NORFOLK, Va. – TheOld Dominion field hockey team had five players recognized on the 2015 BIG EAST Field Hockey All-Conference Award list, as announced by the league on Wednesday. Awards are selected by a vote of the conference’s six head coaches.
Midfielder Chrissy Horn was tabbed as the BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year for the 2015 season, while also earning a spot on the second team. Sarah Breen and Catalina Barahona earned First Team All-BIG EAST accolades, while Megan Byas and Alex Iqbal joined Horn on the second team.
Horn became the first Lady Monarch since 2011 (Kelsey Smither – CAA) to be named the conference’s rookie of the year. She finished the regular season with a team-leading seven assists, which also ranked seventh in the league. She highlighted the season with two helpers in a span of 5:56 against William & Mary en route to earning BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors. Overall, Horn has notched nine points (1g, 7a) this season, starting all 18 contests at midfield.
Breen earned her fourth-consecutive all-conference nod and her third first team selection. She currently leads the team with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists, while ranking fifth in the conference in goals scored. Barahona picked up All-BIG EAST First Team honors after leading the defense to three shutouts and a 1.74 goals-against average. She tops the conference rankings with three defensive saves, which also ranks 19th in the nation.
Byas and Iqbal also represent ODU on the all-conference list, earning second team honors. Byas has been a key player on the back line for ODU, helping the team rank second in the league in goals-against average. She is also a threat on penalty corners, scoring all 12 of her points (4g, 4a) on set plays. Iqbal has been a consistent midfielder for ODU, starting in all 18 contests. She has recorded four points on one goal and two assists, helping the team post a scoring margin that ranks 28th in the nation and second in the BIG EAST.
The Lady Monarchs will be back in action on Friday at 2:00 p.m. when they host top-seed UConn in the semifinals of the 2015 BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online at ynottix.com. All of the tournament games will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network via the FOX Sports GO app.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Charlotte Veitner, Connecticut, So., F*
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Roisin Upton, Connecticut, Sr., M*
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Chrissy Horn, Old Dominion, M
Amelia Iacobucci, Connecticut, F/M
Coaching Staff of the Year
Connecticut
All-BIG EAST First Team
Nina Klein, Connecticut, R-So., GK
Catalina Barahona, Old Dominion, Jr., B
Anna Middendorf, Connecticut, Jr., B
Sarah Breen, Old Dominion, Sr., M*
Sarah Deck, Temple, Sr., M/B
Alyssa Delp, Temple, Sr., M*
Adrienne Houle, Providence, Jr., M
Roisin Upton, Connecticut, Sr., M*
Francesca Bello, Villanova, So., F
Aliyah Graves-Brown, Georgetown, Jr., F
Charlotte Veitner, Connecticut, So., F*
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Haley Mitchell, Temple, Sr., GK
Olivia Bolles, Connecticut, Jr., B
Megan Byas, Old Dominion, Jr., B
Karlie Heistand, Connecticut, So., M/B
Chrissy Horn, Old Dominion, Fr., M
Alex Iqbal, Old Dominion, GS., M
Kayla Kenney, Villanova, Sr., M
Pippa Lewis, Connecticut, GS., M
Emma Lucas, Providence, Fr., M
Emma Mackie, Providence, Sr., M
Kristen Mericle, Villanova, Jr., M
Casey Umstead, Connecticut, So., F/M
Megan Hamilton, Providence, So., F
Tricia Light, Temple, Sr., F
^ extra members were added due to a tie in voting
* unanimous selection