Two Spartans Earn All-Big Ten Honors
11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State field hockey juniors Simone Vagnoni and Kendal Anderson have both been named All-Big Ten, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. Vagnoni receives First-Team honors, while Anderson is a Second-Team selection.
A native of Collegeville, Pa., Vagnoni is one of four defenders featured on the First Team. Vagnoni has started in all 19 games for the Spartans and has recorded three goal and two assists. In addition to serving as a primary ball-handler on the back line, Simone has played a crucial role on penalty corner defense.
"Simone's consistency this season has set the tone for us in each and every game," said head coach Helen Knull. "She has been a threat on the attack and been the lock for us on defense. It has been awesome to see her game develop and the season she has had this year."
Kendal Anderson is a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection and has been the Spartans leading scorer all season long. The redshirt junior forward is fifth in the Big Ten with 36 points, while her 14 goals are tied for fifth and her eight assists are tied for eighth.
"We moved Kendal from midfield to forward this year and she made the adjustment very well," said Knull. "She has been scoring and assisting in field play and corners along with setting the attack with her other forwards."
Senior captain Kristin Matula has been recognized by the Big Ten as MSU's Sportsmanship Award honoree. Matula has started in all 19 games and is second on the team with 25 points on 10 goals and five assists.
"Kristin is an exemplary captain who embodies good sportsmanship on and off the field. She is a fierce competitor who always raises the level of herself and those around her."
The sixth-seeded Spartans will face third-seeded Michigan on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in College Park, Md. The game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network.
2016 BIG TEN FIELD HOCKEY INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Athlete of the Year
Welma Luus, Maryland
Offensive Player of the Year
Natalie Cafone, Iowa
Defensive Player of the Year
Grace Balsdon, Maryland
Freshman of the Year
Katie Birch, Iowa
Coach of the Year
Charlene Morett-Curtis, Penn State
2016 All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
WELMA LUUS, F, Sr., MD
NATALIE CAFONE, F, Sr., IOWA
Isabel Flens, M, Sr., NU
Kate Barber, M, Sr., IND
Aurelia Meijer, M, So., PSU
Katie Trombetta, D, Jr., MICH
Moira Putsch, F, So., PSU
Grace Balsdon, D, Sr., MD
Simone Vagnoni, D, Jr., MSU
Sophia Miller, D, Jr., NU
Noëlle Rother, GK, So., IND
Second Team
Maddy Humphrey, F, Jr., OSU
Alyssa Bull, M, Sr., RU
Katie Birch, D, Fr., IOWA
Carly Bennett, F, Jr., MICH
Kendal Anderson, F, Jr., MSU
Lein Holsboer, M, Jr., MD
Dominique Masters, M, Sr., NU
Skyler Fretz, D, Jr., PSU
Chandler Ackers, D, Sr., IOWA
Mollie Getzfread, M, Sr., IND
Sam Swenson, GK, Jr., MICH
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
