Friederike Engel

Classroom

Engel, a marine science major, is a standout in the classroom with a 3.88/4.0 cumulative grade-point average. She has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in two different semesters at American and has been recognized to the Dean’s List (at least a 3.5 GPA) every semester. Engel has also been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in each of her first three years at AU. “To achieve the academic success that she has, while balancing the many hours required to play a Division I sport, is simply amazing,” said Head Coach David Bucciero.

Character

Engel is unquestionably the leader on the team both on the pitch and away from the field.  She has been named a tri-captain for the 2010 season as a symbol of her ability to be a role model on the team, and a link between the coaching staff and the rest of the team. She takes great pride in mentoring younger student-athletes with her quiet, yet powerful demeanor. Despite her gentle personality, she can be described as an emotional leader on the team, always willing to pull teammates aside to praise them or help them out when needed. Head Coach David Bucciero: “In addition to her excellence on the field, Frie has become an outstanding leader and example to others by the way she carries herself on and off the field.”

Community

Engel has taken part in many community initiatives during her time at AU. She actively participated in volunteering her time at D.C. Scores, helping to coach and mentor younger soccer players. She also took part in American’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day, where Engel and her teammates again coached young soccer players and gave them insight on what it is like to be a collegiate student-athlete. Finally, Engel has also recently participated in the Turkey Outreach, where she helped prepare Thanksgiving meals for families in need. “Frie is a wonderful young women who I have had the pleasure to watch develop as a player and an individual the past four years,” remarked Associate Director of Athletics Athena Argyropoulos. “She is a true ambassador for our department and university both on and off the field.”

Competition

Engel has rewritten the record books in her first three years at American. In 2009, she was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, only the second Eagle to ever earn the award. She also became the first ever AU women’s soccer student-athlete to be named to the ECAC Division I Soccer All-Star Team. She has been recognized as All-Patriot League First Team selection in each of her first three years, becoming the only AU women’s soccer student-athlete to ever be a multiple-time first team all-conference selection. In 2007, she was honored as the Patriot League Rookie of the Year, the only AU student-athlete to ever pick up that award. In 2009, Engel anchored an American defensive unit that allowed only 18 goals in 21 games, recording eight shutouts along the way en route to an appearance in the Patriot League Championship Game. The defender has made 55 career appearances, including 52 starts, and has led the Eagles to an 11-4-6 record in Patriot League play the past three seasons.  “Frie will go down as one of the best players to ever play at American University and has impacted the Patriot League every year she has been here,” commented Head Coach David Bucciero. “Without Frie, we would not have been able to achieve what we have during her time here.”