Five members of the Yale Bulldogs women’s field hockey team have been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mideast Region teams, according to an announcement made Wednesday. The honorees represent a range of class years and positions, reflecting the team’s depth and performance during the season.
The first team selections include senior forward Poppy Beales from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England; sophomore midfielder Chiara Picciafuoco from Buenos Aires, Argentina; and junior back Hettie Whittington from Guildford, Surrey, England.
Second team honors went to sophomore midfielder Victoria Collee of Laren, Netherlands, and first-year goalkeeper Amelie Schwarzkopf from Berlin, Germany.
The NFHCA divides Division I teams into five regions—Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Northeast, South and West—for its All-Region awards. Each region can recognize up to 16 student-athletes on both first and second teams. The NFHCA will announce All-America honors on December 16.
Poppy Beales has received multiple accolades this season. “Beales adds to her already significant collection of hardware this season, having been named first team All-Ivy League (for the third time) and selected to the NFHCA Senior Team. She finished fourth in the Ivy League with a career-high 12 goals. She ranks seventh on Yale’s career goals list (31) and 10th on Yale’s career points list (65). Beales started 50 games in a row at the end of her career. She also earned first team NFHCA All-Mideast Region as a sophomore and junior.” Beales is a graduate of Framlingham College.
Victoria Collee earned her second consecutive second team All-Mideast Region honor this year. “This is Collee’s second straight second team All-Mideast Region honor. An honorable mention All-Ivy League pick this season, started 17 games and was third on the team in goals and points (7-2-16).” Collee graduated from Gemeentelijk Gymnasium Hilversum.
Chiara Picciafuoco was recognized for her consistent performance as well. “This is Picciafuoco’s second straight first team All-Mideast Region honor. Last year she went on to earn second team All-America recognition. Picciafuoco earned first team All-Ivy League for the second year in a row this season. She started all 18 games, contributing a pair of goals and a pair of assists.” Picciafuoco attended Belgrano Day School.
First-year goalkeeper Amelie Schwarzkopf had an immediate impact in her debut season with Yale: “In her first season with the Bulldogs, Schwarzkopf emerged as Yale’s starting goalkeeper and delivered a pair of shutouts while posting a .732 save percentage and a 1.59 goals-against average. In her 17 games played, she limited Yale’s opponent to no more than one goal 10 times.” Schwarzkopf is a graduate of Dreilinden Gymnasium.
Junior back Hettie Whittington contributed both defensively and offensively: “Whittington has developed into one of the most complete players in the league, contributing at both ends of the field. As a center back, she anchored a defense that allowed only 27 goals in 18 games. As one of the team’s primary options on attack penalty corners – and on penalty strokes – she delivered career highs in goals, assists and points (9-9-27). Last year Whittington was a first team All-Ivy League and first team NFHCA All-Mideast Region selection.” Whittington graduated from Surbiton High School.
