Azul Iritxity Irigoyen

Class:
Junior
Position:
GK
Height:
5-4
Hometown:
Buenos Aires, Argentina

2022 (Jr.)
• Started all 20 games in goal
• Honored on National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America second team, became the third player in program history with multiple All-American awards
• Selected to NFHCA All-South Region first team
• Named BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player
• Honored as VaSID Defensive Player of the Year
• Tabbed NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10) for the second time in her career
• Named to VaSID All-State first team
• Received All-BIG EAST second team accolades
• Tabbed BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 27
• Garnered inclusion on BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice (Oct. 11, Oct. 18)
• Finished year with a 12-8 record, 1.10 goals-against average (No. 9 in nation), eight shutouts (most in a season in program history), a .761 save percentage and 70 saves
• Made 13 total saves in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship against No. 14 Connecticut (No. 3 seed) and No. 13 Old Dominion (No. 1 seed) while surrendering only two goals in leading Liberty to its second straight BIG EAST title
• Posted a 6-1 record, a league-best 0.14 goals-against-average, six shutouts and a .947 save percentage in seven BIG EAST regular season contests
• Matched a career high with 12 saves in Liberty’s NCAA Championship Sweet 16 match at No. 2 Maryland
• Made a save on a penalty stroke attempt for a second straight NCAA Tournament, stopping the Terrapins’ Hope Rose’s attempt late in the fourth period (56:15 mark)
• Enters senior season first in program history for career shutouts (17), wins (43) and goals-against average (1.15) and second in save percentage (.758)

Fall 2021 (So.)
• Started all 23 games in goal
• Selected to National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I All-America first team
• Selected to NCAA Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament team
• Tabbed to NFHCA All-South Region first team
• Named to All-BIG EAST first team for a second straight year
• Garnered inclusion on VaSID All-State first team for second straight season
• Earned three BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors during the season, giving her seven career honors in two seasons
• Made the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll once
• Finished the season with a 20-3 record, 1.17 goals-against-average (No. 11 in country), .724 save percentage, 71 saves and six shutouts
• Tallied a season-high nine saves in Liberty’s 3-2 double OT win over No. 5 Maryland in the NCAA Final Four
• Made seven saves in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship title game against No. 7 Northwestern, including a memorable save on a penalty stroke attempt from the Wildcats’ Bente Baekers in the second quarter

Spring 2021 (Fr.)
• Appeared in 15 games, making 13 starts
• Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, the first Liberty freshman to receive the honor
• Honored as BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year
• Garnered All-BIG EAST first team selection
• Named VaSID Defensive Player of the Year, the first VaSID Defensive Player of the Year in program history
• Honored as VaSID Co-Rookie of the Year, becoming the third VaSID Rookie of the Year in school history
• Selected to VaSID All-State first team
• Earned Play Safe/NFHCA Division I Defensive Player of the Week honors on March 24
• Received four BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week accolades
• Posted an 11-3 record, 1.19 goals-against average, 64 saves and three shutouts in her 15 appearances
• Finished year ranked No. 9 in nation in goalie win-loss percentage (.769), No. 11 in save percentage (.800) and No. 15 in goals-against average
• Posted an 8-2 mark, 1.11 goals-against-average, 46 saves and three shutouts in 11 BIG EAST contests (10 starts)
• Earned shutouts against Temple (road, Feb. 27), Old Dominion (home, March 7) and Connecticut (neutral site, March 14)
• Made 12 saves in Liberty’s 4-0 shutout of UConn on March 14
• Made 12 stops in the Lady Flames’ 3-2 double overtime triumph at Duke on March 21, with three of the saves coming in the first overtime session

Prep
• Graduate of Lenguas Vivas
• Member of Argentinian Junior National Team
• Won a gold medal at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
• Competed at the club level for GEBA (2019-20) and San Cirano (2007-19)

Personal
• Daughter of Bernardo Iritxity Irigoyen and Cecilia Ghiraldo
• Majoring in public health: health promotion
• Birthday is Oct. 6