HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata field hockey team welcomes eight new players in 2016. These student-athletes join 15 returning players for an Eagles team coming off an 11-7 season last year and both a Landmark Semifinal and ECAC Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal appearance.
"We are very excited to have the graduating class of 2020 join our team and family," said head coach Caroline Gillich. "Our freshmen come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Netherlands! We eagerly anticipate the arrival of our freshmen each year, knowing they will make us stronger in so many ways. The coaching staff works to find the strengths in each player so we know what we can depend on and where to put people. The next challenge will be who plays best with who, and for that, we just have to wait and see. This is a quick look at our incoming class. They are a wonderful, fun-loving group that will add greatly to our positive team chemistry both on and off the field."
Sarah Alexander (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg)
Alexander was a three-sport athlete at Mifflinburg. She earned three letters in field hockey, two letters in basketball, and four in track. She was her team's captain and a First Team All-Conference midfielder in 2015. She earned the District IV PIAA Sportsmanship Award. Her teams were district qualifiers all four years that she played. She joins her sister Katie who is a junior on the Eagles.
"Sarah Alexander is speed and creativity," notes Gillich. "She will be a great addition to our attack and midfield and will help put points on the board. She understands what we are doing as a team and can support that by making the offensive runs or supporting the play. She has a good reach offensively and defensively and knows how to use it all over the field to be a threat."
Nina Berculo (Utrecht, The Netherlands/St. Bontifatius
Berculo comes to Juniata from The Netherlands where she has played field hockey for 12 years. She played three years for St. Bontifatius and a total of 12 years for the SV Kampong national team. Berculo was a part of three league championship teams and has played in Australia and Hong Kong.
"Nina Berculo is a strong player from Holland that will be a great add in to our mix," said Gillich. "She can help strengthen any line. With her attacking style of play out of the backfield it should help our team understand the importance that every player on the field, can be a big part of our attack, just as we believe every player is important, in our defending game."
Grace Kuszmaul (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown HS)
Kuzmaul was a four-year defender at Moorestown. She was First Team Defense in 2015 and a two-time Second Team defender. Kuzmaul earned the Unsung Hero award in 2013 and the Joan Lewis Coach's Award in 2015.
"Grace Kuszmaul is a strong and steady player in the defensive end and through the midfield," stated Gillich. "She is a great team player that is always supporting the game with her positioning off the ball and teammates. She will play a strong role in helping us work the ball across the field to re-attack and find holes in our opponents' set-up."
Catherine Lanigan (Boonton, N.J./Parsippany HS)
Lanigan was a four-sport athlete at Parsippany. She picked up three letters in field hockey, swimming, and track, and one in lacrosse. Her team was undefeated NJAC Liberty Conference Champions in her freshman and sophomore years, a Morris County Tournament runner-up in her freshman year, and a state sectional runner-up in her sophomore year. Lanigan was twice a Morris County Honorable Mention, a Honorable Mention All-NJAC Liberty Conference (sophomore year), Third Team All NJAC Liberty Conference in her sophomore year, and Second Team junior season.
"Catherine Lanigan is a fast attacker that will help make an already fast team that much quicker," remarked Gillich. "She is a smart player that has a good understanding of the game and where to be. She is a strong walk-on. She has a great appreciation for the game and for the team aspect and will add a lot of positive energy to our team chemistry."
Olivia Marker (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon)
Marker earned four letters in field hockey and track and field and two in basketball. She was a two-time captain and the Most Valuable Player of the Muncy Tournament. She was named Outstanding Senior Female Athlete by the Huntingdon County Sports Hall of Fame and earned the PIAA District Sportsmanship Award.
"Olivia Marker has great attack speed and looks to work closely with her teammates," commented Gillich. "She is a wonderful passing player that keeps her eye out for forwards and midfielders, to pass back and forth with. She has a knack for finishing and scoring. She will mainly play on the forward line as a freshman, but could be seen getting midfield time in the future."
Madison Miller (York, Pa./West York Area HS)
Miller picked up three letters in field hockey and four in track and field. She was a two-year captain and earned the Coaches Award in her junior and senior seasons. Miller was a two-time YAIAA All-Star. Her team was Division Co-Champs in her sophomore year. Her club team, Key State Field Hockey, was second at the Disney Showcase in her junior year and a National Indoor Tournament Qualifier her senior year.
"Madison Miller is a strong midfield and defensive player, said Gillich. "She will help our team become more attacking out of the backfield. She has great vision for the game and knows when to pass and when to take it herself. She will not hesitate to take the big shot and will help us in that part of our game."
Montana Utz (Hanover, Pa./South Western HS)
Utz earned four letters at South Western. A captain in 2015, she was a Gametime PA YAIAA All-Star First Teamer in 2014 and 2015.
"Montana Utz is a strong attacker or attacking midfielder," stated Gillich. "She has good speed and timing. She has a sense for where to be to get open and gets shots off and is very intent to score. She should be a very strong addition to our attack game and will help put balls in the cage. She is fierce in the circle."
Mina Wilt (Waterfall, Pa./Forbes Road)
Wilt earned four letters in field hockey and three in basketball at Forbes Road. She was a Public Opinion Honorable Mention and Second Teamer during her career.
"Mina Wilt is an aggressive defender that never stops," remarked Gillich. "She will add a ton of great energy to our defensive unit and end our opponents' attack runs with her tackles. She is a steady player that looks to send bigger balls in counter attack opportunities or take it herself when the opportunity presents itself."
"This freshman class will help to complement a strong returning group and bolster us in both ends of the field where we had graduated much," says Gillich. "This team returns with great energy and excitement to begin again and make another run for the Landmark Conference Championship. They know what it takes and now it is time to do the work."
