Freshman's international style of play translating well for Spartans

Coming into this season, the No. 8 MSU field hockey team had a steady group of upperclassmen that was expected to lead the way to a promising season.

Twelve games in, it wasn’t expected that a freshman would be second on the team in points and helping to set things up for her teammates in the middle of the field. But freshman forward Manouk Vernij has turned heads across the Big Ten in a strong start to her MSU career.

A native of Bleiswijk, Netherlands, Vernij has adjusted her playing style well in the short time she’s been in East Lansing, but said she still can improve some facets of her game.

“I’m getting used to everything now,” Vernij said. “I think I can improve here a lot. I think my skills in the circle to attack — I can improve that a lot.”

Back home in the Netherlands, Vernij began playing field hockey when she was just seven years old, but, because she lived in a small town, had to play on the boys’ team for the first few years because there were not enough girls.

The experience helped prepare her for the road ahead, Vernij said.

“Boys are sometimes more active and have more energy, and when I was young I think that helped me to grow,” she said.

She continued playing field hockey in the Netherlands and decided to come to MSU in part because she wanted to embark on an adventure and learn the English language better.

Vernij looked at a few other schools, but decided on MSU after talking to head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof and learning of the success of the program.

Her game has translated very well thus far.

“She constantly is improving her adjustment into American style of play or MSU style of play, but what you’re starting to see now is that they’re getting a feel of how to play with each other,” van de Kerkhof said of Vernij and her teammates.

Through just six weekends of play, Vernij has earned three Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

With senior midfielder Floor Rijpma, junior forward Jantine Steinmetz, sophomore forward Chantae Miller and the other Spartan offensive attack leaders, Vernij has been a welcome addition and another scoring threat.

She said one of the biggest differences between playing in the Netherlands and at MSU is the speed of the transition from offense to defense.

Spartan fans had to know Vernij was set up for a good season when she burst through the Delaware defense for a second half hat trick in her very first game this year.

Then, in her first home game of the season against No. 18 Northwestern, she tied the team record with four assists in MSU’s 5-2 win, and is a key part of MSU’s 9-3 start.

On the field, Vernij usually is near the action on offense, and doesn’t appear to be afraid to put up shots. She’s second on the team in shots, shots on goal and tied for second in goals scored.

Her passing ability has landed her first on the team in assists, and she has set up Rijpma, the team’s leading point-getter, several times this year. Vernij assisted Rijpma four times in the team’s opening home weekend, tallying an additional goal and assist in MSU’s two victories.

“Manouk is an awesome player and an awesome girl in general,” Rijpma said. “She’s easy to talk to and connect with and she helps me out and I help her out.”

Vernij was held to just one assist this past weekend, but MSU still won both of its matches. The fact that the Spartans have plenty of scoring threats means the team has plenty of options and can afford to let Vernij grow and still be a main contributor to the team.

If she can continue to succeed on the field, the Spartans should reap the benefits in coming years. The Spartans have 10 freshmen listed on their roster, and, although they’ll have to replace key seniors this season, they look to have plenty of talent back for next year.

For now, Vernij will try to continue to improve and hopes to lead MSU to a strong potential postseason run.

“She knows how to really be there on the field and that’s amazing to see,” Rijpma said. “You can’t ask for much more.”