Zwager, Morgan Collect Top All-Conference Honors for Second Year Running

RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison junior Eveline Zwager has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, while head coach Christy Morgan has been voted CAA Coach of the Year, the league announced on Thursday morning. This marks the second year in a row that both have received these recognitions.

Zwager maintains her title of Player of the Year after earning the title for the 2020 season, when she joined past winners Carol Thate ('93-95), Kelsey Cutchins ('07-'08) and Taylor West ('15).

The Dutch forward leads the conference in points, with 34 total off of 14 goals and six assists, averaging 2.00 points per game. Her 14 goals are the most in the league, with three of those having been game-winning goals, giving her an average of .82 goals per game.

Coach Morgan receives this honor for the second year in a row and the fifth time in her career, as she was named Coach of the Year in 1993, 2015, 2017 and 2020. This is the sixth time in program history that JMU has earned this accolade since the award began in 1991.

The Dukes' head coach led the team to a perfect 6-0 mark in conference play and an 11-6 record overall this season, directing the team to the No. 1 seed in the CAA Championship for the second year in a row.

This year Morgan coached JMU to the best scoring margin (1.34) and scoring average (2.80) in the conference, as well as the most shutouts (6).

The CAA also announced members of the All-CAA teams on Thursday morning. Juniors Caroline Cahill and Diede Remijnse join Zwager on the All-CAA First Team, while Emily Harrison, Florien Marcussen and Kara McClure were named to the All-CAA Second Team. Freshmen Cassidy Strittmatter and Samantha Grimes were named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.

This is Cahill's second year in a row earning First Team honors, having started every game this season. Cahill ranks third in shots per game (2.94) in the CAA and has had a total of four goals so far this season.

Remijnse picked up First Team honors for the first time in her career after starting every game for the Dukes as well. She leads the CAA in game-winning goals with a total of five and ranks fourth in overall goals after putting 10 in the back of the net. The midfielder also ranks fourth in points with 21.

Harrison has been a force for the Dukes and made the Second Team for the first time in her career. The Kentucky native has started every game this season and has three goals and four assists for a total of 10 points.

Goalkeeper Marcussen has led the Dukes in their 11-6 season, picking up Second Team honors. She leads the CAA in shutouts, with four total, as well as goals against average (1.51), having only let 23 goals into the net.

This is McClure's second year in a row earning Second Team honors, having started every game this season for JMU. She ranks third in assists, with 10 assists total, for an average of .53 per game.

Freshman Strittmatter, who has played in all 17 games this season, earned All-Rookie honors after an impressive season. The midfielder/forward has scored two goals and added two assists for a total of six points. Strittmatter has been named CAA Rookie of the Week three times this season, the most in the conference.

Grimes played in 16 games this season and earned All-Rookie honors after she scored three goals and picked up one assist for a total of seven points. She was instrumental in the Dukes' offensive efforts throughout the season.

The Dukes are headed to Newark, Del. for the CAA Championships where they will face Northeastern on Friday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.

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Zwager, Morgan Collect Top All-Conference Honors for Second Year Running

Players Mentioned

Caroline Cahill

Samantha Grimes

Emily Harrison

Florien Marcussen

Kara McClure

Diede Remijnse

Cassidy Strittmatter

Eveline Zwager

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