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NFHCA announces 2022 NFHCA Division I Regional Players of the Year

Nov 30, 2022 | 2022-2023, Division I, News

RPOY

GENEVA, N.Y. — Five student-athletes were selected to represent their respective region as the NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year. Each regional award winner is now in the running for NFHCA National Player of the Year honors.

Mid-Atlantic Region

Beth Yeager, Princeton University, So., Midfielder (Greenwich, Connecticut)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region, First Team
  • Unanimous selection as the Ivy League’s Offensive Player of the Year
  • Unanimous First-Team All-Ivy League selection for the second straight year
  • Second Ivy League field hockey player ever to win an Ivy Player of the Year award as a first-year and sophomore
  • Led the Ivy League in goals (12) and points (32)

Mideast Region

Sophia Gladieux, Penn State University, Jr., Forward (Boyertown, Pennsylvania)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I Mideast Region, First Team
  • Big Ten Player of the Year
  • Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
  • Unanimous All-Big Ten First-Team selection
  • 2022 NCAA All-Tournament Team
  • Finished the season with a team best 49 points on 23 goals and two assists

Northeast Region

Alison Smisdom, University at Albany, So., Midfielder (Edegem, Belgium)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I Northeast Region, First Team
  • America East Midfielder of the Year
  • America East All-Conference First Team
  • Selected to the 2022 America East All-Championship Team
  • Led the Great Danes with 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists

South Region

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

  • Named to NFHCA Division I South Region, First Team
  • ACC Offensive Player of the Year
  • All-ACC First-Team selection
  • 2022 ACC All-Tournament team
  • 2022 NCAA Tournament MVP
  • Became ACC career points leader (337)
  • Led UNC and the nation in scoring during the season with 28 goals and 10 assists
  • Became the all-time leader in career points and goals (23) in NCAA Tournament history

West Region

Bente Baekers, Northwestern University, 5th year, Forward (Rijswijk, The Netherlands)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I West Region, First Team
  • All-Big Ten First-Team selection
  • 2022 NCAA All-Tournament team
  • Three-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and one-time NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week
  • Ranked second in the nation with goals (25) and points (58)
  • Became the second player in Northwestern history to surpass the 80 career goal mark

The NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the NFHCA. Last week the 2022 NFHCA Division I All-Region teams were announced. The Division I All-American teams will be announced on December 13 and the NFHCA National Player of the Year on December 15.

Mid-Atlantic photo credit: Shelley Szwast

Mideast photo credit: Penn State Athletics

Northeast photo credit: Brent Warzocha/UAlbany Athletics

South photo credit: University of North Carolina Athletics

West photo credit: Northwestern University Athletics