Iowa, Rutgers and Michigan Honored with Field Hockey Awards

ROSEMONT, lll. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Field Hockey Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week Award winners for the season-opening weekend of Aug. 28-30.

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Fréderique van Cleef, Iowa
5th – F – Asten, Netherlands – Varendonck College

Compiled five points (two goals, assist) to help No. 11-ranked Iowa to a sweep of No. 7 Wake Forest and No. 2 North Carolina in the ACC/Big Ten ChallengeWith the Hawkeyes trailing 3-0 at Wake Forest, van Cleef scored in the 42nd minute to spark a comeback that resulted in Iowa’s ninth-straight season-opening winAssisted on the game-winning overtime goal against the Demon DeaconsScored a crucial goal against North Carolina, tying the game in the third quarterPlaced all seven shots on goal this weekend; earns her first Big Ten weekly award

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Olivia Fraticelli, Rutgers
Sr. – F – Toms River, N.J. – Toms River North

Netted an NCAA-best four goals and a Big Ten-high eight points over two gamesTallied a hat trick, which included the game-winning goal, for No. 17 Rutgers in a 7-1 road win over WagnerOpened the season by finding the back of the cage against No. 18 MonmouthScored on all four shots taken on the weekendReceives her first Big Ten Offensive Player honor

Defensive Player of the Week
Eva Bernardy, Michigan
Jr. – B – Utrecht, Netherlands – Leidsche Rijn College

Converted on a third quarter penalty stroke in her collegiate debut, helping No. 14 Michigan to a 2-1 overtime win over No. 2 North Carolina at the ACC/Big Ten ChallengeAnchored a Wolverine defense that held the Tar Heels to zero penalty cornersDefended on two of four corners taken by Wake ForestApplied offensive pressure with five shots, three of which were on targetLast Wolverine to win the Defensive Player Award: Hala Silverstein (Oct. 7, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Reine van Hoof, Iowa
Fr. – F – Leuven, Belgium – Heilig Hartinstituut Heverlee

Provided the game-winning goal 6:46 into overtime to complete Iowa’s come-from-behind 4-3 win over Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C.The victory was Iowa’s seventh-straight against Wake Forest in the ACC/Big Ten ChallengeCame off the bench to help Iowa preserve a 3-2 win over No. 2 North CarolinaLed Iowa freshman with three shots (all on goal) on the weekendBecomes first Hawkeye to capture Freshman of the Week honors since Sept. 8, 2025

2026 Big Ten Field Hockey Weekly Awards
Aug. 31
O: Fréderique van Cleef, 5th, F, IOWA
O: Olivia Fraticelli, Sr., F, RU
D: Eva Bernardy, Jr., B, MICH
F: Reine van Hoof, Fr., F, IOWA