Bos, Moerkerken selected All-Americans; Polders named Coach of the Year
MOUNT OLIVE – Following a remarkable 2022 field hockey season, UMO freshman Nikki Bos and sophomore Annefleur Moerkerken were selected as All-Americans, while head coach Daan Polders earned Division II Coach of Year honors from Synapse Sports.
The duo of Bos and Moerkerken became the first players in program history to be named All-Americans after the team completed its fourth season. Meanwhile, Polders collected his second Coach of the Year honor this season after garnering the accolade from the South Atlantic Conference. Additionally, Bos and fellow freshman Jule Schuurman were chosen for the All-Rookie Team by the organization.
Polders received the honor of Division II Coach of the Year after leading the Trojans to a 14-4 overall record including a 14-game winning streak and an undefeated 12-0 mark in conference play. He helped UMO capture its first-ever Piedmont Division title and advance to the SAC Championship game. Mount Olive also finished the year ranked No. 10 in the final Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II National Coaches Poll after appearing in the ranking for five straight weeks and reaching as high as No. 7 in the country. The Trojans ranked in the top 10 in the nation in several categories, including pacing all of NCAA Division II with a .214 shot percentage.
Bos becomes the first player in team history to be named a First-Team All-American after a record-setting 2022 campaign, which included the best statistical season ever by a forward at Mount Olive. She earned SAC Freshman of the Year and All-SAC First-Team laurels while also being selected to the All-Tournament Team. A native of Leusden, Netherlands, Bos finished the year with a team-leading 35 points on 13 goals and nine assists, all single-season program records. She ranked in the top 10 nationally with 1.94 points and 0.50 assists per game while delivering three multiple-goal performances.
Moerkerken earned Second-Team All-American honors after making a substantial influence in the midfield on both sides of the ball. From Driebergen, Netherlands, she earned All-SAC First-Team laurels and completed the season with nine points on two goals and five assists in 18 starts. Moerkerken helped maintain the offense in the midfield while assisting Mount Olive to its best defensive season, which included six shutouts.
Schuurman made a significant impact as a newcomer to the program and was selected to the All-Rookie team. A native of Krefeld, Germany, she ranked fourth on the team with 16 points after featuring a balance offensive stat line that included five goals and six assists. Schuurman also made a pair of game-winning goals, including leading UMO to a 2-1 victory over No. 6 ranked Converse during the regular season.
— From University of Mount Olive Athletics
