Jaarsma named NEC Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year

SOMERSET, N.J. -- Bryant University field hockey senior Marijn Jaarsma was named Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and NEC Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday afternoon.

Jaarsma becomes just the second major award winner in DI program history and is the first player in 11 years to take home both defensive and goalkeeper of the year honors in the same season. In addition, Jaarsma was named First Team All-NEC along with junior Taryn Rauff. Classmate Brittany Gouws was named to the All-NEC Second Team.

The senior from Uithoorn, Netherlands, has enjoyed a historic season and will graduate as one of the best goalies in program history. It seems fitting that Jaarsma's history-making campaign comes in the same year as the Bulldogs are inducting Kundayi Mawema into the Bryant Athletics Hall of Fame. Jaarsma joins Kim Stow from Sacred Heart (2010) as the only players in NEC history to earn defensive and goalkeeper of the year honors in the same season. She is also just the second major award winner in DI program history, joining Rosie Bird (NEC Rookie of the Year 2011). 

Jaarsma was spectacular in cage for the Black and Gold, finishing with a single-season record 202 saves. She led the nation with 11.2 saves per game, becoming just the seventh goalie since 2006 to finish with more than 11 saves per game in a single season. Jaarsma finished with a .780 save percentage and posted shutouts in each of Bryant's wins this year. She made 10+ saves on 12 occasions, including a program record 20 against New Hampshire. Jaarsma will graduate with 495 career saves.

Rauff picks up a postseason honor for the second time in her career, earning first team honors for the first time. She was an All-Rookie selection in 2019. This fall, Rauff led the Bulldogs offensively, finishing fifth in the NEC in goals (8) and ninth in points (17). Her eight goals are the most by a Bulldog since 2016. Rauff scored in four of the seven NEC games she appeared in, notching four goals and an assist in league play. She netted a pair of goals in 4-2 setback to Vermont. 

Gouws returned to the Bryant lineup this fall and instantly became one of the league's premier midfielders. Rarely coming off the field, Gouws appeared in 17 games, starting 16. Gouws finished the year with a pair of goals and also collected four defensive saves. She scored her second goal of the season at Sacred Heart, a game the Bulldogs rallied from 3-0 down to send it to overtime.