East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State freshman Carmen Pucheta (Cordoba, Argentina) has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, as announced by the Conference office on Wednesday.
Pucheta was not only the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, but also earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team as well as a on the All-Freshman Team. She is the first Spartan in program history to earn a spot on the First Team and Freshman of the Year honors in the same season.
In addition to Pucheta's honors, senior Ellie Wheatley (Louisville, Ky.) has been selected as the team's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner. Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, are in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
She is also the first MSU player to earn a spot on the First Team since 2017, when Simone Vagnoni earned the honor for the second consecutive season. (The Spartans have had six players earn Second Team kudos from 2017-2023). Steinmetz earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2010 after her Freshman of the Year honor in 2007.
Pucheta started all 18 games for MSU one of eight Spartans and three freshmen to do so. She was a force both offensively and defensively for the Spartans throughout the season – compiled a 4-2-10 scoring line (tied with Lilian Knorr as the team's top-scoring first-year player) but her presence was felt far more than just on the scoreboard.
"We knew Carmen was an exceptionally talented hockey player when we recruited her and were excited when she came to MSU," said head coach Helen Knull. "Receiving First Team accolades as well as being selected the Big Ten Freshman of the Year is an incredible honor and well-deserved accomplishment considering the talent and level of play in our league. We're thankful that she's been recognized by the coaches in the Conference – all of NCAA field hockey will see what an incredible player she is and how much of an asset she is to our program.
Ellie has been an incredible part of our program for five years," continued Knull. "She has represented the Spartan culture both on and off the field. As a captain and mainstay in our defensive unit, this recognition is well earned for her as well. She's been an impressive representative of our program in the classroom, too – she will leave MSU as both a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a member of the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad."
2024 Big Ten Post-Season Field Hockey Honors
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Maddie Zimmer, Sr., M, Northwestern
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Sessa, So., F, Northwestern
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Josie Hollamon, So., B, Maryland
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Annabel Skubisz, Gr., GK, Northwestern
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Carmen Pucheta, Fr., M, Michigan State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tracey Fuchs, Northwestern
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN (+ - unanimous selection)
Inés Garcia Prado (So. , M, Indiana)
Emma Deberdine (Gr. , M, Maryland)
Josie Hollamon (So. , B, Maryland)
Hope Rose + (Sr. , M, Maryland)
Lora Clarke (Gr. , M, Michigan)
Abby Tamer + (Jr. , F, Michigan)
Carmen Pucheta (Fr. , M, Michigan State)
Ashley Sessa + (So. , F, Northwestern)
Annabel Skubisz + (Gr. , G, Northwestern)
Ilse Tromp (So. , B, Northwestern)
Lauren Wadas + (Gr. , M, Northwestern)
Maddie Zimmer + (Sr. , M, Northwestern)
Katie Fichtner (Jr. , B, Ohio State)
Makenna Webster + (Gr. , F, Ohio State)
Sophia Gladieux + (Sr. , F, Penn State)
Paulina Niklaus (Sr. , B, Rutgers)
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Sofia Arrebola Garcia (Sr. , M, Indiana)
Yip van Wonderen (Sr. , B, Indiana)
Milly Short (Jr. , B, Iowa)
Dionne van Aalsum (So. , F, Iowa)
Gia Whalen (So. , M, Iowa)
Ella Gaitan (Fr. , F, Maryland)
Alyssa Klebasko (So. , GK, Maryland)
Annemijn Klijnhout (Fr. , F, Maryland)
Rayne Wright (5th , B, Maryland)
Kate McLaughlin (Gr. , F, Michigan)
Erin Reilly (So. , M, Michigan)
Olivia Bent-Cole (So. , F, Northwestern)
Greta Hinke (Jr. , M, Northwestern)
Anne Marie Krebs (So. , M, Ohio State)
Guillermina Causarano (Sr. , F, Rutgers)
Puck Winter (Jr. , B, Rutgers)
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Sadie Canelli (Fr. , GK, Indiana)
Sabrina McGroarty (Fr. , M, Iowa)
Ella Gaitan (Fr. , F, Maryland)
Annemijn Klijnhout (Fr. , F, Maryland)
Anjolie Northon (Fr. , B, Michigan)
Carmen Pucheta (Fr. , M, Michigan State)
Emilie Kirschner R-(Fr. , M, Northwestern)
Nadia Nemeth (Fr. , F, Northwestern)
Laura Salamanca (Fr. , M, Northwestern)
Cam Standish R-(Fr. , M, Ohio State)
Anna Cogdell (Fr. , B, Rutgers)
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
Meredith Lee (Sr. , F, Indiana)
Mia Magnotta (Sr. , GK, Iowa)
Kylee Niswonger (Sr. , M, Maryland)
Lindsey Stagg (Gr. , B, Michigan)
Ellie Wheatley (Gr. , B, Michigan State)
Lane Herbert (Sr. , F, Northwestern)
Cameryn Forgash (Sr. , F, Ohio State)
Julia Lamb (5th , M, Penn State)
Vicky Jure (Sr. , M, Rutgers)
Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.
