NEW YORK – The BIG EAST has named Marlon de Bruijne a Co-Freshman of the Year while also honoring a total of six Monarchs with all-conference recognition. De Bruijne and Delphine Le Jeune received spots on the All-BIG EAST Field Hockey First Team with Le Jeune being a unanimous selection. Nicole Fredricks, Marlee McClendon, Riley Taylor and Rina Tsioles were all second team honorees.
"I'm pleased that a large number of our team was recognized by the BIG EAST coaches for their play this season," head coach Andrew Griffiths said. "It's a great reflection of our team as a whole and how we have come together. When we compete and work as a group, the individual performances can shine."
Marlon de Bruijne | Fr. | F | Den Bosch Netherlands
De Bruijne becomes the 10th Monarch to receive conference freshman of the year accolades and the first since Chrissy Horn in 2015. She made an immediate impact in her first season with the Old Dominion field hockey team, leading the squad with 13 goals and 28 points, the most by any Monarch since Rosario Villagra had 14 goals and 41 points in 2013. On the national level, de Bruijne leads all Division I freshmen in goals and points.
The native of Den Bosch, Netherlands became the first ODU freshman to record a hat trick since at least the 2010 season when she scored three against Villanova on Feb. 26. The following day, de Bruijne put four past the Wildcats, which matches the most in a game at the DI level this season.
Marlon de Bruijne becomes the 10th Monarch to be named conference freshman of the year.
— ODU Field Hockey (@ODUFieldHockey) April 21, 2021
She leads all Division I freshmen with 13 goals and 28 points.
She had the 1st hat trick by an ODU freshman since at least 2010#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/zlLyDp06E0
Delphine Le Jeune | So. | M/B | Ghent, Belgium
A fellow first-year Monarch, Le Jeune started all 12 games this season in the heart of the pitch. The native of Ghent, Belgium is third on the team with six assists and 14 points and ranks fourth in goals with four. Le Jeune netted a pair of goals against Villanova on Feb. 27 and assisted the game-winning goal as ODU topped then-No. 4 Liberty at home on March 26.
Le Jeune gained momentum down the closing stretch of the regular season with at least one point in four of the last five matches. She logged four points in back-to-back games against Quinnipiac and Providence – scoring a goal and adding two assists both times. She opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 3-0 win over Quinnipiac on April 9 and added the game-winning goal in another 3-0 victory against Providence on April 16.
Delphine Le Jeune was an unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection.
— ODU Field Hockey (@ODUFieldHockey) April 21, 2021
She's 3rd on the team with 14 points and 6 assists and has 4 goals as well.#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/IijeHBOqlC
Marlee McClendon | R-Sr. | B | Virginia Beach, Va.
McClendon earns All-BIG EAST Second Team honors for the second-consecutive season. A preseason all-conference honoree, McClendon ranks sixth nationally in assists per game after logging a personal-best 10 assists across 12 games. The native of Virginia Beach, Virginia had three multi-assist games, including a three-assist outing against Providence on April 16. The veteran defender anchors the Monarchs' back line that has shut out opponents four times this season.
Marlee McClendon ranks 6th nationally in assists per game, and her 10 assists this season represent a new personal best.
— ODU Field Hockey (@ODUFieldHockey) April 21, 2021
McClendon is now a 2x All-BIG EAST Second Teamer.#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/RX3O1Ft2Zz
Nicole Fredricks | So. | B | West Chester, Pa.
Fredricks becomes a two-time All-BIG EAST second teamer after making the team as a freshman last season. The native of West Chester, Pennsylvania started every game this season and set a personal best with five goals – tied for second-most on the team. Fredricks netted the winning tally in a 1-0 victory over Temple on Feb. 21 and added back-to-back two-goal games against Quinnipiac and Providence on April 9 and April 16, respectively. A two-way player, she is also a vital piece in ODU's back line that has tallied four shutouts this season.
Nicole Fredricks returns to the All-BIG EAST Second Team for the second season in a row.
— ODU Field Hockey (@ODUFieldHockey) April 21, 2021
She's tied for 2nd on the team with a career-high 5 goals, and has helped the Monarchs to 4 shutouts this season.#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/cSspuHHo4N
Rina Tsioles | Fr. | M | Kingston, Pa.
Tsioles' impact on the game extends far beyond the traditional box score numbers. As a freshman, she stepped into the heart of the Monarchs midfield and made her mark immediately. Her ball-winning skills provide a crucial level of cover to the back line as ODU has notched shutouts in four games this season. Tsioles' passing ability is also vital to the Monarchs as they transition from defense to attack.
Rina Tsioles stepped into the heart of midfield and made her mark immediately.
— ODU Field Hockey (@ODUFieldHockey) April 21, 2021
Her ball-winning skills provide a crucial level of cover to the back line and is a big reason for ODU's 4 shutouts this year.#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/qopSZSKVui
Riley Taylor | Jr. | F/M | Virginia Beach, Va.
Taylor receives postseason all-conference recognition for the first time in her career. A Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree, Taylor ranks third nationally in assists per game with eight across nine matches. The native of Virginia Beach, Virginia is second on the team in points (18) and tied for second in goals (five). She opened the season with a pair of goals against VCU and scored the game winner in ODU's 2-1 victory over No. 4 Liberty on March 26. Taylor had a pair of games with multiple assists, including a three-assist outing against Villanova on Feb. 27.
Riley Taylor ranks 3rd nationally in assists per game and is 2nd on the team with 18 points.
— ODU Field Hockey (@ODUFieldHockey) April 21, 2021
She scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over No. 4 Liberty and had a game with 3 assists against Villanova.#ODUSports | #ReignOn | #Monarchs pic.twitter.com/QRUZ2bLYet
| All-BIG EAST First Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Pos. |
| Azul Irixity Irigoyen | Liberty | Fr. | GK |
| Kourtney Kennedy | UConn | Sr. | B |
| Delphine Le Jeune^ | Old Dominion | So. | M/B |
| Veronika Novakova | Temple | Gr. | M |
| Sophie Hamilton^ | UConn | So. | M |
| Madison Babineau | Providence | Sr. | M |
| Jess Dembrowski | UConn | Sr. | F |
| Jill Bolton | Liberty | Sr. | F |
| Jodie Connolly | Liberty | So. | F |
| Daniella Rhodes^ | Liberty | So. | F |
| Charlotte Vaanhold | Liberty | Jr. | F |
| Marlon de Bruijne | Old Dominion | Fr. | F |
^unanimous selection
| All-BIG EAST Second Team | |||
| Name | School | Year | Pos. |
| Cheyenne Sprecher | UConn | Jr. | GK |
| Christina Carotenuto | Temple | Sr. | GK |
| Lindsay Dickinson | UConn | Jr. | B |
| Claire van den Noort | UConn | Fr. | B |
| Bethany Dykema | Liberty | So. | B |
| Marlee McClendon | Old Dominion | R-Sr. | B |
| Jessie Halley | Quinnipiac | Jr. | B |
| Nienke Orelemans | Temple | Jr. | B |
| Sabine Deruijter | Villanova | Fr. | B |
| Nicole Fredricks | Old Dominion | So. | B |
| Rina Tsioles | Old Dominion | Fr. | M |
| Kaitlyn Cummins | Temple | Fr. | M |
| Riley Taylor | Old Dominion | Jr. | F |
| Meghan Mitchell | Villanova | Fr. | F |
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Sophie Hamilton, UConn, So., M
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, Liberty, Fr., GK
BIG EAST Co-Freshmen of the Year
Claire van den Noort, UConn, Fr., B
Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, Liberty, Fr., GK
Marlon de Bruijne, Fr., F
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Liberty