COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – West Chester University put four players on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Atlantic Region squad it was announced Wednesday afternoon.
Gianna Funari (Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace),
Veerle Hersman (Lisse, The Netherlands) and
Ella Shockley (Delmar, Del./Delmar) were all first-team selections while
Caitlynn Szarko (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) was selected to the second team. It is the first all-region citation for four Golden Rams, who have been piling up the post-season honors after leading the purple & gold to the national semifinals.
Funari, a first-team All-PSAC pick last month, scored three goals and assisted on two others for a total of eight points this season for the Golden Rams. She notched one game-winning goal and recorded two defensive saves. The versatile asset for head coach
Amy Cohen played on all three lines at some point during the fall campaign. Traditionally a back on defense, Funari saw considerable time both in the midfield and up top at forward. She was implemented wherever Cohen needed her.
Hersman enjoyed a break-out campaign in 2025 as one of the top scoring threats in all of Division II. She was such an electric offensive threat in the midfield, scoring 16 goals and posting four assists for a total of 36 points. She finished the regular season tied for second in the PSAC in goals and led the conference in shots on goal. She was third in the league in points. Her 16 goals ranked tied for sixth in all of Division II. Hersman was also a first-team All-PSAC pick along with Funari.
Shockley, a second-team All-PSAC selection, anchored the Golden Rams' back line for the fourth consecutive year. She still managed two goals and two assists for a total of six points. She scored one game-winning goal, that coming in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament against IUP in double overtime. She also was credited with a defensive save.
Szarko stepped up this fall and finished second on the team in scoring with seven goals and six assists for a total of 20 points on the year. She was a second-team All-PSAC pick while also being named to the NCAA Division II All-Tournament team following the national championship game. She was asked to play a larger role in the offense with the graduation of West Chester's top three goal scorers from a year ago. Szarko turned in career highs in both goals and points as a result.
2025 Atlantic Region First Team
Emma Albee Shippensburg University Goalkeeper First Team
Genna Bush Bloomsburg University Forward First Team
Lilly Cantabene Shippensburg University Forward First Team
Jess Davidson Indiana University Midfielder First Team
Gianna Funari West Chester University Defender First Team
Erin Gonzalez Kutztown University Forward First Team
Veerle Hersman West Chester University Midfielder First Team
Parker Keeler Newberry College Forward First Team
Olivia Kirkpatrick Kutztown University Defender First Team
Marissa Rice Kutztown University Midfielder First Team
Elaiana Rivera-Lagalla East Stroudsburg University Midfielder First Team
Ella Shockley West Chester University Defender First Team
Charlotte Simon East Stroudsburg University Defender First Team
Jessica Traynor Kutztown University Midfielder First Team
Emma Westbrook Newberry College Forward First Team
Hannah White Shippensburg University Defender First Team
Atlantic Region Second Team
Tess Adolf Kutztown University Goalkeeper Second Team
Carme Caracotche Picone Shippensburg University Midfielder Second Team
Wibien Dahmen Newberry College Forward Second Team
Agus Garibaldi Shippensburg University Forward Second Team
Maura Greek Bloomsburg University Goalkeeper Second Team
Grace Harrold Kutztown University Midfielder Second Team
Victoria Hulst Lander University Defender Second Team
Kerry Kaufman East Stroudsburg University Midfielder Second Team
Payton Keeler Newberry College Midfielder Second Team
Minke Klijn East Stroudsburg University Forward Second Team
Sarah Schumacher Belmont Abbey College Defender Second Team
Caitlynn Szarko West Chester University Forward Second Team
