NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Saint Joseph’s sophomore Anna Willocks and freshman Pepa Serrano, Massachusetts junior Melanie Kreusch and Saint Joseph’s coach Lynn Farquhar earned the Atlantic 10 Conference’s top field hockey awards.
Willocks was chosen as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year by vote of the head field hockey coaches. Kreusch was named Defensive Player of the Year, Serrano was named Rookie of the Year and Farquhar was selected by her peers as A-10 Coach of the Year. The A-10 announced the four awards, the All-Conference, All-Rookie and All-Academic teams Thursday ahead of the 2016 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Championship, which begins Friday at VCU’s Cary Street Field.
Willocks, the reigning Player and Rookie of the Year lead the A-10 in goals (23) and points (57), including scoring 10 goals in conference play with 26 points. She ranks second nationally in points per game with 3.00 and tied for second nationally in goals per game with a 1.21 average. A native of Palmerston North, New Zealand, she has produced nine game-winning goals, five of which came in conference play. Throughout the 2016 season she also tabbed 11 assists, helping the Hawks go undefeated in conference play, earning the regular season title as well as a berth to the A-10 championship.
Kreusch anchored Massachusetts defense while also scoring six goals, which is tied for third on the Minutewomen’s team and fourth in points (13). The center back from Brussels, Belgium added one defensive save to her stellar season. Her key play had helped the Minutewomen to only allow 1.50 goals per game and the defense is tied for first in shutouts (3) during A-10 games.
Serrano, a freshman from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is tied for the league lead in assists with six. She is tied for second on the Hawks’ squad in points, and ranks among league leaders in shots per game. Serrano scored the game-winner in overtime that clinched Saint Joseph’s first regular season title in 21 years.
Farquhar led the Hawks to their first Atlantic 10 regular season title since 1995 and an 8-0 record in conference play. Under her watch, Saint Joseph’s edged defending champion Massachusetts 3-2 in overtime. She is in her third season on Hawk Hill and has lead Saint Joseph’s to its second A-10 Championship since 2009.
The league also announced the All-Conference First and Second Teams, the 11- member All-Rookie Team and the All-Academic Team, comprised of 11 student-athletes with academic and athletic success.
The 2016 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Championship begins with Friday’s semifinals in which top-seeded Saint Joseph’s faces No. 4 Saint Francis and No. 2 Richmond plays third-seeded Massachusetts. The championship final will be played Saturday at 2:00 pm with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
2016 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Anna Willocks, Saint Joseph’s
Defensive Player of the Year: Melanie Kreusch, Massachusetts
Rookie of the Year: Pepa Serrano, Saint Joseph’s
Coach of the Year: Lynn Farquhar, Saint Joseph’s
All-Conference First Team
Izzie Delario, Massachusetts
Sarah Hawkshaw, Massachusetts
Melanie Kreusch, Massachusetts
Megan Miller, Richmond
Kelly Quinn, Richmond
Thalia Williamson, Richmond
Elizabeth Dyer, Saint Francis
Shannon Pereira, Saint Francis
Kerri Turk, Saint Joseph’s
Pepa Serrano, Saint Joseph’s
Anna Willocks, Saint Joseph’s
Emily McNamara, VCU
All-Conference Second Team
Katherine English, Davidson
Rachel Hartman, La Salle
Kendall Kreider, La Salle
Abbey Lawrence, La Salle
Lydia George, Lock Haven
Colleen McCabe, Lock Haven
Paige Stuppy, Lock Haven
Stephanie Whiteman, Lock Haven
Megan Wenrich, Lock Haven
Anne Dijkstra, Massachusetts
Celina Hocks, Massachusetts
Nicole Miller, Massachusetts
Brea Seabrook, Saint Francis
All-Rookie Team
Dana De Gannes, Lock Haven
Celina Hocks, Massachusetts
Amanda DaSilva, Richmond
Abby Lyons, Richmond
Elizabeth Dyer, Saint Francis
Taylin Lehman, Saint Francis
Kathrin Bentz, Saint Joseph’s
Victoria Kammerinke, Saint Joseph’s
Doris Offerhaus, Saint Joseph’s
Pepa Serrano, Saint Joseph’s
Rebecca Ward, VCU
All-Academic Team
Becca Jones, Davidson
Lauren McFayden, Davidson
Sophie Lozowski, La Salle
Katie O’Grady, La Salle
Lydia George, Lock Haven
Nicole Kuerzi, Massachusetts
Cliodhna Loughlin, Massachusetts
Kyra Castano, Saint Francis
Carly Gromel, Saint Francis
Alexis Albright, VCU
Chessa Kownurko, VCU