Field Hockey: All-Big Ten Awards
Nov 06 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey was well recognized on Wednesday with the release of the annual all-Big Ten awards. The Scarlet Knights were honored with a First Team All-Big Ten selection (Paulina Niklaus), two Second Team All-Big Ten selections (Guillermina Causarano and Puck Winter), a member of the All-Freshman Team (Anna Cogdell) and the team's Sportsmanship Award winner (Vicky Jure).
The Scarlet Knights had three starters on the defensive end (Niklaus, Winter and Cogdell) recognized along with one forward (Causarano). Starting in 2018, RU had at least three all-conference selections in six of the past seven seasons.
First Team: Paulina Niklaus
In her second season as a Scarlet Knight, Niklaus earns all-conference recognition for the second time, ascending to First Team status after being tabbed as a Second Team All-Big Ten selection as a rookie in 2023, where she also was placed on the Big Ten All-Tournament team. Niklaus has started all 15 games, with a career-high seven goals, tied for the team lead with Causarano. She has also added three assists for a career-best 17 points. She had two goals in the win over No. 7 Iowa, and her first career hat trick with three scores against Indiana. The native of Manheim, Germany, is in her second season with the Scarlet Knights. She has started all 32 of her career games with 10 goals and seven assists.
Second Team: Guillermina Causarano
Causarano earns all-conference honors for the second straight season following a placement on the First Team All-Big Ten last season. The native of Salta, Argentina has led the team offensively this season with 23 points on seven goals and nine assists. Causarano opened the season with two goals in the season opener, and also had a hat trick in the win over Miami.
Second Team: Puck Winter
Winter earns her second straight All-Big Ten placement after a First Team honor last season. The back from Deventer, Netherlands leads the team with five defensive saves, first in the Big Ten and sixth in the nation. Winter has 21 career defensive saves, the second most all-time at RU, just three behind RU's all-time leader. Winter has started all 53 games in her career, adding 12 goals, and was also previously the 2022 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year.
All-Freshman Team: Anna Cogdell
This season, the conference debuted an all-Freshman team to recognize the league's best rookies. A starter from the moment she stepped onto campus, Cogdell stepped into a key role for the team at right back. The native of Badingham, England scored two goals and added one assist as well as her defensive prowess, and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for her performance in the team's win over No. 7 Iowa the last weekend of September.
Sportsmanship Award: Vicky Jure
A native of Funes, Argentina, Jure has been a staple of the RU midfield. In three years as a Scarlet Knight, she has played in 53 games. This season, she has started 14 contests and has season highs offensively with two goals and seven points, posting three assists. She has 12 career points across 27 starts.
Up next, the Scarlet Knights will head to the Big Ten Tournament. RU earned the No. 4 seed, the third time in the past four years with RU playing its opening game as the higher seeded team. Postseason play begins on Thursday, as RU will face Ohio State, who is the No. 5 seed and ranked No. 7 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll. Game time is 11 a.m. If Rutgers prevails on Thursday, No. 1 seed Northwestern is waiting in Friday's Semifinals. All tournament games will be played this week at the University of Maryland.
The Scarlet Knights had three starters on the defensive end (Niklaus, Winter and Cogdell) recognized along with one forward (Causarano). Starting in 2018, RU had at least three all-conference selections in six of the past seven seasons.
First Team: Paulina Niklaus
In her second season as a Scarlet Knight, Niklaus earns all-conference recognition for the second time, ascending to First Team status after being tabbed as a Second Team All-Big Ten selection as a rookie in 2023, where she also was placed on the Big Ten All-Tournament team. Niklaus has started all 15 games, with a career-high seven goals, tied for the team lead with Causarano. She has also added three assists for a career-best 17 points. She had two goals in the win over No. 7 Iowa, and her first career hat trick with three scores against Indiana. The native of Manheim, Germany, is in her second season with the Scarlet Knights. She has started all 32 of her career games with 10 goals and seven assists.
Second Team: Guillermina Causarano
Causarano earns all-conference honors for the second straight season following a placement on the First Team All-Big Ten last season. The native of Salta, Argentina has led the team offensively this season with 23 points on seven goals and nine assists. Causarano opened the season with two goals in the season opener, and also had a hat trick in the win over Miami.
Second Team: Puck Winter
Winter earns her second straight All-Big Ten placement after a First Team honor last season. The back from Deventer, Netherlands leads the team with five defensive saves, first in the Big Ten and sixth in the nation. Winter has 21 career defensive saves, the second most all-time at RU, just three behind RU's all-time leader. Winter has started all 53 games in her career, adding 12 goals, and was also previously the 2022 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year.
All-Freshman Team: Anna Cogdell
This season, the conference debuted an all-Freshman team to recognize the league's best rookies. A starter from the moment she stepped onto campus, Cogdell stepped into a key role for the team at right back. The native of Badingham, England scored two goals and added one assist as well as her defensive prowess, and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for her performance in the team's win over No. 7 Iowa the last weekend of September.
Sportsmanship Award: Vicky Jure
A native of Funes, Argentina, Jure has been a staple of the RU midfield. In three years as a Scarlet Knight, she has played in 53 games. This season, she has started 14 contests and has season highs offensively with two goals and seven points, posting three assists. She has 12 career points across 27 starts.
Up next, the Scarlet Knights will head to the Big Ten Tournament. RU earned the No. 4 seed, the third time in the past four years with RU playing its opening game as the higher seeded team. Postseason play begins on Thursday, as RU will face Ohio State, who is the No. 5 seed and ranked No. 7 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll. Game time is 11 a.m. If Rutgers prevails on Thursday, No. 1 seed Northwestern is waiting in Friday's Semifinals. All tournament games will be played this week at the University of Maryland.
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