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As Annabelle Vossenaar entered her senior year at Maerlant Lyceum in The Hague, Netherlands, she knew she wanted to continue her education abroad.

Throughout her life, Vossenaar never shied away from new experiences. So when she received the opportunity to play collegiate field hockey at Syracuse, she took the chance.

Vossenaar has made an instant impact with the Orange in her first year at SU. Despite primarily being used off the bench, the freshman midfielder has registered seven assists, tied for the second-most on the team. Her seven points are the most for any Syracuse freshman and her seven assists are the highest figure for any freshman in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I think I was always oriented on moving abroad someday,” Vossenaar said. “I feel so lucky that I’m finally (at Syracuse) to play field hockey and chase my dream.”

Vossenaar has emerged in a key role as Syracuse’s trapper. On penalty corners, Vossenaar often lines up at the top of the arc, as she waits for the insertion from Willemijn Boogert. When Boogert passes it into the arc, Vossenaar extends her stick to control the ball, placing it in a perfect spot for Bo van Kempen to bury the shot.

“I don’t necessarily always make the goals,” Vossenaar said. “But I’m always happy to give the ball to someone who’s in a better position to score than me.”

Born in Tokyo, Japan to Dutch parents, Vossenaar then relocated to Buenos Aires, Argentina, before her second birthday. Her father, Frederik Vossenaar, had accepted a position as an Agricultural Counselor for the Dutch Embassy.

Her childhood in Argentina exposed her to many cultures. She attended the Lincoln School — a school for international students — learned to speak several languages and engaged with students from regions beyond Argentina regularly. After a few years, Frederik said Vossenaar’s Spanish fluency surpassed his own. The experience expanded her cultural knowledge and helped her prepare for life at Syracuse.

“Something that stood out to me was the fact that she had lived in multiple countries,” Syracuse assistant coach Sam Brown said. “It shows, coming from Europe to another culture here in America, that she’s adaptable and she’s able to fit in.”

Frederik played field hockey for over two decades himself, and he introduced Annabelle to the sport while in Argentina. But, when she wanted to join a club team, it turned Vossenaar away because she was too young. She ended up waiting until she was 7, when her family moved back to the Netherlands.

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“She was very competitive, that was an early characteristic of hers,” Frederik said. “She just hated losing, and so she was very eager to learn and play.”

Once she was in the Netherlands, Vossenaar had several options for potential clubs in The Hague, like Houd Dapper Stand and Haagsche Delftsche Mixed. In the end, it was Klein Zwitserland that stood out to her. Vossenaar emphasized how the club prioritized attending to nutrition and mental health.

Vossenaar played for Klein Zwitserland from her childhood up to her senior year of high school. During the 2022-2023 season, she even earned a Hoofdklasse debut, which is the highest division of field hockey in the Netherlands. She hadn’t experienced many setbacks in her time at the club, but that changed in her final season.

In indoor field hockey, teams consist of five players, rather than the 11 seen in a traditional alignment. As a result, Vossenaar was pushed onto the second team in her last indoor season with the club.

Despite her initial disappointment, Vossenaar turned the season into a positive.

“(It) was kind of hard for me because it was my last year and I really wanted to be in the first team,” Vossenaar said. “I really learned that even though some challenges may come to you, you can still make the best of it.”

At the same time, Vossenaar was dealing with the stress of the college recruitment process. She wanted a school that allowed her to prioritize field hockey while providing good academics, a balance she felt Dutch universities lacked. She hadn’t found the match until she met Brown.

Brown found her at a recruiting showcase in the Netherlands. The two immediately clicked, and roughly a week after their encounter, Vossenaar had a Zoom call with the rest of Syracuse’s staff. Two months later, after several other follow-ups with Brown, she committed to Syracuse, and she’s been a crucial part of the team’s future since.

“She’s technically very aware, she has a great hockey IQ and that allows her to present slightly differently based on the game plan,” Brown said. “It’s just really pleasing to see her come up, first year, first semester and be willing to do whatever the team needs to find success.”

Published on November 3, 2024 at 11:49 pm

mjpalmar@syr.edu