Julie Kouijzer and Mia Duchars from the University of Louisville have been recognized for their outstanding performance in field hockey with National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America honors, as announced by the organization. Kouijzer has been named to the first team, while Duchars has been selected for the second team. This is a significant achievement for the Cardinals, as they have now had at least two players on the All-America teams for the ninth consecutive year.
Kouijzer, who hails from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is receiving her third straight NFHCA All-America honor. She played a pivotal role in leading the Cardinals’ defense to a remarkable 1.08 goals against average and securing six shutouts during the season. Moreover, she made notable contributions to the team’s attack penalty corners, scoring three goals and providing three assists. In addition to being a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, Kouijzer was named to the NFHCA All-West Region teams for four consecutive seasons.
Duchars, a senior from St. Louis, Mo., has received her first All-America nod following an exceptional season. She recorded a career-best performance, distributing five assists and scoring the game-winning goal in a thrilling double-overtime victory against No. 13 ranked Boston College. Duchars was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the Cardinals’ success by being named to the NFHCA All-West Region first team and the All-ACC first team. Her efforts were also acknowledged with two ACC Defensive Player of the Week awards. Duchars played a crucial role in helping the Cardinals achieve six shutouts, the most among all ACC teams in 2023.
The University of Louisville field hockey team had an impressive season in 2023, posting a 15-7 overall record and advancing to the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive year. They reached the quarterfinals for the third time in the past five years. In ACC play, the Cardinals maintained a solid 3-3 record and made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed. Their remarkable performance throughout the season earned them a final ranking of No. 10 in the NFHCA Coaches’ poll, with a peak position of No. 4.
The recognition of Julie Kouijzer and Mia Duchars with NFHCA All-America honors further underscores the talent and success of the University of Louisville field hockey program. They have been crucial contributors to the team’s achievements and are deserving of this prestigious accolade.
