Usoz leads Postseason MAC Honors for Kent State Field Hockey
11/2/2023 9:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
CLEVELAND – The Kent State field hockey team had four student-athletes awarded postseason conference honors, as announced by the Mid-American Conference this morning.
Eva Usoz was named Freshman of the Year after her performance this season and leading the team in goals and points. Iris Bekker, Patricia Strunk, and Usoz were named All-MAC First Team selection. Maybritt Duwel and Usoz were awarded All-MAC Freshman Team selection.
Receiving a MAC Specialty award, All-MAC First Team, and All-MAC Freshman Team, Eva Usoz has been Kent State's most consistent offensive threat this season and is fifth in the conference in goals (9) and points (21). Usoz has shined against MAC competition with goals in 5 of 6 games and ranks second in the league, and first among freshmen, in goals (6) and points (13) in conference-only games. She provided the game-winner against Michigan State, Miami and Longwood.
Earning her All-MAC selection, Iris Bekker has played all 932 minutes at center back for a Kent State defense that has posted a goals against average of just 1.263 in MAC play and held 4 of 6 conference opponents to 10 or fewer shots. Bekker is tied for fifth in the conference with 3 defensive saves, including a huge stop in the fourth quarter of a 2-1 victory against Miami. She is also a reliable striker with 2 of the team's 3 penalty stroke goals and has totaled 7 points on 3 goals and 1 assist overall.
Patricia Strunk was named All-MAC First Team for the second season in a row. Strunk has once again been one of Kent State's top offensive threats, leading the team with 4 assists and ranking second in goals (4) and points (12). Named MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 17 after leading the Golden Flashes to a 2-0 weekend against Miami and Lock Haven, Strunk has tallied a point in 5 of 6 MAC contests.
Maybritt Duwel has been a key offensive threat for Kent State and is tied for fourth among MAC freshmen with 4 goals. Duwel recorded a career-high 5 points in the conference opener at Central Michigan with 2 goals and 1 assist.
Kent State enters the MAC Tournament semifinal against App State on Friday, Nov. 3 at 2:30 p.m. The championship contest will be held Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
