University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Bryson Eldridge
Field Hockey's Bekker Named MPSF Defensive Player of the Year; Six Earn All-MPSF Honors
11/6/2025 1:30:00 PM | Field Hockey
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - University of Delaware field hockey senior back Iris Bekker was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Defensive Player of the Year, while her and five other Fightin' Blue Hens were named All-MPSF, the league office announced Thursday.
Bekker, Kate Fiest, Linde van Leeuwen, Alexa Michielsen, Sarah Rigual, and Rachael Whitehead were recognized as All-MPSF.
Bekker becomes the first Blue Hen to win a conference defensive player of the year since Sarah Horgan in 2018.
The centerback tied for the most goals in the MPSF with eight, alongside four assists, tying for the conference lead with 20 points. She added a defensive save, and was part of a back line that held five different teams below 10 shots. Bekker was away from the field for just five minutes of the season, logging the full game played for 16 games.
Fiest led the conference in assists, with eight, while adding five goals of her own. The Yorktown, Va. native tied for fifth in the MPSF in points with 18. This is the junior's second-consecutive season earning an all-conference nod.
van Leeuwen made an impact on both sides of the ball in her first season in Newark after transferring in from Bryant. She scored two goals and added two assists, highlighted by winning the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week award for the week of October 14.
Michielsen transferred to Newark after three seasons under head coach Tara Zollinger at Shippensburg. The Netherlands native scored six goals, including a streak of three-consecutive games with a goal. She won the first MPSF Offensive Player of the Week ever awarded, after sending UD to overtime against then No. 18 Penn State.
Rigual finished second in the MSPF in assists with six, spearheaded by her presence stick-stopping on attack penalty corners. She also added three goals on the year. The junior finished sixth in the conference with 12 points.
Whitehead started all 17 games, owning the second-longest consecutive start streak on the team at 43 games. She registered two goals and three assists on the season and was a constant presence in the midfield on both sides of the ball. The Delaware native added two assists against William & Mary on September 26, tying for the most in the MPSF in 2025.
UP NEXT
The Fightin' Blue Hens will travel to Davis, Calif. on November 8, at 4:00 p.m. to take part in the inaugural MPSF Field Hockey Championship against UC Davis.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware field hockey, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Bekker, Kate Fiest, Linde van Leeuwen, Alexa Michielsen, Sarah Rigual, and Rachael Whitehead were recognized as All-MPSF.
Bekker becomes the first Blue Hen to win a conference defensive player of the year since Sarah Horgan in 2018.
The centerback tied for the most goals in the MPSF with eight, alongside four assists, tying for the conference lead with 20 points. She added a defensive save, and was part of a back line that held five different teams below 10 shots. Bekker was away from the field for just five minutes of the season, logging the full game played for 16 games.
Fiest led the conference in assists, with eight, while adding five goals of her own. The Yorktown, Va. native tied for fifth in the MPSF in points with 18. This is the junior's second-consecutive season earning an all-conference nod.
van Leeuwen made an impact on both sides of the ball in her first season in Newark after transferring in from Bryant. She scored two goals and added two assists, highlighted by winning the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week award for the week of October 14.
Michielsen transferred to Newark after three seasons under head coach Tara Zollinger at Shippensburg. The Netherlands native scored six goals, including a streak of three-consecutive games with a goal. She won the first MPSF Offensive Player of the Week ever awarded, after sending UD to overtime against then No. 18 Penn State.
Rigual finished second in the MSPF in assists with six, spearheaded by her presence stick-stopping on attack penalty corners. She also added three goals on the year. The junior finished sixth in the conference with 12 points.
Whitehead started all 17 games, owning the second-longest consecutive start streak on the team at 43 games. She registered two goals and three assists on the season and was a constant presence in the midfield on both sides of the ball. The Delaware native added two assists against William & Mary on September 26, tying for the most in the MPSF in 2025.
UP NEXT
The Fightin' Blue Hens will travel to Davis, Calif. on November 8, at 4:00 p.m. to take part in the inaugural MPSF Field Hockey Championship against UC Davis.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware field hockey, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
B
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
M/F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
B
/ Field Hockey
M
/ 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
