University of Massachusets Athletics
Eight Minutewomen Garner Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Postseason Awards
November 02, 2022 | Field Hockey
Herberhold claims Rookie of the Year, while van Herwijnen is titled First Team All-Conference Goalkeeper
Freshman goalkeeper Myrte van Herwijnen was tabbed the Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference Goalkeeper, while senior Jess Beech was named to the First Team All-Conference. Additionally, Claire Danahy, Herberhold, Bella Ianni, and Josie Rossbach were selected to the Second Team All-Conference. This marks the highest number of Massachusetts field hockey players represented as All-Conference selections since 2017. The Minutewomen were also represented on the All-Rookie team, with Gabrielle Benkenstein and Herberhold taking home mentions.
Massachusetts also proved to be strong in the classroom, with seniors Beech, Steph Gottwals and Rossbach being named to the All-Academic team.
Herberhold had an impressive freshman season, starting in 6 of 18 games played this season. She recorded 7 goals and 7 assists for a combined 21 points on the season, ranking her in the Top 25 in the Atlantic 10 Conference in five areas. The Rosenheim, Bavaria native was No. 3 in shots with 53, No. 3 in shots on goal with 33, No. 12 in goals with 7, No. 3 in assists with 7, No. 10 in game-winning goals with 2, and No. 6 in points with 21. She was also the recipient of three Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Awards (August 29, September 19, September 26).
van Herwijnen got the start in the cage in all 18 games for the Minutewomen this season, recording 74 saves on 172 shots faced and posting 3 total shutouts on the season. The Huizen, Netherlands native recorded a .740 save percentage and 1.500 goals against average on the season, only allowing 26 goals in 18 games. She was also named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the week of October 3.
Beech started in 17 of 18 games this season, recording 7 goals and 3 assists for 17 total points. She finished off the regular season at No. 11 in the Atlantic 10 in both goals (7) and points (17). The Marlow, England native was named to the 2019 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Championship Team, 2020 and 2021 Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team, 2020 and 2021 Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team, was twice named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad and Northeast All-Region Team, as well as having been named an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction in 2021 prior to collecting this year's accolades. Academically, Beech is majoring in Marketing and Sport Management, having maintained a 3.987 GPA throughout her four years at UMass.
Danahy got the start in all 18 games during the regular season, scoring six goals and notching one assist for a combined 13 points on the season. The Chelmsford, Mass. native sits at No. 14 in the conference in goals (6) and No. 17 in the conference in points (13). She was named to the NFHCA Northeast All-Regional Team and Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team in 2020 before being named to this year's Second Team All-Conference.
Ianni has started in all 18 games played this season, having recorded 6 goals and 2 assists. Currently, the senior forward is ranked in the Top 25 in the conference in shots (No. 7 with 44), shots on goal (No. 8 with 24), points (No. 15 with 14), goals (No. 13 with 6), as well as No. 2 in the Atlantic 10 in game-winning goals with 2. The Vista, Calif. native was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team in 2019 and notched Offensive Player of the Week Honors for the week of October 31.
Rossbach got the nod to start in 16 of 17 games played this season. The Leesburg, Va. native sits at No. 8 in defensive saves in the Atlantic 10 with one. She was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team in 2019, as well as the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team, NFHCA Northeast All-Region Second Team, and the NFHCA National Academic Squad in 2020 and 2021, before collecting two awards for her academic and athletic achievements this season. The senior defender is studying Nutrition and maintains a 3.795 GPA.
Benkenstein has started in 15 of 18 games for the Minutewomen as a freshman, recording 3 goals and 2 assists for a combined 8 points. The Hilton, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa native is ranked No. 15 in the Atlantic 10 in game-winning goals with 2. She was also the recipient of the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honor for the week of September 6.
Gottwals boasts a 3.987 GPA in Psychology, having started in all 18 games this season. She has scored 3 goals and notched 5 assists for a total 11 points on the season up to this point. The Columbia, Md. native is ranked No. 13 in the Atlantic 10 this season in assists (5), No. 16 in the Atlantic 10 in game-winning goals (2), and No. 20 in the conference in points (11). She was named to the 2021 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team, the NFHCA National Academic Squad in 2020 and 2021, and was titled an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction in 2021, on top of this year's naming to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team.
The Minutewomen will take on the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on Thursday, November 3 in Atlantic 10 Semifinal play at 2 p.m. the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Fall 2022 Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Lily Santi, Saint Joseph's
Defensive Player of the Year: Freke van Tilburg, Saint Joseph's
Rookie of the Year: Mali Herberhold, Massachusetts
Coach of the Year: Pat Rudy, Lock Haven
FIRST TEAM
Tatum Johnson, La Salle
Martina Spangenberg, Lock Haven
Jazmin Palma, Lock Haven
Jess Beech, Massachusetts
Lindsey Frank, Richmond
Katy Benton, Saint Joseph's
Manu Ghigliotti, Saint Joseph's
Lily Santi, Saint Joseph's
Freke van Tilburg, Saint Joseph's
Litiana Field, VCU
First Team Goalkeeper
Myrte van Herwijnen, Massachusetts
SECOND TEAM
Sofia Pla, La Salle
Claire Danahy, Massachusetts
Mali Herberhold, Massachusetts
Bella Ianni, Massachusetts
Josie Rossbach, Massachusetts
Tess Keppel, Richmond
Maaike Gorissen, Saint Joseph's
Anna Miller, Saint Joseph's
Lonica McKinney, VCU
Janne Wetzel, VCU
Second Team Goalkeeper
Robin Bleekemolen, Saint Joseph's
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Charlie Kabelac, Davidson
Ryan Curley, La Salle
Tatum Johnson, La Salle
Jess Beech, Massachusetts
Steph Gottwals, Massachusetts
Josie Rossbach, Massachusetts
Tess Keppel, Richmond
Anna Miller, Saint Joseph's
Cameron Tucker, Saint Louis
Litiana Field, VCU
Lonica McKinney, VCU
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Malena Balduzzi, La Salle
Kelsey Felix, Lock Haven
Brynlee Pinschenat, Lock Haven
Victoria Scheer, Lock Haven
Gabrielle Benkenstein, Massachusetts
Mali Herberhold, Massachusetts
Lainey Nichols, Richmond
Maaike Gorissen, Saint Joseph's
Meike van Nieuwland, Saint Joseph's
Shaya Dry, Saint Louis
Ana Iglesias, VCU
