked 47th. She ranked third in the CAA in both points (29) and points per game. Duffhuis became the second player in Delaware history to be tabbed conference Defensive Player of the Year.
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"I would also like to congratulate coaches Morgan Bitting and Jordan McKee for spending hours with Julia – like they did with so many other players – improving her individual game during the fall. Julia's aerial and drag-flick became part of her signature skills and difference makers in our performance and game outcomes."
Fifth-year senior Strien was one of 11 student-athletes selected as an All-American for the third time in their career earning Third Team honors. She was named to the 2021 NFHCA Division I Senior Team, receiving her third Mid-Atlantic Region First Team nod and was named All-CAA First Team for the third time in her career this season. Strien earned NFHCA Division I All-American Second Team accolades in 2020 and First Team honors in 2019. She is also a four-time member of the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad.Â
"An amazing career ends with another and third straight All-American recognition for Femke. A well-deserved honor as she was a leader and go-to player for this team on and off the field this fall. Femke - like many other Blue Hen Field Hockey All-Americans - ended her stellar experience as a University of Delaware student-athlete being on a lower All-American Team her last season. It is not that she played a lesser role in this team winning another CAA Championship and advancing in the NCAA Tournament, on the contrary, she had a bigger role but choose to balance her leadership and performance by both serving her teammates and allowing them to play much better, or taking charge of the situation herself and take this team on her back. It is another quality this players group shows, which is they focus on the team first and at the end of the day don't really care for individual awards. I would like to thank Femke for all she has done for this program and her teachings and examples for others to follow and pursue."
The IJsselstein, The Netherlands native started in all 22 games for the Blue Hens. Her 0.50 assists per game average tied 25th in NCAA Division I. She tied first on the team with 11 assists and was second on the squad with 23 points. This season Strien scored six goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime against Fairfield (Nov. 10) in the NCAA Opening Round. Her three assists against William & Mary (Oct. 17) are tied for fourth all-time in program single-game records. Strien ranks seventh all-time with 107 career points, 13th all-time with 37 goals, tied for seventh with 10 game-winning goals and fourth all-time in assists with 33.
For the latest on the Delaware field hockey program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFH and Instagram @Delaware_FH and like "Delaware Field Hockey" on Facebook.
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Duffhuis, a sophomore, earned her first career All-American Second Team honor and was tabbed to the Synapse Sports Division I All-American Third Team Monday as well. The Bergeijk, The Netherlands native was tabbed to the NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, named CAA Defensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on the All-CAA First Team and was named CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.Â
"Congratulations to Julia for earning Second Team All-America honors as a sophomore," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "We – coaching staff and Julia – knew she had All-American potential but such an honor would have to be earned throughout the entire season.  A big compliment to her for making the commitment and allowing her performance to speak for itself! She knows she has gotten better and still has so much more potential to further improve her and her team's game. We are excited to see what the future holds for Julia as a University of Delaware field hockey student-athlete."
Duffhuis appeared in all 22 games for the Blue Hens, making 21 starts. She led the team in goals (13) and points (29). Her 0.59 goals per game average ranked 31st in NCAA Division I, while her 1.32 points per game average ranked 47th. She ranked third in the CAA in both points (29) and points per game. Duffhuis became the second player in Delaware history to be tabbed conference Defensive Player of the Year.
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"I would also like to congratulate coaches Morgan Bitting and Jordan McKee for spending hours with Julia – like they did with so many other players – improving her individual game during the fall. Julia's aerial and drag-flick became part of her signature skills and difference makers in our performance and game outcomes."
Fifth-year senior Strien was one of 11 student-athletes selected as an All-American for the third time in their career earning Third Team honors. She was named to the 2021 NFHCA Division I Senior Team, receiving her third Mid-Atlantic Region First Team nod and was named All-CAA First Team for the third time in her career this season. Strien earned NFHCA Division I All-American Second Team accolades in 2020 and First Team honors in 2019. She is also a four-time member of the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad.Â
"An amazing career ends with another and third straight All-American recognition for Femke. A well-deserved honor as she was a leader and go-to player for this team on and off the field this fall. Femke - like many other Blue Hen Field Hockey All-Americans - ended her stellar experience as a University of Delaware student-athlete being on a lower All-American Team her last season. It is not that she played a lesser role in this team winning another CAA Championship and advancing in the NCAA Tournament, on the contrary, she had a bigger role but choose to balance her leadership and performance by both serving her teammates and allowing them to play much better, or taking charge of the situation herself and take this team on her back. It is another quality this players group shows, which is they focus on the team first and at the end of the day don't really care for individual awards. I would like to thank Femke for all she has done for this program and her teachings and examples for others to follow and pursue."
The IJsselstein, The Netherlands native started in all 22 games for the Blue Hens. Her 0.50 assists per game average tied 25th in NCAA Division I. She tied first on the team with 11 assists and was second on the squad with 23 points. This season Strien scored six goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime against Fairfield (Nov. 10) in the NCAA Opening Round. Her three assists against William & Mary (Oct. 17) are tied for fourth all-time in program single-game records. Strien ranks seventh all-time with 107 career points, 13th all-time with 37 goals, tied for seventh with 10 game-winning goals and fourth all-time in assists with 33.
For the latest on the Delaware field hockey program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFH and Instagram @Delaware_FH and like "Delaware Field Hockey" on Facebook.
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