Northwestern University Athletics

Sophia Miller Puck Pentenga Pascale Massey

Northwestern Trio Earns All-Big Ten Recognition

11/1/2017 2:46:00β€―PM | Field Hockey

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Three Northwestern field hockey players have earned All-Big Ten distinction Wednesday as selected by the league's head coaches. Senior back Sophia Miller and junior midfielder Puck Pentenga are first-team All-Big Ten selections, and junior Pascale Massey is a second-team All-Big Ten honoree.
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Miller, who received a first-team spot last season, was selected unanimously to secure the honor again this year. These are the first all-league recognitions for Pentenga and Massey.
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A native of Medford, New Jersey, Miller has anchored the 'Cats defense this season. She helped hold Northwestern's opponents to only 35 goals-against. Miller also contributed offensively, posting an overtime game-winning goal at Iowa to go along with nine assists. Throughout her four years at Northwestern, Miller has played in all 84 matches, and has started all but three.

Pentenga, who hails from Ede, The Netherlands, leads the Big Ten in shots and assists. Her 103 shots make up over a third of the Wildcats' shots for the season, and she contributed 17 assists for the team. Her 10 goals put her second on the team and seventh in the league, with three of the goals being game-winners. Her hat trick in a win at Iowa Oct. 13 helped her earn both NFHCA and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week recognition.

Massey, a native of Bromsgrove, England, paces Northwestern with a team-leading 14 goals. She is tied with Pentenga for the team lead with three game-winning goals this season, while also posting a hat trick in an Oct. 22 win over Michigan State. Her 14 goals place her fourth in the Big Ten. She also ranks second on the team with 60 shots and 32 points.

Additionally, Katie Esselman was honored as the team's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

Northwestern (14-5) is the No. 4 seed for the Big Ten tournament which continues Friday in East Lansing, Michigan, After defeating Rutgers 4-3 on Sunday in a come-from-behind win at home for a quarterfinal victory, the Wildcats travel to Ralph Young Field for the semifinal round. The match against No. 1 seed Michigan is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m Central with Big Ten Network providing live television coverage.

2017 All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
SOPHIA MILLER, D, Sr., NU
KATIE TROMBETTA, M, Sr., MICH
Lein Holsboer, M, Sr., MD
Moira Putsch, F, Jr., PSU
Skyler Fretz, D, Sr., PSU
Katie Birch, D, So., IOWA
Linnea Gonzales, F, Jr., MD
Meg Dowthwaite, F, So., MICH
Simone Vagnoni, M, Sr., MSU
Puck Pentenga, M, Jr., NUΒ 
SAMANTHA SWENSON, GK, Sr., MICH

Second Team
Maddy Humphrey, F, Sr., OSU
Daphne Groothuis, M, Fr., RU
Esther de Leijer, M, Sr., MICH
Katie Dembroski, M, Jr., PSU
Maddie Latino, F, Sr., IND
Carrie Hanks, D, Sr., MD
Maddy Murphy, F, Fr., IOWA
Linde Van Schaik, M, Jr., RU
Pascale Massey, F, Jr., NU
Kendal Anderson, M, Sr., MSU
Jenny Rizzo, GK, Jr., PSU

Player of the Year:Β Katie Trombetta, MICH
Offensive Player of the Year:Β Moira Putsch, PSU
Defensive Player of the Year:Β Samantha Swenson, MICH
Freshman of the Year:Β Bodil Keus, MD
Coach of the Year:Β MARCIA PANKRATZ, MICH

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS

Sportsmanship Award Honorees

Elle Hempt, IND
Mallory Lefkowitz, IOWA
Marissa Cutry, MD
Casie Ammerman, MICH
Katie Miller, MSU
Katie Esselman, NU
Kelsey Nolan, OSU
Shay Cannon, PSU
Simrin Dhillon, RU

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