BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American University field hockey head coach Steve Jennings and graduate student defender Charllene Boshoff were voted the Patriot League Head Coach and Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced on Tuesday.
 
Lafayette led the way in All-Patriot League selections with five, two on the First Team and three on the Second Team. American tied with Boston University for All-Patriot League selections as four Eagles were voted to the two All-League teams including two on the First Team––Boshoff and fellow defender and South African Tayla-Jade Weiss––and two on the Second Team with goalkeeper Bryn Underwood and forward Emilia Winkler.
 
This is the first major award for Charllene Boshoff. The graduate student defender from South Africa is seventh in the league heading into post-season play with seven goals to her line on the stat sheet, three of which were game winners. Boshoff tied for team-leading 14 points overall throughout 11 games played in the regular season, enough to be sixth in the league in the category. Boshoff also earned a defensive save against Delaware.
 
Jennings continues to sit atop the Patriot League history books with now 11 Coach of the Year awards since American joined the conference in 2001. One of the most decorated field hockey coaches in the country, his teams have consistently been among the most dominant in the conference with 11 undefeated seasons after the Eagles closed the 2023 regular season at 6-0 in league play. This year also marked the program's 13th Patriot League regular season title, and the Eagles will look to also add their 13th tournament title this week.
 
Currently in his 25th season, Jennings owns an overall record of 302-164 (.648), including a staggering 110-20 (.846) in the Patriot League. He currently sits at 22nd all-time among Division I field hockey coaches in win percentage, and 21st for career wins. He is also 42nd all-time among all divisions for career wins.
 
Joining Boshoff on the First Team is junior Tayla-Jade Weiss. The South African was shifted to the central defensive position this season and made an impact both offensively and defensively. Weiss started all 15 games she played and finished the regular season with two goals and six assists for 10 total points–fourth on the team.
 
On the Second Team, Bryn Underwood was a stonewall in goal for the Eagles. The senior ended the regular season number 2 in the league in saves, 78, and in save percentage .788. She was also number two in the league in shutouts with three. The Sinking Spring, Pa. native rounded out the regular season averaging 4.88 saves per game.
 
Along with Underwood and completing the All-League lineup for the Eagles is freshman forward Emilia Winkler. The Berlin native tied with Boshoff for a team-leading 14 points on the season with five total goals and four assists. Her goal tally put her at 10th overall in the Patriot League standings. Her fifth goal of the regular season was the golden-goal overtime game-winner over Lehigh.
 
American will open postseason play this this week as the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. AU will host all three games of the tournament starting with the two semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 2. The first semifinal between the Eagles and No. 4 Bucknell will open the tournament at 11 a.m. No. 2 Lafayette will take the field against No. 3 Boston University at 2 p.m.
 
The Patriot League Championship game will be held at Jacobs Complex at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4.

2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., F
Defensive Player of the Year – Charllene Boshoff, American, Gr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Brooke Ross, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Fr., F/M
Coach of the Year – Steve Jennings, American
 
2023 First Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey
Charllene Boshoff, American, Gr., D
Tayla-Jade Weiss, American, Jr., D
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Jr., D
Thalia Steenssens, Boston University, Sr., M
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., F
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, So., D
Ella Murphy, Colgate, Sr., M
Brooke Ross, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Jr., M
Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, So., D
Julia Gatelein, Lehigh, Sr., M
 
2023 Second Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*
Bryn Underwood, American, Sr., GK
Emilia Winkler, American, Fr., M
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, Sr., B
Martu Coulo, Boston University, So., F/M
Gianna Puorro, Bucknell, So., F
Haley Davis, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Sarah Potter, Holy Cross, Sr., A
Laine Delmotte, Lafayette, Jr., M
Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Fr., F/M
Josephine van Wijk, Lafayette., So., M
Lotte Smorenburg, Lehigh, Sr., D
Kiki Mes, Lehigh, So., M