Nov. 2, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the sixth time in her career as the head coach of the Penn State field hockey team, Charlene Morett-Curtiss has been named the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore's Aurelia Meijer (Hattem, Netherlands), Moira Putsch (Media, Pa.) were named 2016 Big Ten First-Team while junior back Skyler Fretz (Oley, Pa.) earned Second-Team honors. This is first time since 2012 that Morett-Curtiss has been named Coach of the Year.
Currently three wins away from 500 career wins over her 33 year Hall-of-Fame coaching career, Morett-Curtiss lead the Nittany Lions to a 14-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in conference play, the three-time All-American helped her squad to a final regular-season ranking of No. 6 and a No. 2 seed in the 2016 Big Ten Tournament. Morett-Curtiss was also named Coach of the Year in 1993, 1998, 2005, 2008 and 2012.
Meijer, the first international student-athlete in Penn State field hockey history, earns her second career All-Big Ten First Team honor in as many years earning First-Team honors last season. The sophomore from Hattem, Netherlands has tallied 29 points this season on nine goals and 11 assists. The sophomore forward is second in Assist Per Game (0.73), Fifth in points per game (1.93) and 13th in Goals Per Game in the Big Ten Conference. Meijer's 0.73 Assist Per Game rank fifth in the country. Meijer has racked up 119 career points on 15 goals and 18 assists with two hat trick games in her two years as a Lion.
Also garnering First-team honors for Penn State is sophomore Moira Putsch. Putsch earns her second career All-Big Ten honor following her 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolade during her lone year at Maryland. The sophomore from Media, Pa. has tallied a team high 44 points this season on a team leading 14 goals and 16 assists. The sophomore forward is first in Assist Per Game (1.06), first in points per game (2.94) and third in Goals Per Game (0.94) in the Big Ten Conference. Putsch's 1.06 Assist Per Game is currently leads the nation. Putsch has racked up 38 points on 15 goals and 16 assists with two game-winning shots in her first year as a Lion.
The duo of Meijer and Putsch were joined by fellow Nittany Lion junior Skyler Fretz (Oley, Pa.), who ended the regular season having started every game this season on the back line.
Recognizing student-athletes that have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, the Big Ten honored senior Kirsten Gochnauer (Mount Joy, Pa.) as a Sportsmanship Award honoree. Allison joins the list of student athletes that are in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
The complete list of All-Big Ten honorees and Sportsmanship Award recipients is below.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Charlene Morett-Curtis, Penn State
2016 ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
WELMA LUUS, F, Sr., MD
NATALIE CAFONE, F, Sr., IOWA
Isabel Flens, M, Sr., NU
Kate Barber, M, Sr., IND
Aurelia Meijer, M, So., PSU
Katie Trombetta, D, Jr., MICH
Moira Putsch, F, So., PSU
Grace Balsdon, D, Sr., MD
Simone Vagnoni, D, Jr., MSU
Sophia Miller, D, Jr., NU
Noëlle Rother, GK, So., IND
SECOND TEAM
Maddy Humphrey, F, Jr., OSU
Alyssa Bull, M, Sr., RU
Katie Birch, D, Fr., IOWA
Carly Bennett, F, Jr., MICH
Kendal Anderson, F, Jr., MSU
Lein Holsboer, M, Jr., MD
Dominique Masters, M, Sr., NU
Skyler Fretz, D, Jr., PSU
Chandler Ackers, D, Sr., IOWA
Mollie Getzfread, M, Sr., IND
Sam Swenson, GK, Jr., MICH
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Mollie Getzfread, IND
Sophie Plasteras, IOWA
Brooke Adler, MD
Casie Ammerman, MICH
Kristin Matula, MSU
Maggie Fitzgerald, NU
Liz Tamburro, OSU
Kirsten Gochnauer, PSU
Devon Freshnock, RU
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS