Jantine Steinmetz Named Big Ten Freshman Of The Year
11/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 1, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshman Jantine Steinmetz was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year at the Big Ten Field Hockey Banquet in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday night. Jeamie Deacon, Amy Schneider and Floor Rijpma earned All-Big Ten honors, while senior Becky Manning was the Sportsmanship Award winner.
Steinmetz is the third player in MSU history to earn Freshman of the Year honors, along with Bridget Cooper (1998) and Emma Fernadez (1994). Steinmetz posted 13 goals in 16 regular-season games , and added one assist on the year for a total of 27 points, tying her with sophomore Floor Rijpma for third on the team. Steinmetz tied with teammate Becky Manning and Iowa's Lauren Pfeiffer for the most goals in the Big Ten, and tied for ninth in the NCAA, with Manning, in goals per game (.81).
Deacon took home first team All-Big Ten honors. Deacon finished the regular season tied for first in the Big Ten with Iowa's Lauren Pheiffer with 32 points. She ranks fourth in the Big Ten in goals with 12, and is in a three-way tie for eighth place with eight asissts. Deacon was a unanimous decision, marking the second time in school history, the first being Michelle Huynh -Ba who was voted unanimously in 2004. Lucia Belassi from Michigan, and Ohio State `s Yesenia Luces were voted Big Ten Co-Offensive Players of the Year, and joined Deacon as the only three unanimous decisions.
Senior Amy Schneider earned second team All-Big Ten honors, along with Floor Rijpma. Schneider had 18 points on three goals and 12 assists in the regular-season, tying her for ninth in MSU single-season history with Rayna Hiscox (2004). Rijpma has recorded 10 goals and seven assists, totaling 27 points. She was one of two players on the team to post 10 or more goals, 7 or more assists and record at least 27 points on the season.
The Sportsmanship Award is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athlete must be in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Manning finished the regular-season with 13 goals, four assists, and ranked second on the team with 30 points. Manning ranks 19th in the NCAA in points per game (1.88).
MSU seniors Michelle Ciliberti and Charlotte van der Laag, and juniors Geraldine Raynor and Gwen Riley earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. Selections are based off the 2006-07 academic school year.
MSU knocked off Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, 4-1, on Thursday morning. MSU will play in the semifinals against No. 3 seed Iowa on Friday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m.
