University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutewomen Earn Eight All-MAC End of Season Awards
November 04, 2025 | Field Hockey
CLEVELAND, OH -- Senior goalkeeper Myrte van Herwijnen headlined eight All-Conference honors in the program's inaugural season in the Mid-American Conference, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.
Van Herwijnen earned her third consecutive Goalkeeper of The Year honor and first in the MAC Conference. The Minutewomen also collected seven honors across All-MAC and All-Freshman Team awards.
Myrte van Herwijnen, who also earned All-MAC First Team honors, completed a senior season in which she earned four MAC Goalkeeper of the Week awards and one NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week honor. The Huizen, Netherlands, native ended the regular season ranked first in the MAC and third nationally with an .840 save percentage. Van Herwijnen also finished the regular season leading the MAC and ranking fourth nationally in goals-against average (0.64) and shutouts (9).
Gabrielle Benkenstein also received All-MAC First Team recognition after leading the Massachusetts midfield throughout her senior campaign. Benkenstein ended the regular season ranked fourth in the MAC and 23rd nationally in assists per game (0.60).
England natives Emily Barrett and Elani Sherwood each earned All-MAC Second Team honors, helping lead the Massachusetts offense throughout the regular season.
Barrett, who also earned All-Freshman Team selection, ranked in the top 10 in the MAC and top 60 nationally in goals (8) and goals per game (0.53). Sherwood earned her second consecutive all-conference second team selection, after a sophomore season in which she totaled seven points on two goals and three assists.
Freshman Lina Kroeger and Fiene Jenniskens joined Barrett on the All-Freshman Team after stellar debut seasons in the maroon and white.
Kroeger started all 18 games as a freshman, helping lead a Massachusetts defensive unit which ranks fourth nationally in goals against average (0.63) and shutouts (9). A Munich, Germany native, Kroeger was equally a threat on the offensive side, totaling 11 points on five goals and an assist.
Fiene Jenniskens stepped into a key role for the Massachusetts midfield and attack penalty corner unit, playing in all 18 games during her debut season. The Eindhoven, The Netherlands ended the regular season, ranked third in the MAC and ninth nationally in total assists (14).
The Minutewomen head to Harrisonburg for the MAC Field Hockey Championship as the No. 2 overall seed. They will face the winner of App State and Ohio on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 2:30 p.m. in the tournament semifinal. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and can be followed live on umassathletics.com or UMassFH on Twitter.
Van Herwijnen earned her third consecutive Goalkeeper of The Year honor and first in the MAC Conference. The Minutewomen also collected seven honors across All-MAC and All-Freshman Team awards.
Myrte van Herwijnen, who also earned All-MAC First Team honors, completed a senior season in which she earned four MAC Goalkeeper of the Week awards and one NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week honor. The Huizen, Netherlands, native ended the regular season ranked first in the MAC and third nationally with an .840 save percentage. Van Herwijnen also finished the regular season leading the MAC and ranking fourth nationally in goals-against average (0.64) and shutouts (9).
Gabrielle Benkenstein also received All-MAC First Team recognition after leading the Massachusetts midfield throughout her senior campaign. Benkenstein ended the regular season ranked fourth in the MAC and 23rd nationally in assists per game (0.60).
England natives Emily Barrett and Elani Sherwood each earned All-MAC Second Team honors, helping lead the Massachusetts offense throughout the regular season.
Barrett, who also earned All-Freshman Team selection, ranked in the top 10 in the MAC and top 60 nationally in goals (8) and goals per game (0.53). Sherwood earned her second consecutive all-conference second team selection, after a sophomore season in which she totaled seven points on two goals and three assists.
Freshman Lina Kroeger and Fiene Jenniskens joined Barrett on the All-Freshman Team after stellar debut seasons in the maroon and white.
Kroeger started all 18 games as a freshman, helping lead a Massachusetts defensive unit which ranks fourth nationally in goals against average (0.63) and shutouts (9). A Munich, Germany native, Kroeger was equally a threat on the offensive side, totaling 11 points on five goals and an assist.
Fiene Jenniskens stepped into a key role for the Massachusetts midfield and attack penalty corner unit, playing in all 18 games during her debut season. The Eindhoven, The Netherlands ended the regular season, ranked third in the MAC and ninth nationally in total assists (14).
The Minutewomen head to Harrisonburg for the MAC Field Hockey Championship as the No. 2 overall seed. They will face the winner of App State and Ohio on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 2:30 p.m. in the tournament semifinal. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and can be followed live on umassathletics.com or UMassFH on Twitter.
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