The 2013 field hockey squad has eight incoming freshmen on the roster, and they all have strong backgrounds in field hockey. Here’s a quick look at the Owls’ newest members.
Michelle Walsh (defense/midfield): Walsh started varsity all four years for Archbishop Carroll High School, a team that won four straight district championships. She served as captain of the team in her senior year and also played for the WC Eagles club team outside of school.
Katie Foran (forward): Foran was the offensive MVP for Central Dauphin High School in her senior year with 24 goals and 24 assists. She was named a Mid-Penn All-Star twice in her three years on the varsity team and was named to the Patriot News’ Big-11 in her senior year. Foran also played four years of varsity softball for Central Dauphin and played club field hockey for Key State.
Shawna Chopko (defense/midfield): Chopko was a four-year starter for Newark High School and was team captain for two of them. She was a three-time all-conference selection for Newark and played on the North Bay Crush club team outside of school. Chopko also played three years of varsity lacrosse and track and field for Newark. In 2011, she won the Delaware Women’s Alliance for Sports and Fitness’ Women’s Athlete of Promise Award. She played in the National Futures Championship this summer with teammate Taylor Janney.
Ali Meszaros (defense/midfield): Meszaros played for Phoenixville Area High School where she was named team captain in her senior year. She also ran track and field in high school and was a four-year honor roll student. Meszaros also played club field hockey for WC Eagles.
Paige Gross (midfield): Gross started four years on the varsity team for Liberty High School. She was named a Lehigh Valley Conference All-Star twice and was named to the conference’s first team in her senior year. Gross’ high school team was the conference champion last season. Gross also played basketball and soccer for Liberty, serving as the soccer team’s captain in her senior year, when she was also named a conference all-star for the sport. Gross played club hockey for True North, who won gold at last year’s National Field Hockey Festival.
Taylor Janney (defense/midfield): Janney, who is a second cousin to head coach Amanda Janney, played three years of varsity field hockey for Cherry Hill High School. She was named Cherry Hill Offensive Player of the Year in her senior season and helped the team to the state tournament in her junior and senior year. Janney played on the South Jersey Edge club and was involved in the USA Field Hockey Futures Program for four years. She, along with teammate Shawna Chopko, played in the National Futures Championship this summer.
Sarah Keer (midfield/forward): Keer served two years as team captain for Lehighton Area High School. Her school won the state championship in her freshman year and made it back to the finals the next season. Keer was also a member of the school’s track and field team, where she was a two-time conference champion in javelin. For club field hockey, Keer played for First Class for three years and played for the Pyramid Evolution last year.
Elle Hempt (midfield/defense): Hempt was captain of the Cumberland Valley High School team in her senior year and was named to the Mid-Penn All-Star first team in 2011 and 2012. She was also named to the Patriot News’ Big-11 team in 2011 and 2012. Hempt also played club field hockey for East Coast Field Hockey, where she has spent time as team captain over the last three years. Here is a profile on Hempt posted yesterday: http://temple-news.com/sports/2013/08/05/recruiting-spotlight-elle-hempt/.
In a June interview, Janney said she likes what she sees in the new recruits and that she hopes to see them get action on the field this year.
“We have eight very athletic and strong players coming in,” Janney said. “We’re hoping to see a lot of them get playing time early in August and help us out.”
