ANNVILLE, Pa.– The Middle Atlantic Conference Office today released the 2018 All-Conference lists for Field Hockey. Led by
Alison Hoag on the first team, four Eastern University players earned spots on the MAC Freedom all-conference teams. League coaches selected
Joelle Wash,
Ali Balmer, and
Alexis Gooch to the second team.
Hoag, a senior forward, gets a first-team nod for the first time. She leads the league with 15 goals and 32 points. She scored ten times in seven league matches, but never scored more than twice in a contest. She put away at least one goal in every MAC Freedom game except the last, a 2-1 win at Delaware Valley. Hoag earned second-team honors in 2017 and in 2015 and honorable mention in 2016. Before this year, Hoag had nine goals and six assists in 50 matches. In addition to her role in the attack, Hoag still plays a critical role in defending penalty corners.
Wash, a sophomore transfer, stepped in as a major scoring threat as the season progressed. Nine of her 11 goals came in conference play. She was fourth in the league in total goals and fifth in points. She scored in six of seven league matches. Only Christie Hansen, the Offensive Player of the Year from DeSales, finished with more points in conference games than Wash and Hoag.
Balmer earns a second-team spot after being a first-team honoree last fall. The junior forward has played through nagging injuries throughout the season, but has made huge plays to change momentum in games and to earn field position with runs through opposing defenses. She scored twice in Eastern's huge 4-2 road win at King's which proved to be the difference for the Eagles in qualifying for the MAC Freedom Tournament. Balmer created both goals in the team's come-from-behind win at Delaware Valley on the final league game of the year.
Gooch earned a spot on the second team after receiving honorable mention last fall. She is steady defender with great tackling instincts. Through the year, she made 12 defensive saves and was a primary defender on penalty corners.
The Eagles will play at FDU-Florham in the opening round of the MAC Freedom Tournament tomorrow night.
Click Here to see the full release on the MAC Website
