Freedman named NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Week for second time
Morse collects NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week for first time
NE-10 Field Hockey Weekly Report
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Freedman |
EASTON, Mass. (September 12, 2016) – Two members of the Stonehill College field hockey program's defensive backfield were honored for their efforts with weekly Northeast-10 Conference awards on Monday.
Senior All-American Sarah Morse (Westminster, Massachusetts/Oakmont Regional) earned NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career, while sophomore Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) was named the NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Week for the second time in her career.
The defensive duo were recognized for leading Stonehill to a pair of shutout wins over nationally-ranked opponents in a 2-0 week for the Skyhawks. Morse led a defensive unit which allowed just three shots on goal per game (7.0 shots per game overall) and 8.5 corners per game for the week. Freedman was the beneficiary of the stout backline with a 0.00 goals against average with three saves per game in posting her first two shutouts of the season.
Freedman made four saves in Monday's 2-0 victory over No. 2 Millersville University as the defense allowed just nine shots and successfully defended 12 penalty corners in the win. She had two stops in Saturday's 4-0 win at No. 10 Limestone College as the defense yielded just five shots and five corners to run the Skyhawks shutout streak to 166:02.
Morse earns NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career after moving into a defensive role this season after being a consensus first team All-America midfielder for Stonehill last year. The Skyhawks rank second in the NE-10 and fourth nationally in Division II with a 0.67 team goals against average, leading the Conference and ranking second nationally with its two shutouts.
Morse, a CoSIDA Academic All-America At Large third team selection last spring, ranks fifth all-time in program history with 24 assists in 62 career games played. She dished out 12 assists in each of the last two seasons – good for second on the program's single-season list. Morse has been named to the All-Tournament team at the NE-10 Championship the last two years, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in helping lead the Skyhawks to a second straight title in 2015. Morse also earned All-Northeast-10 first team and NE-10 Academic All-Conference honors as a junior.
Freedman earns NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the second time in her career. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Freedman, who earned NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Week honors once as a freshman, has played all 210-minutes in goal over the first three games this season. She ranks second in the NE-10 and seventh nationally in Division II with her 0.67 goals against average and .900 save percentage (5th nationally) and Conference-best two shutouts.
Freedman, who earned Synapse Sports Division II All-Rookie Team and NE-10 All-Rookie Team status as a freshman, has started 20 of her 23 career games played over her first two collegiate seasons, posting a 1.83 goals against average and .765 save percentage with four shutouts in 1,451:13.
Stonehill (2-1, 0-0 NE-10), ranked No. 5 in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II preseason poll, is back in action on Wednesday night when it faces its fourth nationally-ranked opponent to start the season as it hosts No. 4 Merrimack College for its Purple & White Game at W.B. Mason Stadium at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks close out the week by hosting Saint Michael's College on Saturday at 11 a.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market. Stonehill will serve as host of the 2016 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship at W.B. Mason Stadium, November 18-20.