Field hockey 2023 All-Conference team unveiled
WATERVILLE, Maine - Thomas College junior Julia Reny earned the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honor to highlight the conference’s first postseason honorees in field hockey with the return of the conference sport in 2023.
Husson University’s Kimmie Goddard and Tessa Capozzoli were tabbed as Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year respectively as voted by the conference’s head coaches.
Andrea Thebarge, the 15-year head coach at Thomas College, was voted the Coach of the Year and SUNY Morrisville’s Emma Plett was named the Field Choley Senior Scholar Athlete for 2023 and Thomas
Reny, a junior midfielder for the Terriers, leads the NAC in shots (58), shots on goal (43), goals (11), assists (5) and points (27) for conference game statistics. She has earned North Atlantic Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week accolade numerous times this 2023 season and was also recognized once nationally, as NFHCA DIII Player of the Week. A corner shooter and defensive fly for the Terriers, Reny has been seen as an offensive threat all season with her speed and skill.
Husson senior Kimmie Goddard put together another dominant season in the cage for the Eagles, helping Husson finish 4-0 in conference. The reigning New England Collegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year didn't allow a goal in conference play and led the NAC in goals against average. Goddard broke the Eagle’s program record for career shutouts on the season.
Capozzoli, a first-year New Hampshire native, put together an impressive freshman season for the Eagles, earning NAC rookie of the week once and finishing with three goals and four assists in conference. Capozzoli ranked tied for second in the NAC in assists and sixth with three goals. Additionally, Capozzoli tied for the team lead with four assists on the season helping Husson to finish 4-0 in conference and also claim the top seed for the conference tournament.
Plett is a two-year starter for the Mustangs, captaining the team in 2023. A two-sport student-athlete, she maintains a 3.54 cumulative GPA majoring in exercise science and has been a constant on the college’s Dean’s List each semester of attendance. Plett works alongside the athletic training staff at SUNY Morrisville as a work study student, an intern, and volunteers time to assist with other teams as well. The senior is a 2022 NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree and is a three-time selection for the SUNYAC Commissioner’s List for ice hockey. She was inducted into the college’s Chi Alpha Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter last spring, the National Honor Society for student-athletes. Plett also serves as a sport representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Thebarge was tabbed for NAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Terriers to a 12-8 overall record and 3-1 record in conference play. The Terriers returned to the NAC Championship match and had three players named to the NAC 2023 Tournament team. This is Thebarge’s second NAC Coach of the Year honors after receiving the award in 2018, the last time the NAC sponsored the sport.
In addition to the major conference awards, 12 student-athletes were named to the All-Conference teams, and five individuals were named to the NAC Field Hockey Sportsmanship Team. Selection to the Sportsmanship Team is reserved for those who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The honorees have positively affected the field hockey culture and game environment by clearly demonstrating sportsmanship and integrity beyond the field hockey rules and etiquette.
2023 NAC Field Hockey Awards
Player of the Year – Julia Reny, Thomas College
Defensive Player of the Year – Kimmie Goddard, Husson University
Rookie of the Year – Tessa Capozzoli, Husson University
Senior Scholar Athlete – Emma Plett, SUNY Morrisville
Coach of the Year – Andrea Thebarge, Thomas College
All-Conference Team
F – Julia Reny, Thomas College
F – Teagan Blackie, Husson University
F – Tessa Capozzoli, Husson University
F – Avery Herrick, Thomas College
M – Maddie Perkins, Husson University
M – Kara Richards, Thomas College
M – Emma Plett, SUNY Morrisville
D – Samantha Thebarge, Thomas College
D – Kayci Faulkingham, Thomas College
D – Gabbie Purchiaroni, SUNY Morrisville
GK – Elise Syphers, Thomas College
GK - Kimmie Goddard, Husson University
Sportsmanship Team
Husson University – Julia Murch
SUNY Morrisville – Rita Dziedzic
Thomas College – Riley Enright
UMaine-Farmington – Hailey Capano
Wells College – Issie Boissonault