NORTHEASTERN'S POLAND HIGHLIGHTS PRESEASON ALL-CAA FIELD HOCKEY SQUAD
RICHMOND,
Va. (August 24, 2011) - Northeastern junior forward Crystal Poland has been
chosen as the 2011 CAA preseason field hockey Player of the Year in a vote by
the league's head coaches.
Joining Poland on the preseason All-CAA squad are
teammates Kaela Barker and Lizzie Priest. Old Dominion's Maartje van Rijswijk,
Kati Nearhouse and Katherine Kirk were also selected. Rounding out the roster
is Drexel's Lindsey McArdle, Hofstra's Genna Kovar and Arielle Williams, James
Madison's Jenna Taylor and VCU's Kelsey Scherrer.
Poland, who
was a first team All-CAA last season, recorded 11 goals and six assists in
2010. The Crofton, British Columbia native also led the league in shots per
game (4.81) and ranked tenth in the league in totals points (28). In her first
two years as a Husky, Poland has amassed 23 goals, including six game-winners.
Senior
midfielder Kaela Barker was also a first team All-CAA selection last season after
tallying five goals and seven assists. Northeastern teammate Lizzie Priest
ranked second in the league in saves (108) and shutouts (4) en route to earning
first team All-CAA accolades last year. The junior goalkeeper also ranked fifth
in the CAA in goals against average (2.00).
Old
Dominion's Maartje van Rijswijk ranked third in the league in goals (16) last
season. The junior forward also ranked sixth in the CAA in points (33) on her
way to helping Old Dominion to the 2010 CAA Title. Nearhouse earned CAA
All-Rookie honors after scoring a goal and recording two assists for the Lady
Monarchs. Kathryn Kirk scored five goals, tallied five assists and amassed 13
points for ODU last season. The senior forward scored the lone goal in the Lady
Monarch's thrilling double-overtime victory over Drexel in the 2010 CAA
Championship game.
Drexel sophomore
midfielder Lindsey McArdle was an All-CAA Rookie selection last season and recorded
a goal and two points last season.
Hofstra's
Kovar recorded nine goals and six assists last season. The senior forward will
look to return to form that brought her 2009 NFHCA third team All-America
honors after battling injuries last season. Pride teammate Arielle Williams
ranked sixth in the league last year in goals (13) and eighth in points (31).
Midfielder
Jenna Taylor recorded four assists and two shots on goal for James Madison in
2010.
Scherrer
was fourth in the league in goals (15) and ninth in assists (8). The Rams
junior forward also finished third in the CAA in points (38) last season.
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2011 PRESEASON ALL-CAA FIELD HOCKEY TEAM
|
|
Player, School
|
Pos.
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
Kaela Barker, Northeastern
|
M
|
Sr.
|
North Vancouver, British Columbia
|
|
Kathryn Kirk, Old Dominion
|
F
|
Sr.
|
Lititz, Pa.
|
|
Genna Kovar, Hofstra
|
F/M
|
Sr.
|
Hampton Bays, N.Y.
|
|
Lindsey McArdle, Drexel
|
M
|
So.
|
Upper Darby, Pa.
|
|
Kati Nearhouse, Old Dominion
|
F
|
So.
|
Nanticoke, Pa.
|
|
Crystal Poland, Northeastern
|
F
|
Jr.
|
Crofton, British Columbia
|
|
Lizzie Priest, Northeastern
|
GK
|
Jr.
|
North Vancouver, British Columbia
|
|
Kelsey Scherrer, VCU
|
F
|
Jr.
|
Chesapeake, Va.
|
|
Jenna Taylor, James Madison
|
M
|
Jr.
|
Midlothian, Va.
|
|
Maartje van Rijswijk, Old Dominion
|
F
|
Jr.
|
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
|
Arielle Williams, Hofstra
|
M
|
Sr.
|
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
|
Honorable
Mention: Lindsay Bennett,
Northeastern; Amanda Fleischut, Drexel; Kristen Focht, Drexel; Krizia Layne,
Hofstra; Amy-Lee Levy, Hofstra; Carolyn Malloy, Northeastern; Clare O'Malley,
Delaware; Sam Smiertka, James Madison; Emilie Soares, VCU
PRESEASON
CAA FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Crystal Poland, Northeastern
*(Coaches were not allowed to vote
for their own players)