Six Named to NFHCA Division I Watchlist
8/29/2024 1:08:00 PM | Field Hockey
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. – Six Syracuse University field hockey players were named to the NFHCA's Division I Watchlist. The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced its annual list of potential All-Region and All-America selections Thursday afternoon.
Berber Bakermans, Willemijn Boogert, Aiden Drabick, Taja Gans, Pati Strunk, and Annabelle Vossenaar were all named among the 171 listed on the Watchlist, tied for the most Watchlisters in the ACC.
Bakermans, who transferred to Syracuse after a four-year career at the University of Delaware, is a three-time NFHCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region selection and was a First Team All-CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) pick last year. Bakermans wore the captain's band for two seasons at Delaware. A key player for the Fightin' Blue Hens, Bakermans appeared in 60 games, including 54 starts. In that time, she racked 46 points on 10 goals while doling out 26 assists.
An NFHCA Mideast All-Region First Team selection last fall, Boogert returns to the midfield unit for a fourth season at Syracuse. The Beek, Netherlands product had a career-best 18 points a year ago, depositing six goals with six assists, including a viral goal in the opening minutes of the 2023 ACC Tournament. Boogert started in all 19 games as a junior after a 17-point (7g, 3a) season as a sophomore and has served as a primary penalty corner insert player for the last two years.
Despite missing the back half of 2023 to a lower body injury, Drabick earns a spot on the Watchlist for a second straight season. In her six games played, Drabick accounted for a goal and two assists in her first year with the Orange. The Ambler, Pennsylvania native potted the game-winning goal in a season-opening win for the Orange last fall, adding assists in back-to-back appearances against Vermont and Virginia.
A newcomer to the Syracuse roster this year, Gans spent the summer playing with the German U21 National Team, helping her team to the bronze medal match at the 2024 U21 EuroHockey Championships. Gans appeared in five games for the German side, increasing her cap total to 15, despite being one of the younger players on the roster. Gans also played for the U18 team European Championship team and the U21 World Cup team in Chile.
Transferring to Syracuse from Kent State, Strunk was a two-time All-MAC First Team selection, in addition to being named 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year. Strunk played in 37 games for the Golden Flashes, which included 36 starts. During her time in Ohio, Strunk registered 35 points on 14 goals and seven assists.
Another newcomer to the program, Vossenaar brings a deep international experience as well after playing for HC Klein Zwitserland and debuted in the Hoofdklass in 2022 as a U18 player. She was also selected to play and train with the Zuid-Holland district team and the Dutch U18 team in 2023.
The 10th-ranked Orange hit the road to open the 2024 season, leading off on Friday, August 30 at Lock Haven University for a 3 p.m. match. Opening weekend rounds out on Sunday, September 1 with an early-season top-20 showdown at No. 16 Penn State. Game time in University Park, Pennsylvania is slated for noon on BTN+.
Berber Bakermans, Willemijn Boogert, Aiden Drabick, Taja Gans, Pati Strunk, and Annabelle Vossenaar were all named among the 171 listed on the Watchlist, tied for the most Watchlisters in the ACC.
Bakermans, who transferred to Syracuse after a four-year career at the University of Delaware, is a three-time NFHCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region selection and was a First Team All-CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) pick last year. Bakermans wore the captain's band for two seasons at Delaware. A key player for the Fightin' Blue Hens, Bakermans appeared in 60 games, including 54 starts. In that time, she racked 46 points on 10 goals while doling out 26 assists.
An NFHCA Mideast All-Region First Team selection last fall, Boogert returns to the midfield unit for a fourth season at Syracuse. The Beek, Netherlands product had a career-best 18 points a year ago, depositing six goals with six assists, including a viral goal in the opening minutes of the 2023 ACC Tournament. Boogert started in all 19 games as a junior after a 17-point (7g, 3a) season as a sophomore and has served as a primary penalty corner insert player for the last two years.
Despite missing the back half of 2023 to a lower body injury, Drabick earns a spot on the Watchlist for a second straight season. In her six games played, Drabick accounted for a goal and two assists in her first year with the Orange. The Ambler, Pennsylvania native potted the game-winning goal in a season-opening win for the Orange last fall, adding assists in back-to-back appearances against Vermont and Virginia.
A newcomer to the Syracuse roster this year, Gans spent the summer playing with the German U21 National Team, helping her team to the bronze medal match at the 2024 U21 EuroHockey Championships. Gans appeared in five games for the German side, increasing her cap total to 15, despite being one of the younger players on the roster. Gans also played for the U18 team European Championship team and the U21 World Cup team in Chile.
Transferring to Syracuse from Kent State, Strunk was a two-time All-MAC First Team selection, in addition to being named 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year. Strunk played in 37 games for the Golden Flashes, which included 36 starts. During her time in Ohio, Strunk registered 35 points on 14 goals and seven assists.
Another newcomer to the program, Vossenaar brings a deep international experience as well after playing for HC Klein Zwitserland and debuted in the Hoofdklass in 2022 as a U18 player. She was also selected to play and train with the Zuid-Holland district team and the Dutch U18 team in 2023.
The 10th-ranked Orange hit the road to open the 2024 season, leading off on Friday, August 30 at Lock Haven University for a 3 p.m. match. Opening weekend rounds out on Sunday, September 1 with an early-season top-20 showdown at No. 16 Penn State. Game time in University Park, Pennsylvania is slated for noon on BTN+.
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