Liberty Field Hockey Features Program-Record 3 All-Americans

NFHCA Release/Full List of All-Americans

The Liberty field hockey team featured a program-record three 2021 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America honorees. Senior Jill Bolton and sophomore Azul Iritxity Irigoyen were named first team All-Americans, while junior Daniella Rhodes was tabbed a second team All-American.

This is the first time in school history Liberty has featured two first team All-Americans in a season. The program has had 10 All-Americans in the 11-year history of the program, with eight of those coming in the last five years. The Lady Flames have featured at least one All-American in each of the past seven seasons.

“I am extremely proud of Jill, Azul and Danni to be voted among the nation’s best players today. The work that goes into receiving All-American status is absolutely something to be applauded,” said Liberty Field Hockey Head Coach Nikki Parsley-Blocker. “I am also thrilled for both Jill and Azul to receive first team honors. They just made Liberty history by solidifying themselves as one of the top 16 players in the nation.”

Bolton, Iritxity Irigoyen and Rhodes led Liberty to its best season in school history this fall. Liberty finished the year with a 20-3 overall record and reached the NCAA Field Hockey Championship title game, the first time in school history any Liberty team has played for an NCAA Division I Championship. The Lady Flames won 17 games in a row from Sept. 17-Nov. 19, the nation’s longest winning streak of 2021, and were the only team in the country to win 20 or more games.

The NFHCA honored 48 Division I field hockey student-athletes with first, second, or third team All-America recognition. Of the 48 All-Americans, 34 were first-time honorees, while 12 were honored for the second time. Eleven student-athletes were selected for the third year, and two senior student-athletes were honored for the fourth year. The NFHCA National Player of the Year award will be announced on Thursday.

Liberty Field Hockey All-Americans

2021 – Jill Bolton (first team) (Fall 2021 season)

2021 – Azul Iritxity Irigoyen (first team) (Fall 2021 season)

2021 – Daniella Rhodes (second team) (Fall 2021 season)

2020 – Jill Bolton (first team) (Spring 2021 season)

2019 – Ashley Dykema (second team)

2019 – Jill Bolton (third team)

2018 – Agueda Moroni (first team)

2017 – Agueda Moroni (second team)

2016 – Serena Barr (second team)

2015 – Natalie Barr (third team)

Jill Bolton (NFHCA All-America first team)

Bolton earns her second straight first team All-American distinction and becomes the first three-time All-American in program history. The senior forward also received first team honors during the spring 2021 season and third team honors in 2019.

Bolton was named NFHCA South Region Player of the Year, the first in program history, and a NFHCA All-South Region first team honoree. The senior forward is also the first player in program history to earn all-region honors five times. The native of Souderton, Pa. also became the first five-time All-BIG EAST first team recipient this fall. Bolton, the BIG EAST Championship MVP and All-Tournament team selection, led the Lady Flames in goals (19) and points (45) this season and finished the year ranked No. 8 in the nation in points per game (1.96) and No. 10 in goals per game (0.83).

Bolton earned NCAA Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament team honors for her performance in the Final Four. The senior also received one NFHCA Division I Offensive Player of the Week honor, two BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week recognitions and one BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll distinction.

Bolton concludes her storied Liberty career as the program record holder in goals (61) and points (156) and ranks third in assists (34).

Azul Iritxity Irigoyen (NFHCA All-America first team)

Iritxity Irigoyen picks up the first All-American honor of her career and becomes the first Liberty goalkeeper to earn All-American status in school history.

Iritxity Irigoyen, a sophomore, earned NFHCA All-South Region first team honors as well as her second straight All-BIG EAST first team award this fall. She was also one of three Lady Flames to be named to the NCAA Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament team. The Buenos Aires, Argentina native earned three BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week awards and made the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll once during the fall 2021 campaign

Iritxity Irigoyen made a season-best nine saves in No. 9 Liberty’s 3-2 double overtime win over No. 5 Maryland in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship Final Four. The sophomore made seven saves in the national championship game, including the most memorable save of her young career. Iritxity Irigoyen saved a penalty stroke attempt from No. 5 Northwestern’s Bente Baekers in the second quarter (18:45 mark) of the title game.

Iritxity Irigoyen finished her sophomore campaign with a 20-3 record, 1.17 goals-against-average (No. 11 in country), .724 save percentage, 71 saves and six shutouts. Through two seasons, Iritxity Irigoyen is tied for second in school history in shutouts (9), second in save percentage (.758) and third in wins (31).

Daniella Rhodes (NFHCA All-America second team)

Rhodes’ All-American honor is the first of her career. The junior forward from Durban, South Africa earned her third straight NFHCA All-South Region first team honor this season. Rhodes was tabbed the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and received her third All-BIG EAST first team distinction this season. She led all BIG EAST players in goals per game (1.07) and points per game (2.64) during the regular season. Rhodes also earned BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament team honors.

Rhodes garnered three BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week recognitions this year while also being named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team. The South Africa native finished second on the squad in goals (16) and points (39). She closed the season ranked 10th in the country in in points per game (1.95) and 11th in goals per game (0.80).

Through three seasons (54 games), Rhodes has established herself in the program record book, ranking fourth in career points (112), fifth in career goals (45) and tied for eighth in career assists (22). Rhodes also ranks second in school history in career points per game (2.07) and goals per game (0.83).