University of Delaware Athletics
Field Hockey Picked First in CAA Preseason Poll; Duffhuis Tabbed CAA Preseason Player of the Year to Lead Cohort of Five Blue Hens Honored
8/15/2022 2:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
RICHMOND, Va. – After hoisting the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship trophy for the past three seasons, the Delaware field hockey team has been picked first in the 2022 CAA Field Hockey Preseason Poll with a maximum 36 points and six first-place votes, the league announced Monday. In addition, reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Julia Duffhuis was voted the Preseason Player of the Year to lead a group of five Blue Hens recognized.
The poll and preseason awards were voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
"Delaware Field Hockey appreciates the respect our CAA colleague programs have for our Blue Hen players and program prior to the 2022 season," head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. "Although we are pleased to receive CAA preseason honors, we all understand very well that it is not where you start but where you finish. Our team has been doing great thus far in preseason and is looking forward to learn and improve throughout our season so that we can play our best hockey later on in October and into November."
Joining Duffhuis on the 2022 CAA Field Hockey Preseason Team is Ashlyn Carr, Lizzie Gaebel, and Kiki Oudshoorn. Sian Emslie was named a Preseason Honorable Mention.
Duffhuis led the Blue Hens and finished third in the league with 29 points a season ago on a team-best 13 goals and three assists. Her play garnered All-CAA First Team laurels and a pair of All-American honors.
Oudshoorn (9G, 4A) and Carr (4G, 11A) finished third and fourth, respectively, on the team in points. Carr picked up All-CAA First Team recognition after pacing the league in assists, while Oudshoorn was voted All-CAA Second Team.
Gaebel started all 22 games in cage for UD, posting a 1.76 goals against average and .678 save percentage.
Emslie started 14 of 18 games played with a pair of goals to land on the CAA's All-Rookie squad last season.
2022 CAA Field Hockey Preseason Poll
( ) = First-place votes
2022 Preseason Player of the Year: Julia Duffhuis, Delaware
2022 Preseason All-CAA Field Hockey Team
Honorable Mention: Georgia Beachley (M/F), Towson; Sian Emslie (M), Delaware; Lieke Gorsse (M/D), Hofstra; Jonna Kennedy (GK), Northeastern; Isabel Jacobs (M), Drexel
For the latest on Delaware field hockey, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
The poll and preseason awards were voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
"Delaware Field Hockey appreciates the respect our CAA colleague programs have for our Blue Hen players and program prior to the 2022 season," head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. "Although we are pleased to receive CAA preseason honors, we all understand very well that it is not where you start but where you finish. Our team has been doing great thus far in preseason and is looking forward to learn and improve throughout our season so that we can play our best hockey later on in October and into November."
Joining Duffhuis on the 2022 CAA Field Hockey Preseason Team is Ashlyn Carr, Lizzie Gaebel, and Kiki Oudshoorn. Sian Emslie was named a Preseason Honorable Mention.
Duffhuis led the Blue Hens and finished third in the league with 29 points a season ago on a team-best 13 goals and three assists. Her play garnered All-CAA First Team laurels and a pair of All-American honors.
Oudshoorn (9G, 4A) and Carr (4G, 11A) finished third and fourth, respectively, on the team in points. Carr picked up All-CAA First Team recognition after pacing the league in assists, while Oudshoorn was voted All-CAA Second Team.
Gaebel started all 22 games in cage for UD, posting a 1.76 goals against average and .678 save percentage.
Emslie started 14 of 18 games played with a pair of goals to land on the CAA's All-Rookie squad last season.
2022 CAA Field Hockey Preseason Poll
| Team | Points |
| 1. Delaware (6) | 36 |
| 2. Northeastern (1) | 28 |
| 3. Monmouth | 27 |
| 4. William & Mary | 22 |
| 5. Drexel | 17 |
| 6. Hofstra | 9 |
| 7. Towson | 8 |
( ) = First-place votes
2022 Preseason Player of the Year: Julia Duffhuis, Delaware
2022 Preseason All-CAA Field Hockey Team
| Name | School | Class | Pos. | Hometown |
| Tabby Billingham | William & Mary | Sr. | D/M | Suffolk, England |
| Ashlyn Carr | Delaware | Sr. | M | Delmar, Del. |
| Eline Di Leva | Drexel | Jr. | F | Lelystad, Netherlands |
| Julia Duffhuis | Delaware | Jr. | D | Bergeijk, Netherlands |
| Pyper Friedman | William & Mary | So. | M | Phoenix, Md. |
| Lizzie Gaebel | Delaware | Gr. | GK | Kennett Square, Pa. |
| Cami Larsson | Hofstra | Fifth-Yr. | D/M | Cordoba, Argentina |
| Kiki Oudshoorn | Delaware | Jr. | F | Ede, Netherlands |
| Lauren Rowe | Northeastern | Sr. | M/D | Norwich, England |
| Lara Taylor | Northeastern | So. | M | Norwich, England |
| Annick van Lange | Monmouth | Gr. | F | Sint-Job, Belgium |
Honorable Mention: Georgia Beachley (M/F), Towson; Sian Emslie (M), Delaware; Lieke Gorsse (M/D), Hofstra; Jonna Kennedy (GK), Northeastern; Isabel Jacobs (M), Drexel
For the latest on Delaware field hockey, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Field Hockey
B
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
F
/ 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
