CLEVELAND - App State field hockey saw three student-athletes land on the Mid-American Conference Postseason awards list, highlighted by Meghan Smart receiving the MAC Offensive Player of the Year award.
The Mountaineers were one of four teams to have three student-athletes named to the all-conference teams, as the MAC announced its postseason awards on Monday.
It's the third time in the past four seasons the Apps put three athletes on the All-MAC team since joining the league in 2017. Veerle Van Heertum and Smart garnered First-Team All-MAC honors, while Friederike Stegen made the second team.
Van Heertum is named to the first team for the third straight season and it's the second consecutive year Stegen has been recognized by the league.
Smart earns postseason honors for the first time in what was a breakout season for the senior. The Haddonfield, New Jersey, native is the first Mountaineer in program history to receive a Player of the Year honor as well.
"I am ecstatic about our All-MAC honors," head coach Meghan Dawson said. "The young women who competed this season for all the MAC teams showed absolute resilience and strength. To have three of our student-athletes honored is an amazing acknowledgment of their continued hard work over this difficult year.'
Smart led the Mountaineers and the MAC with a personal-high 12 goals and 28 points. She was second in the league in points per game (1.75) and goals per game (.75). Against Bellarmine, the Offensive Player of the Year scored five goals, including a hat trick en route to a MAC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Nationally, Smart was 15th in goals per game and 19th in points per contest. Smart is tied for 10th all-time in school history with 26 goals scored.
"It's amazing to see Meg recognized for her accomplishments this year on a conference level," Dawson stated. "She has been diligent in her path to get better and to serve her team on the field. I am so proud of her."
Van Heertum finished the season second on the team in goals scored with five, with four coming against Mid-American foes. She ranked fifth in the MAC in total shots with 46 and seventh in shots on goal with 22. She started in all 16 matches and has started in 72 of the 75 matches for her career, while she is seventh all-time with 65 points. In 2018, she became the first Mountaineer since 2003 to earn NFCHA South Region Second Team honors.
Stegen started in all 16 contests with all seven of her points, two goals and three assists coming in conference action. The junior ranked sixth in the league in shots on goal with 24, averaging 1.50 per game. She attempted the third-most shots on the team with 34 and recorded a pair of game-winning scores for the Black and Gold. Stegen was named to the 2020 NFCHA National Academic team.
All-MAC First Team
Veerle Van Heertum, App State
Meghan Smart, App State
Alice O'Hagan, Central Michigan
Luna Lopez, Longwood
Helena Cambra Soler, Kent State
Clara Rodriguez Seto, Kent State
Allie Grace Joyner, Miami
Isabelle Perese, Miami
Leonor Berlie, Miami
Jillian Shive, Ohio
Leah Warren, Ohio
All-MAC Second Team
Friederike Stegen, App State
Audrey Tabor, Ball State
Charlotte Wilm, Longwood
Emma Bressler, Kent State
Maria Cambra Soler, Kent State
Azure Fernsler, Kent State
Claudia Negrete, Miami
Luli Rosso, Miami
Lexi Nugent, Miami
Paula Pena, Miami
Noor Breeijk, Miami
Coach of the Year
Inako Puzo, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year
Luli Rosso, Miami
Offensive Player of the Year
Meghan Smart, App State
Freshman of the Year
Claudia Negrete, Miami
