Fairfield University Athletics

2015: MAAC Rookie of the Year...All-MAAC Second Team... 2015 ZAG Field Hockey/ NFHCA Div. I National Academic Squad... 2015 ZAG Field Hokcey/ NFHCA Div. I Scholar of Distincation...Smalbraak had a standout rookie season, appearing in all 19 games and making 18 starts. She was second on the team with 17 points off six goals and five assists. The freshman was named MAAC Rookie of the Week one time this season.

Before Fairfield: Field hockey has been part of Ruth Smakbraak’s life since the age of six and now continues her career as a member of the Fairfield University field hockey program. She started her first years of field hockey with club MHC Soest where she quickly became a member of the first line.  She continued to move up the sport ranks by being invited to play for the districts team of Middle Holland. At the age of 13 and 14, she trained at the Hockey Academy which is a technical and sport facility for invited players. In 2012, she moved onto AMHC Amersfoort, a bigger club in the second-best level of Dutch field hockey. In her first season, she was a member of the Top League 1 championship team. Smalbraak would be invited to play with the first ladies team. She has international experience, playing in the National League which included competition against Belgium, Ireland, England, and Poland. Smalbraak also spent time training in Barcelona. From there, she joined the prestigious team SCHC Bilthoven and helped the place fifth National League outdoor competition.