BOSTON -- Bryant field hockey graduate student Valentina Funes was named the America East Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday morning, the league office announced.

Funes, who was also named to the All-America East First Team, becomes the first Bulldog to earn a major America East field hockey award and just the third major award winner in DI program history. Senior Callie Caito was named to the second team for a second consecutive year and also earned America East All-Academic honors.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Funes has made an incredible impact in her first season with the Black and Gold, registering eight goals and 18 points. Bryant's starting centerback, Funes has played all but seven minutes this season. Funes tied a Bryant single-game program record with four goals vs Sacred Heart and also ranks second in the league with three defensive saves. She joins Rosie Bird (2011 NEC Rookie of the Year) and Marijn Jaarsma (2021 NEC Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year) as the only major award winners in DI program history.

Caito picks up All-America East Second Team honors for the second-straight year and enters the America East Championships ranked second in the league in goals (10) and fourth in points (22). Caito is just one of two players in DI program history to record multiple hat tricks in a single season with three goals vs Merrimack and LIU. On Thursday, she joined Rosie Bird and Victoria Danby as the only players in DI program history to score 10+ goals in a single season. 

Bryant is set to face third-seeded UAlbany on Sunday, November 1 in the America East Quarterfinals. Pass back is set for 1:00 p.m. in Albany.