Bilheimer Named Landmark Field Hockey Player of the Year

TOWSON, Md.- The Landmark Conference announced its All-Conference Team on Tuesday. Senior forward/midfielder Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) was voted as the Offensive Player of the Year. She also was named to the First Team, and is one of six Eagles to be named to either the First or Second Teams. It is the most selections for Juniata since 2010.

This is Bilheimer's second straight First Team accolade. Bilheimer was an offensive force for the Eagles this season as she led the team with 21 goals, nine assists, and 51 points. Her 21 goals rank first in the Landmark and her 51 points are good enough for first. On October 20 in a 5-0 Eagle win over Moravian, she tallied seven points (3g, 1a) to go over 100 points for her career and became the fourth player in Juniata history to do so. She followed that effort with a career-high four goals in the Eagles' 4-3 victory over Goucher. She was named Landmark Player of the Week three times in the 2015 season.

Joining her on the First Team is fellow senior and forward/midfielder Allison Groft (Hanover Pa./South Western). She started all 17 games for the Eagles and scored six goals and assisted on four others for 16 points. She had a season-high two goals and one assist for a total of five points in Juniata's win over Moravian.

Senior defender Kelsey Leibelsperger (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) is the third Eagle to be named to the First Team. She had five defensive saves on the season with a season-high three against York. Leibelsperger was named the Landmark Defensive Athlete of the Week on October 5. She was a part of a tough Juniata defense that only surrendered one goal all week. The Eagles gave up just one goal to Scranton and held the Royals to just one shot in the second period and none in overtime. Against W&J, Juniata held the Presidents off of the scoreboard for its second shutout of the season.

Sophomore forward/midfielder Katie Alexander (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) was named to the Second Team. Alexander started all 17 games for the Eagles this season. She scored seven times, assisted on six other goals, and tallied 20 points. Alexander scored the game-winning goal in overtime as Juniata defeated Scranton 2-1 on October 2.

Two senior back/midfielders also were named to the Second Team. Brittany Meier (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College) and Alex Stroud (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) were both honored for the first time in their careers. Meier scored twice and picked up four assists. She scored on a penalty stroke in the team's first game of the season against Alvernia. Stroud had one assist and four defensive saves on the year. She had a season-high two defensive saves in Juniata's win over York.