MANSFIELD – With the 2010s ending, the Mansfield University sports information department is set to release its list of standout athletes of the decade from each of the 13 men's and women's sports programs.

Each program will receive three finalists and a moment of the decade. To be eligible, the student had to have graduated or is on track to graduate from Mansfield, competed in more than one season of competition and remained committed to the four elements of the Mansfield creed (Character, Scholarship, Culture, Service).

The list will generate 33 student athletes and 11 moments that represent a piece of the puzzle in the long-proud history of Mountaineer Athletics, where the tradition continues.

Each team will be honored with their own release and will come in the following days to ring in the New Year.

The next program up is Mountaineer field hockey. This particular program has seen drastic improvement throughout the decade with the team going full circle, reaching the postseason in 2010 and once more in 2019. Field Hockey has produced 30 All-Conference selections, six All-Americans, two individual and three team NCAA Division II statistical champions, multiple national rankings and two PSAC Coach of the Year winners (fifth-year head coach Brittany Hansrote).

Field Hockey

Brittany Ryan (2016-2019)

(2019) 1st Team NFHCA All-American at Goal Keeper ... All-ECAC 1st Team … 1st team All-PSAC goalkeeper … chosen for the NFHCA Division II Senior Game …  was named a co-captain for the season … recorded 127 saves on the season, while only allowing 31 goals … made 11 saves against third-ranked Kutztown in the PSAC quarterfinal … became the program's leader in career shutouts (13) … had a save percentage of 0.80 …  ranked 1st in the PSAC in saves (127) and 10th in the country in saves per game (6.68) … ranked 4th in the conference in saves per season (6), while tying the program-record. (2018) 2nd team all PSAC goalie … had a season high 19 saves against Millersville (9/29)  … ranked 4th in the PSAC and 11th in the country in saves … and ranked 3rd in the PSAC and 6th in the country in saves per game at 7.56. (2017) 1st Team NFHCA All-American at Goal Keeper ... ECAC Defensive Player of the Year ... All-ECAC 1st Team ... All-PSAC 2nd team selection ... NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week (9/27) ... two-time ECAC Defensive Player of the Week (9/27, 10/11) … PSAC Top 10 - Fall 2017 recipient ... led the PSAC in saves with 174 … led the nation across Divisions I, II, and II in save pct. at .874 … set a Mansfield Field Hockey record for save percentage in a season … led the conference in saves per game at 9.67 … 3rd in the PSAC in shutouts totaling five on the year ... fifth in the conference and 11th in the country in goals against average at 1.38 … secured the top  five conference slots for saves in a game ... recorded shutouts against two nationally ranked opponents with a 1-0 overtime win at No. 7 Bloomsburg and a 4-0 rout of No. 5 Slippery Rock … totaled a season high 24 saves against West Chester (9/16).

Kristyn Grunza (2009-2012)

(2012) Led the team and ranked sixth in the PSAC in assists with eight ... totaled 24 points on the season ... put up 15 total shots at Mercyhurst ... selected to 1st team All-PSAC West honors ... named Synapse Sports 2nd team All-American ... garnered 1st team Longstreth/NFHCA All-American honors ... selected to 2012 MU co-Female Fall Athlete of the Year honors ... NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad honors ... Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award. (2011) Ranked 15th in the PSAC and 28th in the nation in goals per game with 0.6 ... ranked 14th in the PSAC and 19th in the nation in points per game with 1.33 ... named 1st Team All-PSAC West selection ... earned Longstreth/NFHCA Division II 1st Team All-American Honors for the second season in a row ... earned NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad honors ... Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award. (2010) Scored 12 goals (T8 most in a season) including a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over St. Michael's College ... tallied six assists and had a team high 30 total points on the season ... selected NFHCA Division II 1st team All-American ... 1st team All-PSAC West ... All-ECAC Division II ... NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad honors ... Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award.

Taryn Schawillie (2010-2013)

(2013) Named 2nd Team All-PSAC honors … selected to 2nd Team Synapse Sports All-American accolades ... led the team and ranked eighth in the PSAC in goals scored with 13 … scored four goals in a 5-3 win over Southern Connecticut State (9/7) … ranked fourth in the conference in total shots with 93 and third in shots per game at 5.17 … ranked 8th in the PSAC in points scored with 28 … recorded a pair of defensive saves at Slippery Rock (9/11) … moved into first all-time for program goals (56) and points (120). (2012) Selected to 1st team All-PSAC West honors ... NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad honors ... Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award ... recipient of the Outstanding Business Award … led the team and ranked fourth in the PSAC in goals scored with 15 ... tied Gretchen Reschke (1999-02) for most career goals in school history at 43 … led the team and ranked eighth in the conference in points with 32 ... third in the PSAC in total shots with 86. (2011) Earned 2nd team All-PSAC West honors ... earned NFHCA Division II National Academic Squad honors ... Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award ... ranked 5th in the PSAC and 11th in the nation in goals per game with 0.83 ... ranked 7th in the PSAC and 16th in the nation in points per game with 1.72 ... (2010) Selected to 2nd team All-PSAC West honors ... named to womensfieldhockey.com National All-Rookie Squad ... named ECAC co-Rookie of the Year ... garnered Division II National Academic Squad honors ... led the team in goals with 13 (Tied 6th most in a season)  ... tallied three assists and had 29 points on the year.
 
Moment of the Decade

Evans Hat Trick Leads No. 10 Field Hockey to Postseason Clinching Victory

MANSFIELD – Dana Evans scored three goals and dished out the assist on the game-winner to lift No. 10 Mansfield past Bloomsburg, 4-3, in a PSAC thriller at Karl Van Norman Field on Wednesday.

With the victory, the Mounties (12-5, 6-3 PSAC) clinch a spot in the PSAC tournament for the first time since 2010.

With the game locked at three in the closing minutes of regulation, Christie Buyer plucked the ball away from a defender which redirected to Evans in the heart of the circle. Evans fired a bullet pass through a cluster of defenders to find a wide-open Olivia Wagner who beat the keeper left for the game-winner in the 56th minute.

The Huskies (6-11, 3-6 PSAC) knotted the game at three after Kriten Robinson scored in the 43rd and 47th minute to set up the electrifying finish.

After a scoreless first period Meghan Griffin weaved her way through two defenders and found a streaking Evans, who drove right and fired a shot past the right of the keeper for her first score of the night.

The Mounties' pushed their lead to two when Alex Esterling found a wide-open Evans at the right-corner of the circle and Evans drove right and fired a goal past the left of the keeper.

The Huskies rebounded with a goal from Willow Perkins in the 32nd minute, but Evans responded 18 seconds later with a penalty-stroke goal, securing the hat trick.

Ryan made three stops in her 12th win of the year. Hannah Barnard finished with two saves for Bloomsburg.

Mansfield outshot the Huskies, 12-10 and held a 9-6 advantage in penalty corners.

After going winless in head coach Brittany Hansrote's first season, the 2019 senior class of Evans, Griffin, Ryan, Buyer, Madison Wilinsky and Larissa Motts have led Mansfield to the most wins in a season since 2007 and are one win shy from the program record of 13 set in 2001.

The win avenges a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Huskies that kept the team out of the playoffs in 2018.

Mansfield moves into a tie in the PSAC field hockey standings with Kutztown as both schools are 6-3.