Terriers Earn Three Major Awards, Place Five on All-PL Teams
November 2, 2016 | Field Hockey
Van der Laan and Landsman were joined by fellow seniors Taylor Blood and Cammy Jensen on the All-Patriot League First Team and classmate Amanda Cassera earned second-team honors.
Starr repeats as Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading the Terriers to a successful defense of their regular-season title. BU enters the postseason with an RPI of 12 and is attempting to make three straight trips to the NCAA tournament for just the second time in program history.
Starr passed the 450-win mark for her career this season and this marks the eighth time in her stellar career that she has received conference coach of the year accolades.
Both van der Laan and Landsman backed up their August billing as Preseason Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, helping the Terriers dominate on both ends of the field. BU outscored opponents 22-4 during league play.
BU swept the player of the year awards last season with Sofi Laurito (offensive) and Rachel Coll (defensive) and has earned six of the eight that have been awarded since joining the Patriot League in 2013.
A standout in the midfield, van der Laan is the fourth Terrier to earn all-conference honors four times, joining Nicole van Ooestrom '13, Jacinda McLeod '13 and Pam Speuhler '08. This is the third straight year she has appeared on the All-Patriot League First Team. She has 16 points on six goals and four assists this season with eight points (3g, 2a) coming in league play.
Landsman has developed into one of the top defensive midfielders in the nation, dictating play for the Terriers and helping them hold significant advantages in possession. A four-year starter, Landsman was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18 and was selected to participate in the NFHCA Senior Game.
Blood, a second-team selection a year ago, earns top-team honors as a senior after putting together a strong season up front for the Terriers. She is tied for first among Patriot League players in assists this season with seven and has four goals for a total of 15 points. Blood also leads the Terriers in shots this season with 37.
Jensen has put together a terrific season in the BU cage and currently ranks eighth in the nation and first in the Patriot League in goals-against average at 1.22. Her save percentage of .724 is good for 24th in the country. She led the Patriot League in goals-against average in league play with an outstanding 0.64.
Cassera ranks sixth all-time at BU in career points with 87 (38g, 11a) and has a team-best 22 points this season on nine goals and four assists. She put up 10 (4g, 2a) of her points in conference games and was selected for the NFHCA Senior Game. This marks her third straight season as a member of the All-PL second team after being named the league's Rookie of the Year in 2013.
2016 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Hester van der Laan, Boston University, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year: Ellie Landsman, Boston University, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year: ^ Marcia LaPlante, Holy Cross, Fr., GK
Rookie of the Year: Marcia LaPlante, Holy Cross, Fr., GK
Coach of the Year: Sally Starr, Boston University
^Tie for First Team All-League goalkeeper broken by first team votes
(Listed alphabetically by team)
2016 All-Patriot League Field Hockey First Team
Natalie Konerth, American, Sr., F*
Rafaela Rubas, American, So., M*
Angela Virtu, American, Jr., D
Taylor Blood, Boston University, Sr., M
Ellie Landsman, Boston University, Sr., D*
Hester van der Laan, Boston University, Sr., M*
Amy Mucelli, Bucknell, Sr., M*
Anna Wills, Bucknell, Sr., D
Maureen Connolly, Holy Cross, Jr., F*
Amanda Magadan, Lafayette, Sr., M*
GK - Marcia LaPlante, Holy Cross, Fr.^
GK - Cammy Jensen, Boston University, Sr.^
2016 All-Patriot League Field Hockey Second Team
Leah DiGiandomenico, American Jr., F
Rachel Stefano, American, Jr., F
Amanda Cassera, Boston University, Sr., F
Brittany Willwerth, Bucknell, Fr., F
Emily Loprete, Holy Cross, So., M
Lauren Sutherland, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Ellen Colbourne, Lafayette, Jr., M
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Fr., D
Marissa Glatt, Lehigh, Sr., F
Jackie Renda, Lehigh, Jr., M
* Unanimous first team selection
^ Due to tie in voting for the First Team All-League goalkeeper, no goalkeeper is selected to the second team
