Combrinck (left) and Semmartin (right) garnered BIG EAST Preseason Honors.
Combrinck, Semmartin Collect BIG EAST FH Preseason Honors
8/26/2025 11:24:00 AM | Field Hockey
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty field hockey's Lou Combrinck and Dara Semmartin were both recognized in the BIG EAST Conference Preseason Awards. Combrinck was voted the 2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. Meanwhile, Semmartin garnered inclusion on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team alongside Combrinck.
No. 17-ranked Liberty was picked to finish second in the 2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll. This is the first time since the fall 2021 season that the Lady Flames have not been voted to finish first in the poll. That year, Liberty went on to capture its first BIG EAST crown. The Lady Flames earned two first-place votes and 40 points in this year's poll, trailing only first place Connecticut (six first-place votes, 48 points), the defending BIG EAST champion and No. 11-ranked team in the nation in the preseason national poll.
Combrinck, a senior from Hillcrest, South Africa, enters the 2025 season on the heels of a strong campaign in 2024. The midfielder earned 2024 NFHCA All-South Region second team honors, All-BIG EAST second team recognition and VaSID All-State second team distinction.
She finished the year with career highs in goals (8), assists (6) and points (22) while ranking first on the squad in points and second in both goals and assists. Combrinck was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions last fall.
Semmartin, a sophomore who hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina., was an All-BIG EAST second team selection a season ago. She also received VaSID All-State first team honors and was tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team. The defender finished the 2024 campaign with a team-high 11 assists in addition to two goals and 15 points. Her 11 assists were the most ever by a Liberty freshman in a single season, and she ranked 10th in the country and third in the BIG EAST in assists per game (0.61).
The 13-member Preseason All-BIG EAST squad features five midfielders, two forwards, four defenders and two goalkeepers. Combrinck was one of only three unanimous selections and was joined by UConn's Sol Simone and Providence's Bo Martina.
Rounding out the coaches' poll were Old Dominion (third, 37 points), Temple (fourth, 34 points), Villanova (fifth, 26 points), Providence (sixth, 19 points), Quinnipiac (seventh, 13 points) and Georgetown (eighth, seven points).
Liberty will open its 2025 season at No. 5 Duke on Friday. Match time is 4 p.m. from Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C.
2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Honors
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Lou Combrinck, Sr., M/F, Liberty
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Sol Simone, Sr., M, UConn *
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Serena Langendoen, So., B, Old Dominion
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Suus Broers, Jr., GK, Old Dominion
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Julia Bressler, Sr., F, UConn
Natalie McKenna, Jr., GK, UConn
Sol Simone, Sr., M, UConn *
Dara Semmartin, So., B, Liberty
Lou Combrinck, Sr., M/F, Liberty *
Serena Langendoen, So., B, Old Dominion
Suus Broers, Jr., GK, Old Dominion
Bo Martina, Jr., M, Providence *
Macie Pennisi, Jr., B, Providence
Francisca Eschoyez, So., M, Quinnipiac
Agustina Tucceri, Sr., M, Temple
Ava Borkowski, Gr., F, Villanova
Gemma Lysaght, Jr., B, Villanova
* Indicates a unanimous selection
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are extra members on the preseason all-conference team.
2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Connecticut – 48 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Liberty – 40 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Old Dominion – 37 points
4. Temple – 34 points
5. Villanova – 26 points
6. Providence – 19 points
7. Quinnipiac – 13 points
8. Georgetown – 7 points
No. 17-ranked Liberty was picked to finish second in the 2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll. This is the first time since the fall 2021 season that the Lady Flames have not been voted to finish first in the poll. That year, Liberty went on to capture its first BIG EAST crown. The Lady Flames earned two first-place votes and 40 points in this year's poll, trailing only first place Connecticut (six first-place votes, 48 points), the defending BIG EAST champion and No. 11-ranked team in the nation in the preseason national poll.
Combrinck, a senior from Hillcrest, South Africa, enters the 2025 season on the heels of a strong campaign in 2024. The midfielder earned 2024 NFHCA All-South Region second team honors, All-BIG EAST second team recognition and VaSID All-State second team distinction.
She finished the year with career highs in goals (8), assists (6) and points (22) while ranking first on the squad in points and second in both goals and assists. Combrinck was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions last fall.
Semmartin, a sophomore who hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina., was an All-BIG EAST second team selection a season ago. She also received VaSID All-State first team honors and was tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Tournament team. The defender finished the 2024 campaign with a team-high 11 assists in addition to two goals and 15 points. Her 11 assists were the most ever by a Liberty freshman in a single season, and she ranked 10th in the country and third in the BIG EAST in assists per game (0.61).
The 13-member Preseason All-BIG EAST squad features five midfielders, two forwards, four defenders and two goalkeepers. Combrinck was one of only three unanimous selections and was joined by UConn's Sol Simone and Providence's Bo Martina.
Rounding out the coaches' poll were Old Dominion (third, 37 points), Temple (fourth, 34 points), Villanova (fifth, 26 points), Providence (sixth, 19 points), Quinnipiac (seventh, 13 points) and Georgetown (eighth, seven points).
Liberty will open its 2025 season at No. 5 Duke on Friday. Match time is 4 p.m. from Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C.
2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Honors
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Lou Combrinck, Sr., M/F, Liberty
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Sol Simone, Sr., M, UConn *
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Serena Langendoen, So., B, Old Dominion
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Suus Broers, Jr., GK, Old Dominion
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Julia Bressler, Sr., F, UConn
Natalie McKenna, Jr., GK, UConn
Sol Simone, Sr., M, UConn *
Dara Semmartin, So., B, Liberty
Lou Combrinck, Sr., M/F, Liberty *
Serena Langendoen, So., B, Old Dominion
Suus Broers, Jr., GK, Old Dominion
Bo Martina, Jr., M, Providence *
Macie Pennisi, Jr., B, Providence
Francisca Eschoyez, So., M, Quinnipiac
Agustina Tucceri, Sr., M, Temple
Ava Borkowski, Gr., F, Villanova
Gemma Lysaght, Jr., B, Villanova
* Indicates a unanimous selection
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are extra members on the preseason all-conference team.
2025 BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Connecticut – 48 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Liberty – 40 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Old Dominion – 37 points
4. Temple – 34 points
5. Villanova – 26 points
6. Providence – 19 points
7. Quinnipiac – 13 points
8. Georgetown – 7 points
Players Mentioned
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