Three Freshman Koch, Huff and van der Hoop Win Weekly Awards
MAAC Sports
Offensive Player of the Week
Danne Koch, Rider
Berkel, Netherlands, / Melanchthon Bergschenhoek
Koch led Rider to a 3-0 week as Rider won on the road 3-2 at La Salle, defeated a strong St. Francis (Pa.) squad 3-0, and winning 4-1at Colgate. With Rider trailing 2-0 at La Salle on September 21, Koch assisted on the game-tying goal as Rider scored three unanswered goals for the come from behind win. Koch also scored a goal in Rider’s win over the Red Flash on September 23, and she had two goals and an assist in a 4-1 road win at Colgate on September 25, pasting the Colgate goalie with 14 shots for a five point day. After this weekend, Koch now leads Rider with seven goals and 19 points.
Defensive Player of the Week
Grace Huff, Rider
Oklahoma City, OK., / Casady School
Huff allowed only one goal in 198:53 of action (0.45 gaa), leading Rider to a 3-0 week. At La Salle on September 21, Huff entered the game with Rider trailing 2-0 and she held the Explorers scoreless in the final 58:53 as the Broncs came from behind and won 3-2. Against a strong Red Flash squad from Saint Francis (Pa.), Huff recorded her first career shutout in a 3-0 win on September 23 while making three saves. At Colgate on September 25, Huff won again as the Broncs scored a 4-1 victory against the Raiders. Huff opened her collegiate career with a shutout streak of 203:27 in four games before the penalty stroke goal.
Rookie of the Week
Josephine van der Hoop, Monmouth
Rotterdam, Netherlands, / Wolfert van Borselen
Josephine van der Hoop posted a break-out weekend for the Hawks, registering five points with two goals and an assist in a weekend that saw Monmouth split with Drexel and Bucknell. Against Drexel, the rookie started the game and scored the Hawks’ first goal, evening the score at 1-1 early in the first half. Two days later, van der Hoop notched what proved to be the game-winner in the 51st minute. She also assisted on Elyssa Okken’s insurance marker 40 seconds later to help give the Blue and White its first win over the Bison since 2004. For the weekend, van der hoop recorded six shots, with half of the attempts reaching cage.