Northwestern University Athletics
Baekers Wins Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Three Wildcats Earn All-Big Ten Selections
11/6/2019 1:00:00β―PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. βΒ Redshirt first-year Bente Baekers was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday.
In total, three Northwestern players were honored with All-Big Ten selections, with Baekers earning a first team selection while senior Saar de Breij and sophomore Kayla Blas took home second team accolades. Senior Kirsten Mansfield was honored with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Baekers became the first Wildcat since Lisa McCarthy in 2012 to take home the conference's Freshman of the Year award. The Rijswijk, Netherlands native led the conference during the regular season with 24 goals to go along with 50 points. Her 24 goals are the most scored ever by a first-year in program history, and she is only the third player in program history to score at least 24 goals in a single season, joining Lisa Griswold (28, 1983) and Chelsea Armstrong, who did so in three-consecutive years from 2010-2012.
Blas earned her first-career All-Big Ten selection after anchoring the Wildcats' stellar defensive effort throughout the season. As a team, Northwestern held its opponent to one goal or fewer in five of their eight Big Ten games this season. The Pendleton, N.Y. native also contributed nine assists, the second-highest output on the team behind only Mansfield.
deBreij notched the first All-Big Ten honors of her career after scoring nine goals scored, second on the team only behind Baekers, and finishing third in points on the team with 19 to cap off an immensely successful career with Northwestern. She also elevated her play down the stretch for the Wildcats, scoring a goal in five of the team's last six regular season games. The Utrecht, Netherlands native now sits at 25 career goals scored and 60 career points in her four years with the Wildcats.
On top of Mansfield's stellar season, contributing a team-high and nation-leading 16 assists, the two-time team captain earned recognition with the Big Ten Sportmanship 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
Northwestern will begin postseason play on Thursday, November 7, when they travel to Penn State for the Big Ten Tournament. The No. 3 seeded Wildcats take on the No. 6 seed Rutgers beginning at approximately 4 p.m. CT.
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Be the first to know what's going on with the 'CatsΒ --Β Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter,Β become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook,Β check us out on Instagram, visit ourΒ Social Media pageΒ and download our mobile app from theΒ Apple StoreΒ andΒ Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become aΒ season-ticket holderΒ or join theΒ Wildcat Fund!
In total, three Northwestern players were honored with All-Big Ten selections, with Baekers earning a first team selection while senior Saar de Breij and sophomore Kayla Blas took home second team accolades. Senior Kirsten Mansfield was honored with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Baekers became the first Wildcat since Lisa McCarthy in 2012 to take home the conference's Freshman of the Year award. The Rijswijk, Netherlands native led the conference during the regular season with 24 goals to go along with 50 points. Her 24 goals are the most scored ever by a first-year in program history, and she is only the third player in program history to score at least 24 goals in a single season, joining Lisa Griswold (28, 1983) and Chelsea Armstrong, who did so in three-consecutive years from 2010-2012.
Blas earned her first-career All-Big Ten selection after anchoring the Wildcats' stellar defensive effort throughout the season. As a team, Northwestern held its opponent to one goal or fewer in five of their eight Big Ten games this season. The Pendleton, N.Y. native also contributed nine assists, the second-highest output on the team behind only Mansfield.
deBreij notched the first All-Big Ten honors of her career after scoring nine goals scored, second on the team only behind Baekers, and finishing third in points on the team with 19 to cap off an immensely successful career with Northwestern. She also elevated her play down the stretch for the Wildcats, scoring a goal in five of the team's last six regular season games. The Utrecht, Netherlands native now sits at 25 career goals scored and 60 career points in her four years with the Wildcats.
On top of Mansfield's stellar season, contributing a team-high and nation-leading 16 assists, the two-time team captain earned recognition with the Big Ten Sportmanship 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
Northwestern will begin postseason play on Thursday, November 7, when they travel to Penn State for the Big Ten Tournament. The No. 3 seeded Wildcats take on the No. 6 seed Rutgers beginning at approximately 4 p.m. CT.
β’β’β’β’β’β’
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'CatsΒ --Β Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter,Β become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook,Β check us out on Instagram, visit ourΒ Social Media pageΒ and download our mobile app from theΒ Apple StoreΒ andΒ Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become aΒ season-ticket holderΒ or join theΒ Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
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