Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Hanssen Earns All-B1G Second Team, Sinisi Receives Sportsmanship Award
11/3/2021 12:10:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – After leading the Michigan State field hockey team in all three major offensive categories this season, junior Merel Hanssen was the named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, the conference office announced Wednesday. The conference also announced that senior Lia Sinisi was one of nine honorees for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
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Hanssen started all 15 games for the Spartans this season, pacing the squad with six goals, five assists and 17 points, setting career highs in all three categories. Scoring two game-winning goals, the Maastricht, Netherlands native had a pair of multi-point performances, tallying two goals and an assist in the Sept. 3 win over Northeastern before registering a goal and two assists in the Oct. 10 victory at Miami (Ohio). The junior also tallied points in five-straight games from Sept. 3 to Sept. 19, a stretch in which the Spartans went 4-1 overall. For her career, Hanssen has started 45 of 49 games for the Green and White, scoring 21 total points.
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Sinisi was the 2021 MSU recipient for the B1G Sportsmanship Award, following fellow co-captain Cara Bonshak, who received the honor last season. The Sportsmanship Award is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Sinisi is a two-year captain and five-year starter for the Spartans, and was the team's Offensive Player of the Year in the 2019 and spring 2021 seasons. Sinisi is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and has been involved in the team's community service efforts over her five years in East Lansing.
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Iowa's Anthe Nijziel and Rutgers' Gianna Glatz were named the B1G Co-Players of the Year, while Iowa head coach Lisa Cellucci was selected as Coach of the Year. Sofia Southam of Michigan was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year, Nijziel received Defensive Player of the Year and Maryland's Hope Rose was recognized as the conference's Freshman of the Year.
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Hanssen started all 15 games for the Spartans this season, pacing the squad with six goals, five assists and 17 points, setting career highs in all three categories. Scoring two game-winning goals, the Maastricht, Netherlands native had a pair of multi-point performances, tallying two goals and an assist in the Sept. 3 win over Northeastern before registering a goal and two assists in the Oct. 10 victory at Miami (Ohio). The junior also tallied points in five-straight games from Sept. 3 to Sept. 19, a stretch in which the Spartans went 4-1 overall. For her career, Hanssen has started 45 of 49 games for the Green and White, scoring 21 total points.
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Sinisi was the 2021 MSU recipient for the B1G Sportsmanship Award, following fellow co-captain Cara Bonshak, who received the honor last season. The Sportsmanship Award is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Sinisi is a two-year captain and five-year starter for the Spartans, and was the team's Offensive Player of the Year in the 2019 and spring 2021 seasons. Sinisi is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and has been involved in the team's community service efforts over her five years in East Lansing.
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Iowa's Anthe Nijziel and Rutgers' Gianna Glatz were named the B1G Co-Players of the Year, while Iowa head coach Lisa Cellucci was selected as Coach of the Year. Sofia Southam of Michigan was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year, Nijziel received Defensive Player of the Year and Maryland's Hope Rose was recognized as the conference's Freshman of the Year.
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Players Mentioned
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