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

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 champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. 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.