Shipley hires former Gator star Avery Safford as new field hockey coach

Bryn Mawr – The Shipley School has hired former Shipley alum and University of Richmond field hockey standout Avery Safford as its new varsity field hockey head coach.

Safford, who graduated from Shipley in 2012, arrived at Shipley in 2002 as a third grader. She went on to excel in field hockey for the school, earning the program a Friends School League championship in each of her four years. She was named to the first team All-Friends League three times, the All-Main Line first team honors twice, and the All-Philadelphia All Star Team twice. With 52 goals scored her senior year, she broke the Shipley record for most goals scored in a season, and in the process became the highest scoring field hockey player in the school’s history.

In addition to field hockey, Safford also played lacrosse and squash. Her lacrosse accomplishments include being named a first team All-Friends League selection, and twice chosen to the first team All-Main Line as well as a second team selection. At the conclusion of her senior year, Safford was awarded The White Blazer award, given to the best female athlete of her class.

Safford continued her field hockey career as she went on to play Division I field hockey at The University of Richmond. Playing a vital role for Richmond, the Spiders proceeded into the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships all four years, winning it once. This earned them an advancement into the first round of the NCAA tournament. While at Richmond, Safford earned four Scholar-Athlete Awards, given to athletes who demonstrate an outstanding academic achievement for the school year at the University.

During her senior season she was selected for the A-10 Conference All-Academic Team, which is awarded to the student-athletes for their high academic and athletic success. She was also honored as a National Field Hockey Coaches Academic All American.

In addition to being a Division I athlete at Richmond, Safford was on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a representative for women’s field hockey, and an intern with Richmond’s Counseling and Psychological Services. In 2016 Safford graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Elementary Education.