Babineau, Bonshak and Hanssen receive preseason conference honors

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MSU midfielder Merel Hanssen/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Nathan Stearns, Sports Broadcast Director

EAST LANSING—On Wednesday afternoon, Michigan State field hockey midfielders Maddie Babineau, Cara Bonshak and Merel Hanssen were named to the preseason All-Big team.

Babineau, a graduate transfer from Providence, started 66 games for the Friars over a four-year span and collected 27 points to go along with 12 goals. In 2018, her sophomore season, she finished third on the team with 12 points and three goals; Babineau was subsequently honored for her strong efforts in 2018 as an All-BIG EAST second team selection.

After starting nine games in 2020-21 and scoring a point, she received All-BIG EAST first team honors for the first time in her career.

Bonshak, a team captain last season as well as a co-captain in 2019, made 13 starts in 2020-21, recorded one goal and was named as an All-Big Ten second team selection.  Overall, the senior captain has appeared in 66 collegiate games, made 44 starts and collected 15 points to go along with three goals. In 2019, she led the Spartans with seven assists and scored her first career goal against No. 18 Rutgers on Oct. 20.

MSU midfielder Cara Bonshak/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Hanssen, a 30-game starter, scored one goal, collected two assists and notched four overall points in 2020-21. During her freshman campaign in 2019, she started 14 games and accumulated six shots on goal. She scored her first career goal against Indiana on April 20, 2021.

MSU is set to open the 2021 season at Kent State on Aug. 27.