NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Four players have been recognized with team awards by the Yale field hockey team for the 2025 season. The Bulldogs announced the awards earlier this month. 

• Sophomore goalkeeper Fev Barinova (Juodkrante, Lithuania) earned the Amanda Walton Award.
• Sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Chang (Houston, Texas) earned the Player of the Year Award.
• First-year goalkeeper Amelie Schwarzkopf (Berlin, Germany) earned the Senior Award.
• Junior back Hettie Whittington (Guildford, England) earned the Dawg Award.

•
 
The Amanda Walton Award that Barinova earned is given by the Yale players and coaching staff to that team member who demonstrates the ability to confront challenges, displaying the courage to overcome them, while inspiring teammates with her work ethic and unselfish attitude. 
 
The award is named after Amanda Walton '02, who has been an inspiration to the Bulldogs. After her sophomore year at Yale, Walton -- a field hockey and lacrosse player -- was involved in an automobile accident that put her career on hold. She overcame a coma and serious injuries with hard work and dedication.
 
Though Barinova has not seen any game action in her career, she has been a valued member of the team as a backup goalkeeper. She was a 2024 NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree.
 
Barinova is a graduate of Deerfield Academy.
 
•
 
The Player of the Year Award is given to the member of the team who has performed at the highest level for the season as a whole. 
 
Chang enjoyed a breakthrough season, starting all 18 games and notching a pair of assists. She was an honorable mention All-Ivy League selection.
 
This is the second team award of Chang's career; In 2024 she received the team's Senior Award. Last year she also earned the NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Award.
 
Chang is a graduate of St. John's School.
 
•
 
The Senior Award that Schwarzkopf received is awarded by the senior class to a first-year team member who reflects positive contribution to the team's philosophy and whose individual character encourages the future direction and excellence of Yale Field Hockey.
 
In her first season with the Bulldogs, Schwarzkopf emerged as Yale's starting goalkeeper and delivered a pair of shutouts while posting a .732 save percentage and a 1.59 goals-against average. In her 17 games played, she limited Yale's opponent to no more than one goal 10 times. She was a second team All-Mideast Region and second team All-Ivy League honoree.
 
Schwarzkopf is a graduate of Dreilinden Gymnasium.
 
•
 
The Dawg Award (formerly the Coaches' Award) is "given to the player who exemplifies grit, resilience, and a pack mentality both on and off the pitch. This player has the first-in and last-out attitude, effort and mindset. This individual leads by example and sets the standard for hard work." 
 
Whittington was a first team All-Mideast Region and second team All-Ivy League pick. She has developed into one of the most complete players in the league, contributing at both ends of the field. As a center back, she anchored a defense that allowed only 27 goals in 18 games. As one of the team's primary options on attack penalty corners – and on penalty strokes – she delivered career highs in goals, assists and points (9-9-27). Last year Whittington was a first team All-Ivy League and first team NFHCA All-Mideast Region selection.
 
Whittington is a graduate of Surbiton High School.
 
•
 
The team awards wrap up a historic fourth season for Yale under Melissa Gonzalez, the team's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey. The Bulldogs earned their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their first appearance in the Ivy League Tournament. Yale won 12 games, tied for third-most in school history. 
 
Yale now bids farewell to three seniors: forward Poppy Beales (King's Lynn, England), forward Lauren Venter (Knysna, South Africa) and back Maddy Zavalick (Newington, Conn.). That group was part of 38 wins since the start of the 2022 season, making them the winningest class since the Class of 2013 (40 wins 2009 through 2012). 
 
Next year the Bulldogs return eight players who started 17 or more games, including five All-Ivy League selections and four All-Region selections.