Rodriguez, McNamara Earn B1G Individual Honors, Several Buckeyes Earn All-B1G Accolades
4/14/2021 4:00:48 PM | Women's Soccer
Several Buckeyes Earn All-Big Ten Honors — 2021 All-Big Ten Teams
Rodriguez Bio – NCAA Stats // McNamara Bio – NCAA Stats // Fischer Bio – NCAA Stats // Sears Bio – NCAA Stats // Baumbick Bio – NCAA Stats // Barnett Bio – NCAA Stats // 2021 Ohio State Stats
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Senior Izzy Rodriguez and freshman Peyton McNamara were named Big Ten Defender of the Year and Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year, respectively, Wednesday by the Big Ten Conference following a vote by league coaches.
Additionally, Rodriguez (defense) and Kayla Fischer (forward) were named First Team All-Big Ten. Fischer also is Ohio State’s Sportsmanship Award Honoree.
Emma Sears (forward) earned Second Team All-Big Ten accolades while Alyssa Baumbick (midfield) and Talani Barnett (defense) were named Third Team All-Big Ten.
Rodriguez, a defender from Canton, Michigan, is a three-time OSU Scholar Athlete and two-time Big Ten Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She was named one of two captains for the 2021 season in early March.
Rodriguez is a veteran of 67 games in an Ohio State uniform. She has helped the Buckeyes to a 7-2-3 record this season and over her career to 35 total victories.
“We are very honored to receive multiple Big Ten Awards this season,” Lori Walker-Hock, head coach of the Buckeyes, said. “Individual awards are always a reflection of the team’s collective efforts. I am proud of our player’s for their commitment to preparation and discipline through the covid isolation and protocols. This has been a long haul since the summer of 2020.”
Walker-Hock // Rodriguez
“Izzy has been a mainstay at left back for four seasons. Her consistency coupled with her attacking personality have allowed us to play with a large shape. She reads the game extremely well and has a knack for inserting herself into the attack.”
McNamara, one of the preseason players to watch in the Big Ten, hails from Norwalk, Connecticut. She was a 2019 HS All-American at Brien McMahon High School, where she was also named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year.
At Ohio State, McNamara has scored five goals on 20 shots and recorded two assists for a total of 12 points, the most of any newcomer in the OSU program this year.
Quoting Walker-Hock // McNamara
“Peyton arrived in June and has been willing to do whatever is asked of her. She has played every position in our midfield and much of the season she has played as the target forward. She has a great mind for the game, is quick to find open space and she has a brilliant long range shot.”
Fischer (junior from Kent, Ohio) is a veteran of 44 games over the last three seasons. She has 14 career goals, five this season, to go with nine career assists. She led the Buckeyes with 42 shots and 22 on goal in the 2021 Spring Season.
Quoting Walker-Hock // Fischer
“Kayla plays with a contagious team-first attitude and a raw passion as a competitor. She has a wide variety of skills in front of the goal. She is the unpredictable attacking player that can beat her opponents in multiple ways: in the air, with the ball, or shooting from distance. Kayla’s relentless commitment to working both sides of the ball has added to our capacity to defend with intensity in advanced areas.”
Sears (sophomore from Dublin, Ohio) led the Buckeyes in points this year with 14 (6 goals, 2 assists) and was second in shots (32) and attempts at the net (18). She had a pair of game-winning goals in wins over Wisconsin and at Michigan State.
Walker-Hock // Sears
“Emma has been so dangerous this season. Her willingness to take players on 1v1 in wide areas as well as her change of pace and skill creates a complex problem for opponents to handle. Her attitude, work-ethic, and commitment to fitness make her a player that requires attention no matter where she is on the field.”
Baumbick (senior from Avon Lake, Ohio) has played in 67 games at Ohio State over her career with five career goals. She had the game-winner vs. Maryland in the Big Ten Regional April 8 in Columbus (W, 4-2).
Walker-Hock // Baumbick
“Alyssa is an exceptional connector in our midfield. Her vision and calm demeanor have made a huge difference to solidify the center of our team. Her passing range and ball winning set her apart.
Barnett (junior from Bay Shore, New York) has played 47 career games at Ohio State with a pair of goals and three assists to her credit. She helped the Buckeyes to seven-consecutive games without a loss this season, which included three-consecutive shutouts.
Walker-Hock // Barnett
“Talani is also one of the most improved players in the program. The move to center back has highlighted all her strongest attributes. Her speed, soccer sense, 1v1 defensive abilities, and technical acumen have solidified our back line.”
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