Nov. 4, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 4, 2011) - Old Dominion senior forward Emma Batten has been named the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association field hockey Player of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches. Batten received the honor at the annual awards banquet held Friday night prior to the semfinias of the Virginia 529 CAA Field Hockey Championship in Norfolk, Va.
Old Dominion also swept the other top field hockey honors from the conference. Lady Monarch senior back Stephanie Kratzer was selected as CAA Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Kelsey Smither was named CAA Rookie of the Year. Old Dominion's Beth Anders garnered CAA Coach of the Year honors.
After playing three seasons at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, Batten has transitioned very well in her first and only year in an ODU uniform. The senior ranks fourth in the league with 19 goals and 43 points. Batten has tallied four game-winning scores for the Lady Monarchs this season. In two games against defending national champion Maryland, Batten recorded a hat trick in each contest and led Old Dominion to victories in both games.
Kratzer is the seventh player in ODU history to capture Defensive Player of the Year honors since the CAA began presenting the honor 12 years ago. The senior back headlined an ODU defense that posted seven shutouts and held an additional seven opponents to a lone goal this season. Kratzer and the Lady Monarchs limited league foes to just five goals in eight conference contests this season. In her senior campaign, Kratzer has also added offensive support to the ODU charge, tying for second on the team with eight goals and ranking third with seven assists.
Smither becomes the eighth Lady Monarch to be tabbed Rookie of the Year. The midfielder/back was a mainstay in the starting lineup this season, as she started all 20 games for ODU. Smither was also part of a balanced ODU offense, ranking second on the team and sixth in the league with nine assists while also netting four goals.
Anders was selected as CAA Coach of the Year for the 11th time in her legendary head coaching career. Anders' Lady Monarchs finished the regular season with an 18-2 overall record and a perfect conference slate of 8-0. ODU spent much of the regular season ranked No. 1 nationally in the NFHCA Coaches' Poll. Currently ranked No. 2, Anders' sqaud has defeated eight top-10 ranked teams, including wins over then No. 1 North Carolina and Maryland.
Old Dominion placed a league-high three players on the All-CAA first team in Batten, Kratzer and Smither. Northeastern had two representatives in junior forward Crystal Poland (26 g, 3 a) and junior goalkeeper Lizzie Priest (1.86 GAA, 118 svs.).
Also tabbed first-team All-CAA selections were Drexel junior midfielder Amanda Fleischut (9 g, 3a), Hofstra senior forward Genna Kovar (26g, 18a), James Madison junior midfielder Jenna Taylor (3g, 3a), Towson senior forward Katie DeFilippo (6g, 5a), VCU junior forward Kelsey Scherrer (11 g, 2a) and William & Mary junior midfielder/forward Leah Zamesnik (7 g, 1a).
The Lady Monarchs also placed three players on the All-CAA Second Team. Kati Nearhouse, Maartje van Rijswijk and goalkeeper Devon Seifert were named to the 12-person squad. Freshman Lydia Velzian joined Smither on the All-Rookie Team to represent ODU.
2011 ALL-CAA FIELD HOCKEY TEAMSSelected by CAA Field Hockey Coaches
FIRST TEAMPlayer, SchoolCl.Pos.Hometown/High SchoolEmma Batten, Old DominionSr.FOxford, United Kingdom/OxfordKatie DeFilippo, TowsonSr.FMt. Airy, Md./South CarrollAmanda Fleishcut, DrexelJr.MDoylestown, Pa./Central Bucks WestGenna Kovar, HofstraSr.FHampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton BaysStephanie Kratzer, Old DominionSr.M/BLititz, Pa./WarwickCrystal Poland, NortheasternJr.FCrofton, British Columbia/Cowichan SecondaryKelsey Scherrer, VCUJr.FChesapeake, Va./Cape Henry CollegiateKelsey Smither, Old DominionFr.M/BSuffolk, Va./LakelandJenna Taylor, James MadisonJr.MMidlothian, Va./James RiverLeah Zamesnik, William & MaryJr.M/FNorfolk, Va./GranbyLizzie Priest, NortheasternJr.GKNorth Vancouver, British Columbia/Sutherland
SECOND TEAMPlayer, SchoolCl.Pos.Hometown/High SchoolPam Aldridge, NortheasternSr.MRichmond, British Columbia/Hugh McRobertsMonica Baick, DrexelSr.MGaithersburg, Md./Quince OrchardKaela Barker, NortheasternSr.MNorth Vancouver, British Columbia/SutherlandKrizia Layne, HofstraJr.FArima, Trinidad/St. AugustineAmy Lee Levey, HofstraSr.BHarare, Zimbabwe/Dominican Convent)Amanda McCardell, DelawareSr.MElkton, Md./North EastKelsey McKee, DelawareFr.BGap, Pa./CoatesvilleKati Nearhouse, Old DominionSo.FNanticoke, Pa./Greater NanticokeSofia Sanguinetti, DrexelSr.BMontevideo, Uruguay/The British SchoolMaartje van Rijswijk, Old DominionJr.FVirginia Beach, Va./Princess AnneNoelle Diana, DelawareSr.GKFlanders, N.J./Mount OliveDevon Seifert, Old DominionSr.GKMarmora, N.J./Ocean City
ALL-ROOKIE TEAMPlayer, SchoolCl.Pos.Hometown/High SchoolJonel Boileau, HofstraFr.FKelowna, British Seconday/Kelowna SecondaryEmma Clifton, William & MaryFr.M/FLoomberah, Australia/Calrossy AnglicanKendell Combs, VCUFr.F/M/BSuffolk, Va./LakelandChristina Conrad, DrexelFr.FFallston, Md./FallstonJesse Ebner, William & MaryFr.M/BSinking Spring, Pa./The Hill SchoolKelsey McKee, DelawareFr.BGap, Pa./CoatesvilleMarta Penas, HofstraFr.MBarcelona, Spain/IES Joaquim BlumeMeghan Plank, DrexelFr.M/FGlen Mills, Pa./West Chester Bayard RustinKelsey Smither, Old DominionFr.M/BSuffolk, Va./LakelandLydia Velzian, Old DominionFr.M/BHamilton, New Zealand/Waikato DiocesanTaylor West, James MadisonFr.M/FPrincess Anne, Md./Pocomoke
2011 CAA Player of the Year: Emma Batten, Old Dominion2011 CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Kratzer, Old Dominion2011 CAA Rookie of the Year: Kelsey Smither, Old Dominion2011 CAA Coach of the Year: Beth Anders, Old Dominion