Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Kent State on September 27, 2026 , Win , 2, to, 1
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Final
James Madison
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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
11/3/2026 4:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
CLEVELAND – James Madison field hockey was recognized with five selections to various All-Mid-American Conference teams, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.Â
Azul Covarrubias was tabbed to the All-MAC First Team while Avery Ruckman, Brynna Hill and Emma Smit were given All-MAC Second Team distinction. Additionally, Smit and Diede Donders grabbed spots on the All-MAC Freshman Team.Â
Covarrubias' all-league bid was the first of her career after the fourth-year defender recorded 14 points, five goals and four assists with all but two of her scores coming in MAC play. On Oct. 6, Covarrubias collected MAC Offensive Player of the Week after a posting her second career brace in a 3-2 road win over William & Mary and contributing three points in a 6-1 win at Longwood. On the backline, Covarrubias contributed to JMU's defensive efforts as the Dukes allowed 1.25 goals per game in league play, the third fewest mark in the MAC. Â
Ruckman's third year with the Dukes was her finest yet as the third-year forward led JMU with 17 points, seven goals and three assists. From Sept. 25-Oct. 16, the Edgewater, Md. native was one of the most consistent goal scorers in the MAC, finding the back of the cage in six consecutive games. Ruckman tallied a three-point outing on three occasions, delivering a goal and an assist in wins against Longwood, William & Mary and Ohio.Â
A member of the NFHCA Preseason Watchlist, Hill lived up to the billing by earning All-MAC Second Team honors. Hill tallied six goals, four assists and 16 points in her senior season, with all but one goal and two assists coming in MAC play. Season highlights for Hill include posting a brace in a win over Ball State and notching a pair of assists at William & Mary.Â
In her first year with the Dukes, Smit was selected to both the All-MAC Second Team and All-MAC Freshman Team. In 14 appearances, the Naarden, Netherlands native registered six goals, two assists and 14 points. Smit's numbers held up well against the rest of the league as the first year forward was top 10 in the MAC in shots on goal per game, goals per game and points per game in conference play.Â
Donders joined Smit on the All-MAC Freshman Team after starting in all 16 games for JMU this year. Donders delivered four assists and six points in her first season with the Dukes. The Molenhoek, Netherlands native tallied a three-point day at Ohio and a pair of assists against Longwood.Â
JMU finished the regular season with a 8-8 record while going 7-2 in MAC play and grabbing the three seed in the upcoming MAC Championship. The Dukes season was highlighted by a remarkable seven-game win streak from Sept. 27-Oct. 23, the program's longest since 2008. Five of JMU's seven victories in the MAC were won by a multi-score margin.Â
#3 James Madison faces #6 Ohio in the quarterfinals round of the MAC Championship in Oxford, Ohio. The whole tournament is free to attend and will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.Â
2026 MAC Field Hockey Postseason Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year:Â Barb Weinberg, Massachusetts*
Offensive Player of the Year:Â Niamh McKenzie, Graduate Student, Forward, Massachusetts*
Defensive Player of the Year:Â Malena Sabez, Sophomore, Midfielder, Miami
Goalkeeper of the Year:Â Rozárie Mrázová, Graduate Student, Massachusetts
Freshman of the Year:Â Amber Fairon, Forward, Massachusetts*
* - Unanimous selection
All-MAC First Team
Sophia Baxter, Senior, Defender/Midfielder, App State
Eva Usoz, Senior, Forward/Midfielder, Kent State
Azul Covarrubias, Senior, Defender, James Madison
Emily Barrett, Sophomore, Forward, Massachusetts
Amber Fairon, Freshman, Forward, Massachusetts
Niamh McKenzie, Graduate Student, Forward, Massachusetts
Elani Sherwood, Junior, Midfielder, Massachusetts
Kylie Coughlin, Senior, Back, Miami
Justina Intzes, Sophomore, Striker, Miami
Malena Sabez, Sophomore, Midfielder, Miami
GK:Â Rozárie Mrázová, Graduate Student, Massachusetts
All-MAC Second Team
Chloe Hook, Freshman, Forward, App State
Mora Rulli, Sophomore, Midfielder/Forward, Central Michigan
Brynna Hill, Senior, Midfielder, James Madison
Avery Ruckman, Junior, Forward, James Madison
Emma Smit, Freshman, Forward, James Madison
Neva Eisenga, Senior, Defender/Midfielder, Massachusetts
Bet Gifra, Sophomore, Forward, Miami
Maxima Aguirregomezcorta, Freshman, Midfielder, Miami
Sloane Wearren, Senior, Midfielder, Miami
Deborah James, Junior, Back, Ohio
GK: Macarena Gonzalez, Sophomore, Miami
All-Freshman Team
Chloe Hook, Forward, App State
Morgan Hook, Midfielder, App State
Wende de Witte, Midfielder, Bellarmine
Diede Donders, Forward, James Madison
Emma Smit, Forward, James Madison
Ryli Zee, Defender, Kent State
Isla Campbell, Forward, Massachusetts
Amber Fairon, Forward, Massachusetts
Toto Scarlatti, Midfielder, Miami
Maxima Aguirregomezcorta, Midfielder, Miami
Tori Cisney, Midfielder, Ohio
Â
Azul Covarrubias was tabbed to the All-MAC First Team while Avery Ruckman, Brynna Hill and Emma Smit were given All-MAC Second Team distinction. Additionally, Smit and Diede Donders grabbed spots on the All-MAC Freshman Team.Â
Covarrubias' all-league bid was the first of her career after the fourth-year defender recorded 14 points, five goals and four assists with all but two of her scores coming in MAC play. On Oct. 6, Covarrubias collected MAC Offensive Player of the Week after a posting her second career brace in a 3-2 road win over William & Mary and contributing three points in a 6-1 win at Longwood. On the backline, Covarrubias contributed to JMU's defensive efforts as the Dukes allowed 1.25 goals per game in league play, the third fewest mark in the MAC. Â
Ruckman's third year with the Dukes was her finest yet as the third-year forward led JMU with 17 points, seven goals and three assists. From Sept. 25-Oct. 16, the Edgewater, Md. native was one of the most consistent goal scorers in the MAC, finding the back of the cage in six consecutive games. Ruckman tallied a three-point outing on three occasions, delivering a goal and an assist in wins against Longwood, William & Mary and Ohio.Â
A member of the NFHCA Preseason Watchlist, Hill lived up to the billing by earning All-MAC Second Team honors. Hill tallied six goals, four assists and 16 points in her senior season, with all but one goal and two assists coming in MAC play. Season highlights for Hill include posting a brace in a win over Ball State and notching a pair of assists at William & Mary.Â
In her first year with the Dukes, Smit was selected to both the All-MAC Second Team and All-MAC Freshman Team. In 14 appearances, the Naarden, Netherlands native registered six goals, two assists and 14 points. Smit's numbers held up well against the rest of the league as the first year forward was top 10 in the MAC in shots on goal per game, goals per game and points per game in conference play.Â
Donders joined Smit on the All-MAC Freshman Team after starting in all 16 games for JMU this year. Donders delivered four assists and six points in her first season with the Dukes. The Molenhoek, Netherlands native tallied a three-point day at Ohio and a pair of assists against Longwood.Â
JMU finished the regular season with a 8-8 record while going 7-2 in MAC play and grabbing the three seed in the upcoming MAC Championship. The Dukes season was highlighted by a remarkable seven-game win streak from Sept. 27-Oct. 23, the program's longest since 2008. Five of JMU's seven victories in the MAC were won by a multi-score margin.Â
#3 James Madison faces #6 Ohio in the quarterfinals round of the MAC Championship in Oxford, Ohio. The whole tournament is free to attend and will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.Â
2026 MAC Field Hockey Postseason Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year:Â Barb Weinberg, Massachusetts*
Offensive Player of the Year:Â Niamh McKenzie, Graduate Student, Forward, Massachusetts*
Defensive Player of the Year:Â Malena Sabez, Sophomore, Midfielder, Miami
Goalkeeper of the Year:Â Rozárie Mrázová, Graduate Student, Massachusetts
Freshman of the Year:Â Amber Fairon, Forward, Massachusetts*
* - Unanimous selection
All-MAC First Team
Sophia Baxter, Senior, Defender/Midfielder, App State
Eva Usoz, Senior, Forward/Midfielder, Kent State
Azul Covarrubias, Senior, Defender, James Madison
Emily Barrett, Sophomore, Forward, Massachusetts
Amber Fairon, Freshman, Forward, Massachusetts
Niamh McKenzie, Graduate Student, Forward, Massachusetts
Elani Sherwood, Junior, Midfielder, Massachusetts
Kylie Coughlin, Senior, Back, Miami
Justina Intzes, Sophomore, Striker, Miami
Malena Sabez, Sophomore, Midfielder, Miami
GK:Â Rozárie Mrázová, Graduate Student, Massachusetts
All-MAC Second Team
Chloe Hook, Freshman, Forward, App State
Mora Rulli, Sophomore, Midfielder/Forward, Central Michigan
Brynna Hill, Senior, Midfielder, James Madison
Avery Ruckman, Junior, Forward, James Madison
Emma Smit, Freshman, Forward, James Madison
Neva Eisenga, Senior, Defender/Midfielder, Massachusetts
Bet Gifra, Sophomore, Forward, Miami
Maxima Aguirregomezcorta, Freshman, Midfielder, Miami
Sloane Wearren, Senior, Midfielder, Miami
Deborah James, Junior, Back, Ohio
GK: Macarena Gonzalez, Sophomore, Miami
All-Freshman Team
Chloe Hook, Forward, App State
Morgan Hook, Midfielder, App State
Wende de Witte, Midfielder, Bellarmine
Diede Donders, Forward, James Madison
Emma Smit, Forward, James Madison
Ryli Zee, Defender, Kent State
Isla Campbell, Forward, Massachusetts
Amber Fairon, Forward, Massachusetts
Toto Scarlatti, Midfielder, Miami
Maxima Aguirregomezcorta, Midfielder, Miami
Tori Cisney, Midfielder, Ohio
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Players Mentioned
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Thursday, December 07
