Syracuse Field Hockey Dominates All-Region Selections with Six Honorees
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Syracuse University field hockey secured a remarkable six selections to the National field hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mideast Region teams, announced Wednesday, solidifying their position as a powerhouse in the region. The Orange led all Mideast teams with four players named to the First Team, showcasing a season of exceptional performance and team depth.
The NFHCA recognized Aiden Drabick,Jessie Eiselin,Lieke Leeggangers,and Bo van Kempen with First Team All-Region honors,while Hattie Madden and Aubrey Turner earned Second Team recognition. This extraordinary showing underscores the program’s continued success and the individual brilliance of its players.
Orange Athletes Shine on First Team
Bo van Kempen, a graduate student and standout back, earned her second First Team All-Region honor, demonstrating consistent excellence throughout her career. Her offensive prowess from the backline is particularly noteworthy, as she ranked fifth in Division I with 1.15 goals per game and fourth nationally in total points with 53.
Alongside van Kempen, Lieke Leeggangers also secured a First Team spot, adding to her previous Second team selection from last year.The senior midfielder contributed three goals throughout the season, including crucial scores against top-ranked opponents like No. 2 North Carolina and Boston College.
jessie Eiselin, the junior goalkeeper, proved pivotal in the Orange’s postseason run, earning her First Team All-Region selection. She logged 757 minutes in goal, culminating in 277 of 280 possible minutes during the postseason, and recorded 22 saves across the ACC and NCAA Tournaments, including a season-high nine against Wake Forest.
Completing the First Team quartet is Aiden Drabick, a redshirt senior midfielder who added speed and creativity to the Syracuse attack. Drabick tallied three assists, including a key contribution against No. 6 Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament.
Did you know? – Syracuse field hockey’s six All-Region selections were the most of any team in the Mideast Region. This highlights the program’s depth and overall success during the 2023 season.
Madden and Turner Recognized on Second Team
Hattie Madden, a junior forward hailing from Lytham, England, earned Second Team all-Region honors after a strong season that saw her accumulate 19 points with nine goals and one assist. Madden demonstrated a knack for clutch performances, scoring game-winning goals in double overtime against No. 13 Ohio State and in the final seconds of the third quarter against No. 6 Liberty.
Freshman forward Aubrey Turner also secured a Second Team nod, making an immediate impact for the Orange. turner finished the year ranked fourth on the team with 18 points,notching seven goals and four assists,including a dramatic game-winning shootout goal against Liberty in the NCAA Tournament. Her talent was further recognized with a SportsCenter Top 10 goal against Wake Forest.
Syracuse’s six total honorees surpassed those of Yale and other regional competitors.
Pro tip: – The NFHCA All-Region teams are crucial stepping stones for players hoping to earn All-American honors. Selection to these teams considerably boosts a player’s national profile.
Why did this happen? Syracuse’s success stemmed from a combination of strong individual performances and effective team play throughout the 2023 season. The team consistently defeated ranked opponents and demonstrated resilience in crucial moments, leading to widespread recognition from the NFHCA.
Who was involved? The six players recognized – Aiden Drabick, Jessie Eiselin, Lieke Leeggangers, Bo van Kempen, Hattie Madden, and Aubrey Turner – were central to Syracuse’s success. The NFHCA, as the governing
