BETHLEHEM, Pa. –– American University field hockey senior Sophie Willemse has been voted the Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Willemse was one of four Eagles to make the Academic All-League team, joined by Jill DuVarney, Jordan Reicher, and Emilia Winkler.
 
American led the way with its three selections, ahead of Lafayette with three and Holy Cross and Bucknell each with two selections. Voting for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year and All-Academic Team is done by the league's field hockey sports information directors.
 
Willemse is now the 14th player in program history to receive the honor of Scholar-Athlete. This is also the senior defender's second consecutive appearance on the Academic All-Patriot League Team. Willemse holds a 3.89 cumulative GPA and will graduate with a degree in business administration, specializing in information systems/tech and data science. This is the second award this season for the Dutch native after she was selected to the All-PL First Team.
 
DuVarney, a sophomore, has earned her first ever appearance on the PL All-Academic team with her game play and her 4.00 cumulative GPA. DuVarney is studying for a bachelor's of science in Finance and her impact on the turf this season, which has been instrumental to the success of the team, has increased exponentially from her first season as an Eagle.
 
Reicher, like Willemse, has also earned her second consecutive appearance on the All-Academic team. Reicher is an environmental studies major carrying a cumulative 3.87 GPA. The senior striker has already earned a spot on the Patriot League's All-PL First Team for her accomplishments on the field this season.
 
Winkler, a senior midfielder from Berlin, has earned her first appearance on the Patriot League's All-Academic team this season. Winkler carries a 3.89 cumulative GPA while studying for a bachelor's of science in health promotion. Having been named to the PL's All-League First Team, this is Winkler's second award this season.  

The Eagles finished the regular season with a 4-2 record in conference play and will play in the PL Tournament this week as the No. 2 seed, starting with the semifinal round against No.3-Seed Boston University at 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 5. The Patriot League Championship will be at 12 p.m. on Saturday at Rappolt Field in Easton, Pa.
 
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2026 Patriot League Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Sophie Willemse, American, Sr., D
 
2026 Academic All-Patriot League Field Hockey Team (listed alphabetically by school)
Jill DuVarney, American, So., F
Jordan Reicher, American, Sr., F
Sophie Willemse, American, Sr., D
Emilia Winkler, American, Sr., M
Shea Freda, Boston University, Jr., D
Bella Notaro, Bucknell, Jr., F
Brooke Parker, Bucknell, So., D
Lauren Widdowson, Colgate, Sr., M
Mia McCloskey, Holy Cross, Jr., GK
Maguire Sturgis, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Sr., F
Lena Thedrian, Lafayette, Sr., D
Ella Stephenson, Lehigh, Sr., D/M