University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Field Hockey Season Preview: No. 17 Blue Hens
8/25/2021 2:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Delaware field hockey was ranked 17th in the Penn Monto National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Coaches Poll as announced by the organization on Tuesday.
Led by 11th-year head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof, the Blue Hens are ready to begin the 2021 season.Â
"It is always nice to be ranked in any poll," van de Kerkhof said. "For us being listed No. 17 means that other DI coaches respect our program and acknowledge the Blue Hens as a consistent performer, a team competing for championships, and a regular NCAA Tournament participant."
Van de Kerkhof returns 14 letter winners and welcomes eight newcomers to the program. The Blue Hens return all five players that started in each of the 10 games in the spring.Â
"We are excited to kick off our journey this fall," van der Kerkoff added. "All throughout preseason, our players have been taking steps forward in their transition from a players group into becoming a team. Their preparation prior and development all throughout preseason presents us reason to be opportunistic and excited. The potential and depth of this team is another step up from our 2020 CAA Championship team."
Among the returners is Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Player of the Year, Femke Strien. Last season, Strien earned several honors including being named an NFHCA Division I Second Team All-American and a Synapse Sports Division I Second Team All-American. She additionally collected NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and CAA First Team honors, while being tabbed the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Strien was joined by Ashlyn Carr and Julia Duffhuis on the All-CAA Preseason Team. Carr was named to the NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team and All-CAA First Team last season. The midfielder led the team in assists (7) and points (13).
During the 2021 spring season, Duffhuis, the 2020 CAA Rookie of the Year, was named to the All-CAA Rookie Team, All-CAA Second Team, and NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team. The sophomore led the Blue Hens with five goals, two of which were game-winners, and finished third on the team with 10 points.Â
Sophomore Berber Bakermans and senior Grace Hoepfner received honorable mention recognition on the All-CAA Preseason Team. Both Bakermans and Hoepfner earned spots on the CAA All-Tournament Team during the 2021 spring season. Bakermans was also a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team.Â
The Blue Hens capped their spring campaign with a 6-4 record en route to winning their ninth CAA Tournament championship before advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in school history.Â
This season, Delaware will compete against nine nationally ranked programs from the NFHCA Division I Poll including, No. 6 UConn, No. 13 Princeton, No. 15 Rutgers, No. 16 Penn State, No. 19 Harvard, No. 20 Saint Joseph's and No. 24 JMU.Â
The Blue Hens open the 2021 campaign on the road at No. 18 Old Dominion (Aug. 27) and No. 8 Virginia (Aug. 29).
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Led by 11th-year head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof, the Blue Hens are ready to begin the 2021 season.Â
"It is always nice to be ranked in any poll," van de Kerkhof said. "For us being listed No. 17 means that other DI coaches respect our program and acknowledge the Blue Hens as a consistent performer, a team competing for championships, and a regular NCAA Tournament participant."
Van de Kerkhof returns 14 letter winners and welcomes eight newcomers to the program. The Blue Hens return all five players that started in each of the 10 games in the spring.Â
"We are excited to kick off our journey this fall," van der Kerkoff added. "All throughout preseason, our players have been taking steps forward in their transition from a players group into becoming a team. Their preparation prior and development all throughout preseason presents us reason to be opportunistic and excited. The potential and depth of this team is another step up from our 2020 CAA Championship team."
Among the returners is Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Player of the Year, Femke Strien. Last season, Strien earned several honors including being named an NFHCA Division I Second Team All-American and a Synapse Sports Division I Second Team All-American. She additionally collected NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and CAA First Team honors, while being tabbed the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Strien was joined by Ashlyn Carr and Julia Duffhuis on the All-CAA Preseason Team. Carr was named to the NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team and All-CAA First Team last season. The midfielder led the team in assists (7) and points (13).
During the 2021 spring season, Duffhuis, the 2020 CAA Rookie of the Year, was named to the All-CAA Rookie Team, All-CAA Second Team, and NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team. The sophomore led the Blue Hens with five goals, two of which were game-winners, and finished third on the team with 10 points.Â
Sophomore Berber Bakermans and senior Grace Hoepfner received honorable mention recognition on the All-CAA Preseason Team. Both Bakermans and Hoepfner earned spots on the CAA All-Tournament Team during the 2021 spring season. Bakermans was also a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team.Â
The Blue Hens capped their spring campaign with a 6-4 record en route to winning their ninth CAA Tournament championship before advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in school history.Â
This season, Delaware will compete against nine nationally ranked programs from the NFHCA Division I Poll including, No. 6 UConn, No. 13 Princeton, No. 15 Rutgers, No. 16 Penn State, No. 19 Harvard, No. 20 Saint Joseph's and No. 24 JMU.Â
The Blue Hens open the 2021 campaign on the road at No. 18 Old Dominion (Aug. 27) and No. 8 Virginia (Aug. 29).
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Players Mentioned
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/ Field HockeyField Hockey vs Lafayette
Monday, October 27
Field Hockey vs American
Tuesday, October 21
Field Hockey vs Old Dominion
Tuesday, October 14
Field Hockey vs Ohio State
Tuesday, September 23
