(left to right): Erin O'Connell, Niki Ikeda, Katelin Leibner, Kim Davis, and Stephanie Geskes

Field Hockey 11/6/2014 9:48:00 AM by: Bryan Jackson

Ikeda Player of the Year, Noon Coach of the Year as Five Devils Named All-Freedom Conference

ANNVILLE, Pa. -- Five FDU-Florham field hockey players and Head Coach Jenn Noon received All-Freedom Conference recognition as announced by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) on Thursday morning. Senior midfielder Ikeda headlines the group by being named All-Freedom Conference Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year, while Noon received Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Devils to the conference's regular season championship.

Joining Ikeda on the All-Freedom Conference first team were sophomore forward Kim Davis (Long Branch, N.J.) and senior defender Katelin Leibner (Jackson, N.J.). In addition, sophomore defender Erin O'Connell (Linwood, N.J.) and junior midfielder Stephanie Geskes (Exton, Pa.) were tabbed All-Freedom Conference second team after registering outstanding seasons for the top-seeded Devils.

For Ikeda, the player of the year nod bookends an illustrious career that began with a Freedom Conference Rookie of the Year award back in 2011. The senior midfielder has been named All-Freedom Conference first team all four seasons at FDU-Florham, in addition to, two All-Region citations. This season, Ikeda scored nine goals including the game-winner in last Wednesday night's 1-0 Freedom Conference Tournament Semifinal victory over Wilkes University.

Now in her fifth season at the helm, Noon receives Freedom Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. The second-winningest coach in program history led the Devils to a 13-7 mark this season including 6-1 in conference play. Noon's 13 wins this season is the most during her tenure and with a win on Saturday, the Devils will advance to their first NCAA Field Hockey Tournament appearance since 1986.

Along with Ikeda, sophomore Kim Davis has helped engineer a Devils offense that scored 44 goals this season. Davis netted a team-high 11 goals, with nine assists for a total of 31 points during her second season in Madison. Accompanying Davis on the first team, was senior defender Katelin Leibner. Leibner provided great leadership for a young Devils backline this season and along with O'Connell, helped FDU-Florham earn six shutout victories on the campaign. The All-Freedom Conference nod is the first for both Leibner and Davis.

Devils junior midfielder Stephanie Geskes continues to play an integral part in the FDU-Florham gameplan. Geskes' work in the midfield allowed the team to generate quality scoring chances all season long. The junior mid netted two goals to go along with two assists on the season. This is the second All-Freedom Conference second team nod for Geskes.

In her second season with the Devils, O'Connell broke out to lead the team with four defensive saves. The sophomore defender was named Freedom Conference Player of the Week earlier this season and continues to develop as a stalwart for the Devils' backline. This is the first All-Freedom Conference recognition for O'Connell.

FDU-Florham hosts Misericordia University in the Freedom Conference Championship Game this Saturday, November 8th with start time set for 1 p.m. at Robert T. Shields Field.

2014 All-Freedom Conference Field Hockey Team

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Players Mentioned

#9 Kim Davis: F/M; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#13 Stephanie Geskes: MID; 5' 6"; Junior

#6 Katelin Leibner: F/M; 5' 4"; Senior

#14 Erin O'Connell: DEF; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#9 Kim Davis
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: F/M

#13 Stephanie Geskes
: 5' 6"; Junior
: MID

#6 Katelin Leibner
: 5' 4"; Senior
: F/M

#14 Erin O'Connell
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: DEF