EVANSTON, Ill. – Redshirt first-year forward Bente Baekers was named an NFHCA Second Team All-American, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The award puts the finishing touches on an outstanding rookie campaign for Baekers, who led the Big Ten with 28 goals scored and 59 points.
Baekers joins Jennifer Averill (1984) and Kathleen Sullivan (1991) as the only players in program history to earn All-American honors in their rookie season with the 'Cats. Overall, she is the 28th Northwestern Field Hockey player to be named an All-American and first since 2017, when Puck Pentenga and Sophia Miller were both honored.
The Rijswijk, Netherlands native was also named Big-Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten. She was also one of four Wildcats to be selected to the NFHCA All-West Region Team, taking home first team honors, and earned six Big Ten weekly awards throughout the season.
Baekers' 28 goals scored are the most by any first-year in program history and tied for second (Lisa Griswold, 1983) in Northwestern history for a single season. Her offense was vital to the Wildcats' success in 2019, as she scored in all but one of the team's 14 wins.
Northwestern finished the season 14-8 and secured a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons.
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The award puts the finishing touches on an outstanding rookie campaign for Baekers, who led the Big Ten with 28 goals scored and 59 points.
Baekers joins Jennifer Averill (1984) and Kathleen Sullivan (1991) as the only players in program history to earn All-American honors in their rookie season with the 'Cats. Overall, she is the 28th Northwestern Field Hockey player to be named an All-American and first since 2017, when Puck Pentenga and Sophia Miller were both honored.
The Rijswijk, Netherlands native was also named Big-Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten. She was also one of four Wildcats to be selected to the NFHCA All-West Region Team, taking home first team honors, and earned six Big Ten weekly awards throughout the season.
Baekers' 28 goals scored are the most by any first-year in program history and tied for second (Lisa Griswold, 1983) in Northwestern history for a single season. Her offense was vital to the Wildcats' success in 2019, as she scored in all but one of the team's 14 wins.
Northwestern finished the season 14-8 and secured a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!