Field Hockey Season Recap

Dec 21 | Field Hockey

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey wrapped up a successful 2017 campaign that featured a young team achieving great accomplishments. The Scarlet Knights posted a 9-9 campaign in 2017 and had their most ever Big Ten Conference wins with wins over Indiana, Iowa and Michigan State. The team burst into the national rankings, peaking at No. 18 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, and staying ranked for eight straight weeks.

RANKED WINS

The squad set a program record by notching three ranked wins.

The first came at a neutral site in the fourth game of the season, a 5-1 triumph over No. 23 Old Dominion in College Park, Md. Daphne Groothuis led the way with two goals and two assists, as the team opened the season at 4-0.

The second came in conference play, in a low-scoring home contest against No. 19 Iowa. Katie Larmour scored the game's lone goal, and Gianna Glatz made four saves to preserve the shutout in a 1-0 win.

The third ranked win against came at a neutral site as the Scarlet Knights downed No. 12 Stanford, 2-1, in overtime in Ann Arbor, Mich. Groothuis scored the game-winning goal in the 82^nd minute to give RU the highest ranked win in program history.

CHALLENGING SCHEDULE

It was another grueling slate for the Scarlet Knights, who took on 11 ranked teams in 18 games. RU faced seven NCAA Tournament teams, including two Final Four Teams in Maryland and Michigan, with the Terrapins advancing to the National Championship Game. Despite that slate, RU still finished ranked No. 21 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll and was No. 23 in the final RPI.

AWARD WINNERS

Daphne Groothuis – The freshman midfielder had a breakthrough campaign, starting every game and leading the team with seven goals, eight assists and 22 points. She was named Second Team All-Big Ten and Second Team All Mid-Atlantic Region.

Linde van Schaik – The junior midfielder was named Second Team All-Big Ten and First Team All Mid-Atlantic Region. She tied her fellow Dutch teammate for the team lead with seven goals and was second with five assists and 19 points. She was also named to the Big Ten Tournament All-Tournament Team.

Austyn Cuneo – In her first season 'On The Banks', the sophomore started all 18 contests at back and scored five goals and added five assists for 15 points. The Waterford Works, N.J. native and Eastern Regional HS product was named Second Team All Mid-Atlantic Region.

SO LONG SENIORS

RU bid goodbye to a five-member senior class. It included two captains in Haley Meade and Simrin Dhillon, alongside Jade Dixon, Katie Beilin and Jessica Carey.

"These five young women have done a really great job creating a culture here at Rutgers, a culture that welcomes everybody, seniors to freshmen," head coach Meredith Civico said. "The five of them have done an incredibly job helping all our young players feel instantly a part of this team. I really credit them for creating that. They are a really great group of people on and off the field. They have had a great impact on this program."

OFF THE FIELD

The team also continued to excel in the classroom. Eight student-athletes were named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team. Katie Beilin, Megan Cunningham, Simrin Dhillon, Alanna Gollotto, Haley Meade, Nikki Profita, Carlina Sacco, and Nikki Santore earned the honor.

FOR THE FUTURE

RU will return 10 starters next season, along with every goal scorer and 98 percent of its point scoring. The Scarlet Knights were starting nine underclassmen down the final stretch of the season, including five freshmen. That group (in addition to Groothuis and Cuneo) included a freshman in Gianna Glatz that started every game in goal with a 2.23 goals-against-average and .664 save percentage, a freshman midfielder that scored five times in Gianna Mancini, and a freshman back that made 16 starts in Kerrie Burns. Another pair of freshmen in Gracey Butsack and Kassidy Shetler each had a pair of goals. Sophomore Emily Howarth led the team with three defensive saves alongside another sophomore that started every game at back in Alannna Gollotto. Sophomore Nikki Santore also contributed offensively, notching four goals and two assists for 10 points.

"I really feel like the team did the best that they could with what we had at times," Civico said. "And I'm really excited about the future and these young players. They bring the right mentality, they're great hockey players and they'll have more experience."

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers field hockey, follow the program on Twitter (@RUFieldHockey) and Facebook. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.