ATLANTA, Ga. (November 2, 2022) – The Southern Athletic Association has announced its 2022 field hockey All-Conference teams. Voting was conducted among the league’s six head coaches.  
 
Sophie Croci (Rhodes) was named Offensive Player of the Year and Erin Bozdech (Centre) earned Defensive Player of the Year honors to highlight the All-SAA teams.
 
Libby Bringard (Transylvania) took Goalkeeper of the Year honors and Allyson Nichols (Marian) was tapped as Newcomer of the Year. Rhodes and Marian shared co-Coaching Staffs of the Year.
 
Croci (Junior/ Columbus, Ohio) led the SAA in scoring with 46 points during the regular season, tallying 19 goals and eight assists. She ranks ninth nationally in points per game and 11^th in total goals. Croci led the way for a Lynx attack that outscored SAA teams 27-0 and all opponents 57-13 on the season. The junior was named first team All-SAA last season and this year was the SAA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10.
 
Bozdech (Senior/ St. Louis, Mo.) enjoyed a breakout season for Centre. She has logged a team-best 835 minutes this season and gotten off six shots, five on goal. Her two defensive saves ties for third in the SAA. Bozdech leads a Colonels defense that allowed just five shots and two goals a game in conference. Twice she was named SAA Defensive Player of the Week in 2022.
 
Bringard (Sophomore/ Louisville, Ky.) was a second team All-SAA selection a year ago and has been stellar in goal this season. She leads the SAA with 120 saves, averaging eight stops a game. Bringard allowed just 2.4 goals a night and posted one shutout on the season. Her 0.774 save percentage ranks 36^th in Division III.
 
Nichols (Freshman / Little Falls, N.Y.) earned SAA Offensive Player of the Week honors a season-best three times. She tallied a SAA second-best 37 points, ranking second in both goals (14) and assists (9). Her five game winners leads the league. Nationally, Nichols is 10^th in assists per game and 10^th in goals per game.
 
Led by head coach Katie Gerzabek Salem, Rhodes went 5-0 in SAA play and enters the postseason 13-2 overall and the top seed in the upcoming SAA Tournament. She is the third SAA Coach of the Year from Rhodes and first since 2018. Marian coach Holly Heeb is the architect of a spectacular first year for Sabres field hockey. Building the program from scratch, Marian went 7-7 in its inaugural season and earned the third-seed in the SAA Tournament.
 

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2022 SAA All-Conference
Offensive Player of the Year: Sophie Croci, Rhodes
Defensive Player of the Year: Erin Bozdech, Centre
Goalkeeper of the Year: Libby Bringard, Transy
Newcomer of the Year: Allyson Nichols, Marian
Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year:  Rhodes & Marian
 
First Team All-SAA
Sophie Croci, Rhodes
Allyson Nichols, Marian
Erin Bozdech, Centre
AnnaLyssia Abela, CUW
Samantha Hutchinson, Rhodes
Abby Sohonage, Sewanee
Grace Utz, Rhodes
Ellie Dunham, Centre
Makenna Saward, Transylvania
Jikke Biemans, Marian
GK - Libby Bringard, Transylvania
 
Second Team All-SAA
Courtney Kelly, Rhodes
Eva Houtackers, Marian
Indi Rameckers, Marian
Sheela Vasan, Rhodes
Claire Martin, Centre
Donna Pitock, CUW
Reece Kugler, Rhodes
Meghan Speth, Centre
Sidney Aldridge, Transylvania
Lori Pitock, CUW
GK - Emily Binley, CUW