Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Baekers, Zimmer, Blas Earn All-American Honors
12/13/2022 2:31:00β―PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. β Bente Baekers, Maddie Zimmer and Kayla BlasΒ were named to NFHCA All-American teams for the 2022 season, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced Tuesday. Northwestern's three selections ranked second most in the country and marked the third straight season multiple Wildcats have received All-American recognition.
Baekers and Zimmer both landed on the First Team while Blas earned Second Team honors. It's the second straight season two Wildcats have received First Team recognition and the sixth time in program history. Before 2021, Northwestern last had multiple First Team All-Americans in 1991.
For Baekers, the fifth-year forward has now won All-American honors in four straight seasons, becoming the second four-time All-American in program history. She is also the only Wildcat to ever earn All-American First Team recognition three times. Baekers put together a historic campaign en route to a second straight NCAA Championship appearance, recording 25 goals and eight assists. She has also been recognized as the NFHCA West Region Player of the Year this year while earning spots on the All-Big Ten First Team, NFHCA All-West First Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team.
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Zimmer has now been named an All-American in all three years she been at Northwestern, and she has landed on the First Team in each of the last two. The junior midfielder has been the anchor of Northwestern's transition attack, turning heads with her speed and ball handling. The Hershey, Penn. native concluded the season with two goals and an assist. She has also been named to both the NFHCA All-West First Team and the All-Big Ten First Team in 2022.
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Captain BlasΒ has now received All-American Second Team accolades in back-to-back seasons as the star of the Northwestern defense. She led the teamΒ with 17 assists, the most by a Wildcat since 2019 and tied for the seventh most in a season in program history, while earning wide acclaim for her leadership on and off the field. The Pendleton, N.Y. native was also named the 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned placement on the All-Big Ten Second Team and the NFHCA All-West First Team.
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Baekers and Zimmer both landed on the First Team while Blas earned Second Team honors. It's the second straight season two Wildcats have received First Team recognition and the sixth time in program history. Before 2021, Northwestern last had multiple First Team All-Americans in 1991.
For Baekers, the fifth-year forward has now won All-American honors in four straight seasons, becoming the second four-time All-American in program history. She is also the only Wildcat to ever earn All-American First Team recognition three times. Baekers put together a historic campaign en route to a second straight NCAA Championship appearance, recording 25 goals and eight assists. She has also been recognized as the NFHCA West Region Player of the Year this year while earning spots on the All-Big Ten First Team, NFHCA All-West First Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team.
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BAEKERS. SHOT. YES!!!
β Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 18, 2022
Northwestern grabs the 1-0 lead in the fourth!!! pic.twitter.com/ve4sWsfH4i
Zimmer has now been named an All-American in all three years she been at Northwestern, and she has landed on the First Team in each of the last two. The junior midfielder has been the anchor of Northwestern's transition attack, turning heads with her speed and ball handling. The Hershey, Penn. native concluded the season with two goals and an assist. She has also been named to both the NFHCA All-West First Team and the All-Big Ten First Team in 2022.
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Wow wow wow!!!! ??
β Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) September 16, 2022
Maddie Zimmer goes midfield to goal for her second goal of the season in the first half.#B1GCats | #NUFH pic.twitter.com/MwMRfbxJiu
Captain BlasΒ has now received All-American Second Team accolades in back-to-back seasons as the star of the Northwestern defense. She led the teamΒ with 17 assists, the most by a Wildcat since 2019 and tied for the seventh most in a season in program history, while earning wide acclaim for her leadership on and off the field. The Pendleton, N.Y. native was also named the 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned placement on the All-Big Ten Second Team and the NFHCA All-West First Team.
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Kayla Blas can read minds ?????#B1GCats | #NUFH pic.twitter.com/WrIV8gNX0I
β Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) September 25, 2022
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