Congratulations to MAX Field Hockey’s 2017 High School Regional & National Players of the Year!
[View the 2017 High School State Players of the Year]

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
PA/NJ REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

EMMA DEBERDINE
Penn Manor High School (PA)
Junior – Forward

This Fall’s National Player of the Year is Penn Manor junior midfielder Emma Deberdine.  Head Coach Matt Soto on Deberdine: “I believe Emma is the very best player in the country, and a complete player.  She recovers and plays defense with the same passion and urgency as any player I have ever seen or coached (33 years).  She is also a great goal scorer.”  The First Team All-American and PennLive Player of the Year contributed 27 goals and 30 assists this Fall en route to Penn Manor’s perfect 28-0 season and Pennsylvania AAA State Championship.

Soto adds- “Emma could have easily scored many more goals in our games, but she has such a keen awareness of developing the entire team she often passed when she could have gone to goal.  She scored when she needed to and she distributed when she needed to. This really helped with our overall success.   Also, her speed and quickness are unmatched.  We had a great line-up this year, there is no doubt, but one of the reasons our defense was so good was Emma helped by playing great defense in the midfield first.  Her recovery speed helped break down the opposing teams’ best players which allowed our defenders more time and space to make defensive plays.  Emma is the consummate team player/leader.  Our team competes in arguably the most competitive league, district, state in the country and we did not give up a goal in the District and State playoffs and allowed only three shots in those last seven games.  Emma is a key part of that.”

NEW ENGLAND REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

SKYLER CARON
The Governor’s Academy (MA)
Senior – Midfield

The 3-time First Team All-American and 2017 Massachusetts State Player of the Year finished her High School career in fashion, leading her Governor’s Academy team to a NEPSAC B Conference Championship and picking up league MVP honors along the way.  Caron has been a MAX Field Hockey All-Region selection since we have been covering the High School game and a dominant force in the NEPSAC, ISL and New England throughout her entire career.

NORTHEAST REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

KELSEY MCCRUDDEN
Lakeland High School
Senior – Midfield

The 2017 New York State Player of the Year and Second Team All-American was the leader of the Northeast Region’s top team and the #7 ranked team in the nation.  McCrudden contributed 31 goals and 22 assists to help Lakeland finish a perfect 22-0 season and capture the NYS Class B state title.  She finishes her 4 year career with 4 state titles and an overall record of 86-0-2.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

GREER GILL
Norfolk Academy (VA)
Senior – Midfield

The senior center midfielder was the central playmaker and workhorse for the #2 team in the nation this Fall.  Gill helped lead Norfolk Academy to a perfect 25-0 season and TCIS and VISAA Division I Championships.  The First Team All-American earned VISAA Division I, TCIS and Tidewater Player of the Year honors.  She was also named to the USA U19 Junior National Team last month.

WEST/MID-WEST REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

KATHRYN PETERSON
Serra High School (CA)
Senior – Forward

“KP” was a dominant force in the San Diego Section this Fall, leading Serra to a perfect 26-0 season and 4th straight Section Championship.  The First Team All-American scored 40 goals and added 18 assists for the Conquistadors, who topped the West/Mid-West Region Rankings at the #1 spot and finished the 2017 season as the #8 ranked team in the nation.  She was named San Diego Section Player of the Year and was also named to the USA U19 Junior National Team last month.