PHILADELPHIA – Saint Joseph's junior back Milou Kluyt was named the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Field Hockey Performer of the Year, the organization announced on Monday.  She was also named to the Academic All-Area Team alongside senior forward Alison Buffington.
 
Kluyt was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and earned Second Team All-Conference and All-Academic honors after starting every game as a fixture on the back line for the five-time league champions.  She then went on to be named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Atlantic 10 Championship and earned a spot on the All-Championship Team.  Last week, she was tabbed for the NFHCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team as well.
 
The Goirle, Netherlands, native is the third Hawk to earn Performer of the Year honors after Anna Willocks '19 (2016, 2017) and Kathrin Bentz '20 (2019).
 
Hailing from Enola, Pennsylvania, Buffington earned Second Team All-Conference honors as well as her second consecutive All-Academic selection this season.  A starter in all 22 games in 2025, she was also a Preseason All-Conference honoree and is a three-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction.
 
The Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Team is voted on by the athletic communications offices of 30 institutions in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.  In order to be eligible, student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.30, be a starter or key reserve on their team, and be in at least their second year at their institution.