Angstadt takes reins at Wissahickon

LOWER GWYNEDD >> The Wissahickon field hockey team has a new look and it all starts at the top.

Leah Angstadt is ready for her first year as head coach this fall.

A West Chester University grad, Angstadt spent the last two years as an assistant coach for the La Salle University field hockey team. Her coaching experience dates back to her junior year of college, when she was offered a position with a club team.

As a senior at West Chester, Angstadt led the Golden Rams to the Division II National Championship.

Now, she sets her sights on leading the Trojans to glory. She’s an offensive-minded coach and already sees it showing in her team.

“I stress attacking,” Angstadt, who’s been playing field hockey since she was five years old, said. “Keeping the ball moving so we can get it up the field and the second that we’re in the circle we’re taking shots. You never know when it’s going to go in.

“It’s definitely improved. From working with them in the spring and in the summer to now, whenever they have an opportunity they’re taking it.”

The players see the offensive improvement, too.

“We do a lot of that during practice,” senior Jessica Waite said of the offensive game. “(Angstadt has) also been teaching us new things like reverse chips and we really focus on hitting the ball and a lot of stuff with scoring.”

Waite earned First Team All Suburban One League American Conference honors last season when the Trojans went 12-2 and finished second in the league to Plymouth Whitemarsh.

“It’s going to be a young team,” Waite said, comparing the 2016 squad to last year. “A lot of our starting lineup last year graduated, but we have some good freshman that moved up and some people stepped up over the winter. It should be good.

“With PW, the last few years it’s gone back and forth, so hopefully we can get it this year.”

Waite and fellow seniors Kyra Myers and Sarah Cammarota, are captains this year.

“We’re really looking to the three of them for their leadership and their playing experience to help the team come along,” Angstadt said.

The Trojans’ season kicks off Friday Sept. 2 at home against Council Rock North.