WEST CHESTER, PA – Now in her 12th year along the Golden Rams' sideline, head coach
Amy Cohen returns a talented nucleus from a squad that reached the national championship game in 2021. She sets the bar high for her players each fall, and this campaign will be no different.
West Chester welcomes 13 players back, seven of which started, from a squad that finished 17-5 a year ago, including All-America midfielder and conference rookie of the year,
Valerie van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands) and All-PSAC forward
Claudia Jaszczak (Coatesville, Pa./Downingtown West). Add three Division I transfers from Lock Haven, including Atlantic-10 All-Rookie team member,
Jasmine Miller (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor), and another Dutch sensation,
Yasmine van Soest (Venlo, The Netherlands), and it is easy to see why Cohen is excited for the journey ahead.
Miller joins junior
Paige Wolfe (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and Jaszczak on the front line. Wolfe scored six goals and registered 16 points in '21. Graduate student,
Dara Spavlik (Hockessin, Del./Conrad), who decided to use her COVID year to return to the Golden Rams, finished second on the team in scoring with eight goals and 22 points. She moved up from the back to the forward line during the 2021 campaign and can play anywhere on the three lines. She also possesses a heavy shot on penalty corners. That versatility is what Cohen likes best about her. Senior, sophomore
Olivia Quagliero (South Hampton, N.J./Seneca), transfer
Millie Gallagher (Birmingham, England) from Newberry College and freshman
Caitlynn Szarko (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) will fit in nicely up front as well and get their fair share of field time.
Meanwhile, van Soest will join countrywomen van Kuijck and senior
Sophia Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) to anchor a midfield that should be very impressive. Van Kuijck led the team in scoring with 21 goals and 50 points her first year in college. Van Soest will benefit from van Kuijck's experience in the States while making the transition. Lock Haven transfer
Morgan Becker (West Chester, Pa./Rustin), who returns home to continue her college career, sophomore
Adriana Palumbo (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) and junior
Cameron Smith (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) may see time in the midfield. (
Emma Turner-Rogozin (Mickleton, N.J./Kingsway Regional) adds veteran depth to the midfield.
Senior
Montana Ott (Mount Bethel, Pa./Bangor), grad student
Autumn Gager (York, Pa./Penn Manor) and senior co-captain
Jaclyn Charbonneau (Vorhees, N.J./Ocean City) hold down the back line for the Golden Rams. Freshman
Ella Shockley (Delmar, Del./Delmar), who hasn't lost a field hockey game for her school since the eighth grade, should also see significant playing time. Senior
Rory Strom (Jenkintown, Pa./Jenkintown), Becker,
Gianna Jaszczak (Coatesville, Pa./Downingtown West) or local product
Kennedy Graham (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) are options in the back as well. Strom has developed into one of the team's top penalty stroke specialists.
In fact, the only question mark heading into the new year is in goal where sophomore
Megan Gula (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) is the lone returning keeper. She did not see much playing time in 2021. However, Gula may have answered a lot of those questions in the preseason with a stellar performance against Division I Towson in a scrimmage earlier during camp. Freshman
Tess Garchinsky (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) is the other goalkeeper on the roster.
Eight freshmen will have to work their way into the substitution rotation, if they are expected to see playing time. Some we have already mentioned. They highlight a very deep recruiting class for Cohen and the Golden Rams. Rookie forwards,
Mackenzie Reese (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and
Bella Aulisio (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) are pushing the veteran upperclassmen. Fellow freshman
Haydan Parker (Harrington, Del./Lake Forest) is a talented midfielder from The First State.
West Chester lifts the lid on its 2022 campaign Friday night at Vonnie Gros Field at 6 p.m. against Assumption University. The Golden Rams defeated the Greyhounds twice a year ago, beating them in the 2021 season opener on the road and then defeating them in the NCAA semifinals at Millersville University.
