2022 Mercury-Area Field Hockey Season Preview
Boyertown
Coach: Alicia Terrizzi, second season.
Last Year’s Record: 15-5-1 overall, PAC runner-up, district second round.
Players to Watch: Katelyn Dulin, Sr., A; Delaney Fox, Sr., A; Taylor Havrilla, Jr., A; Hannah Ulrich, Jr., MF; Peyton Shellaway, So., MF; Alex Bliss, So., MF; Elise Eves, Fr., MF; Kaelin Drey, Sr., D; Sofia Frantzen, Sr., D; Mary Catherine Maloney, Jr., D; Alaina Charlesworth, Fr., D; Sarah Yoder, Sr., GK.
Season Outlook: Bears made their first playoff appearance since 2008 with their season ending in an overtime loss to Kennett in the District 1-3A playoffs. … Dulin (11 goals, 14 assists), The Mercury Player of the Year and First Team All-State selection in 2021, will play field hockey at Michigan State. … Fox will play lacrosse at Bloomsburg. …“Our team has a great energy and really works well together,” said Terrizzi, who also coached the Bears from 1997-2001. “We trust each other and are having a great time playing together. We are looking to build on the success we had last year and go even farther in the playoffs.”
Hill School
Coach: Jennifer Weissbach, sixth season.
Last Year’s Record: 5-0 MAPL, 17-2 overall, MAPL champions.
Players to Watch: Maggie Kondrath, Sr., MF; Emilie Kirschner, Sr., MF; Hala Silverstein, Sr., GK; Kerry Elliott, Sr., D; Riley Savage, So., F; Aubrey Turner, So., F.
Season Outlook: This is the ninth season with the program for Weissbach. … Kondrath is committed to Duke, Kirschner to Northwestern and Silverstein to Michigan. … “The 2022 team is set up to be one of the most talented teams in the history of The Hill School,” said Weissbach. “With an influx of new talent from different states and with the leadership of a large senior class, Hill should make some noise on the national stage. The priority for us continues to be to learn how to work harder than we’ve ever worked before, be great teammates, and build meaningful relationships. I am excited to watch this team grow together and accomplish many things both on and off the field.”
Methacton
Coach: Amanda Fuertsch, fourth season.
Last Year’s Record: 12-1 PAC, 18-6 overall, PAC semifinals, district fourth place, PIAA quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Elise DeWan, Sr., D; Nicole Uebele, Sr., MF; Lily DeWan, Jr., MF; Renee Blake, Jr., MF; Carmela Maro, So., MF.
Season Outlook: Warriors defeated Hazleton 3-0 in the PIAA Class 3 Tournament before falling 2-1 to undefeated eventual champion Emmaus, which was ranked No. 1 in the country. … Elise DeWan will play at Penn State and Uebele at Dickinson. … “Not only does the coaching staff have high expectations for the team this year, but the players are entering the season with the same mindset,” said Fuertsch. “Returning players are hoping to build upon the performance the team had last year. The turnout for summer workouts was the best it’s been in the past four years. Although the team might have some younger players, the experience, leadership, and determination of the returning players will play a huge role in the success of the team.”
Norristown
Coach: Rachel Shuster, ninth season.
Last Year’s Record: 1-12 PAC, 1-15 overall.
Players to Watch: Alexandra Carpenter, So., MF; Nadia Jackson, Fr., MF; Alana Echevarria, So., D; Kayla Rivera, So., MF.
Season Outlook: Carpenter and Echevarria are team captains. … Eagles suffered from low numbers last year and have the same problem again this season so far. … “At this time, we do not have enough numbers to field a full team,” said Shuster. “We are hoping to bring on a few more girls now that school has started. With low numbers last year, and graduating more than half of my team last year, I only have four returning players. The majority of the team are ninth graders or first-year players new to the sport. We are working together to figure out what works best for our team. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work from the girls to come out everyday and hustle despite our obstacles. We are continuing to work to build our program and keep field hockey alive in Norristown.”
Owen J. Roberts
Coach: Amy Hoffman, eighth season.
Last Year’s Record: 6-6-1 PAC, 8-10-1 overall, district qualifier.
Players to Watch: Ava Clemson, Sr., MF; Paige Lobb, Sr., D; Emily Morrisey, Sr., D; Kylee Scherer, Sr., D; Hayden Streeter, Sr., MF; Katja Larsen, Sr., GK; Sierra Milano, Jr., O; Mira Smolij, So., O; Evie Wolters, So., O.
Season Outlook: Wildcats lost to Boyertown 2-0 in District 1-3A first round in 2021. … “Our returning group is determined to improve upon our performance from last season,” said Hoffman. “We have a core group of returning, experienced players from last season who have been helping our younger players to learn and progress early on. They’re a talented group who are just starting to scratch the surface of their potential. They have shown a lot of progress already and the coaches are looking forward to watching their continued growth throughout the season!”
Perkiomen Valley
Coach: Cynthia Prindle, first season.
Last Year’s Record: 5-4-1 PAC, 8-10-1 overall, PAC semifinals, district qualifier.
Players to Watch: N/A.
Season Outlook: Prindle was JV coach for Perk Valley for nine years. … “We are taking one game at a time,” she said. “The team has so much heart for this game and I love watching them grow every game they play.”
Phoenixville
Coach: Claire Emplit, seventh season.
Last Year’s Record: 11-9 overall, district quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Julia Grosso, Sr., F/MF; Gabby Capelli, Jr., F; Kylie Moore, So., MF; Natalia Thomas, Jr..,D; Hannah Hahn, Sr., MF; Caroline Copeland, Sr., MF.
Season Outlook: Phantoms won against Penncrest and lost to Upper Perkiomen in district play. … Brieanna Chapa joins the staff as an assistant coach. … “Phoenixville opens their season with a challenging schedule,” said Emplit. “They look to use lessons from those games to be a strong contender in the PAC and qualify for post season play. There are young faces on the field looking to help develop the program with the upperclassmen leading the way.”
Pope John Paul II
Coach: Lex Versak, fourth season.
Last Year’s Record: 11-8 overall, district quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Tess Riley, Jr., MF; Cate Mink, Sr., F; Becky Fanelli, Fr., F/MF; Meredith Cyr, Sr., D.
Season Outlook: Golden Panthers earned the program’s first district win, defeating Springfield Township in the Class 2A opening round. … Mink has been the team’s leading scorer since her freshman year. … “We are hoping to keep the team chemistry for the 2022 season to pick up where we left off last season,” said Versak. “I am looking for our team to play consistently and focus on playing as a unit. With simple passing, communication and maximum effort, we will continue to improve in each game.”
Pottsgrove
Coach: Jodi Sproule, sixth season.
Last Year’s Record: 4-9 PAC, 7-11 overall.
Players to Watch: Riley Kalejta, Sr., F; Ava Sibley, Sr., MF/D; Cece Burg, Sr., MF/F.
Season Outlook: Kalejta, Sibley and Burg are the team captains. … “The seniors this year are very positive role models and are great examples for all of the underclassmen,” said Sproule. “They give their all at every practice, they help their teammates become better and stronger, and their positive attitudes have really set the standard for the team. We have a small squad this year, but the quality of the players is there as well as the desire to succeed. We are really looking forward to seeing how this year will turn out and we have high hopes for a great season.”
Pottstown
Coach: Brandy Scherer, 17th season.
Last Year’s Record: Did not play last season.
Players to Watch: Daishawnia Dean, Sr., D; Imani Germany-Bird, Sr, D/MF; Grayce Morton, Jr, O; Ebony Brown, So, MF/O.
Season Outlook: Trojans are trying to rebuild the team. …“Our goal this year is to get back out on the field and just play field hockey,” said Scherer. “We are still digging out of COVID, having a late/shortened season in the fall of 2020 and not being able to field a team last year. We continued to practice with those girls that were interested and have been actively recruiting. While we are not back up to full strength, we do think we are in a position where we can get back on the field with some modifications and support of our opponents. It will most certainly be a ‘challenging’ season, but our girls are resilient and ready for the challenge.”
Spring-Ford
Coach: Jennie Anderson, 12th season.
Last Year’s Record: 3-6-1 PAC, 6-11-1 overall.
Players to Watch: Julia Corropolese, Sr., D; Emma Reinert, Sr., D/MF; Cameryn Robbins, Sr., MF; Katie McCreary, Sr., GK; Sydney Cook, Sr., D.
Season Outlook: Rams were 0-6 in games decided by one goal last season. … “Last year, we lost a lot of close games in either the final minutes or overtime,” said Anderson. “Our goal for this year is to use our experience from last year and use it to help us finish games this year. We are looking to be competitive in each of our games and hopefully earn a spot in playoffs.”
Upper Merion
Coach: Angie Yanocha, 17th season.
Last Year’s Record: 8-10 overall, district qualifier.
Players to Watch: Rylie McGrath, Sr., Ashley Evitts, Sr., Julianna Callison, Sr., Reese Doan, Sr.; Marianna Groff, Sr., Michele Maas, Sr.; Elle Menke, Sr., Becca Shuler, Jr.
Season Outlook: McGrath was a PAC Frontier Division First team selection. … “We have a small team with a very interesting dynamic this year,” said Yanocha. “We have a solid group of returning players with great team chemistry, but will have to rely on some incoming freshman to fill in the voids of some positions, including goalie, due to seniors lost from last season. It’s a very hard-working, energetic group that looks forward to what this season has to bring.”
Upper Perkiomen
Coach: Jamie Warren, 16th season.
Last Year’s Record: 17-0 PAC, 22-4-1 overall, PAC champions, district fourth place, state qualifier.
Players to Watch: Ashlyn Gatto, Sr., O; Regan Fiorito, Sr., D; Abby Rodenberger, Sr., MF; Sarah Steinman, Sr., D; Jess Traynor, Sr., O; Madison Conti, Sr., D; Emma Lajeunesse, Sr., GK; Jade Traynor, So., O; Julia Traynor, So, O.
Season Outlook: Indians return All-PAC, All-Area and All-State first-team selection Jess Traynor, along with six Frontier Division second-team picks. … Won a third straight PAC title and lost to eventual champion Twin Valley 5-3 in first round of states last year … Defeated Twin Valley 3-1 to begin this season. … “The 2022 Upper Perk field hockey team is led by a group of eight seniors who are ready to lead the team in a game schedule composed of competitive play for the PAC championship title,” said Warren. “Our goal is to continue to work hard together and improve every day as we develop our team and enjoy every opportunity that we are given to play field hockey. We want to make the most of every opportunity given to us.”
