Matson, van den Niewenhof named Play Safe/NFHCA Division I National Players of the Week

Nov 4, 2020 | 2020-2021, Division I, News

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Eefke van den Niewenhof, freshman defender from Syracuse University, and Erin Matson, junior forward from the University of North Carolina, have been named this week’s Play Safe/NFHCA Division I Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively.

Play Safe/NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week

 

Eefke van den Niewenhof, Syracuse University, Fr., Defender (Utrecht, Netherlands)

Van den Niewenhof played an important role in Syracuse’s 2-1 victory over previously undefeated University of Louisville last Friday, helping to secure Syracuse’s No. 3 seed in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

With a minute remaining in the contest, van den Niewenhof made an essential defensive save to insure the Orange win. Van den Niewenhof and the ‘Cuse defense held Louisville’s potent attack to just four penalty corners on the day.

Van den Niewenhof was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Play Safe/NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week

 

Erin Matson, University of North Carolina, Jr., Forward (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)

UNC’s Erin Matson tallied six points on three goals in last week’s contest against Wake Forest University. The first goal of Matson’s hat trick proved to be the game winner in the 5-0 match. Her goals from last week moved her current-season-goal count to nine and her game-winning-goal tally to five — she currently leads the ACC in every offensive category.

The win over Wake helped to secure the No. 2 seed for the Tar Heels in the upcoming ACC Tournament.

Matson was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. This is Matson’s second Play Safe/NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week honor this year.

Play Safe Turf & Track is the Official Sponsor of the collegiate 2020-2021 NFHCA Players of the Week Program.

Play Safe is well known as the best installation and repair company in the hockey business. Play Safe offers an FIH-certified product and FIH-certified build team.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to stimulate the professional development of coaching leadership within the sport of field hockey. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.