No. 7 West Chester Retools for 2025 Field Hockey Campaign

WEST CHESTER, PA – High expectations come with the job when you are the head coach of West Chester University's field hockey program. That doesn't bother Amy Cohen, who is entering her 15th season along the Golden Rams' sideline. However, from the outside looking in, the task ahead seems daunting.  But, that is what excites Cohen the most…..
 
West Chester lifts the lid on its 2025 field hockey campaign this weekend with a trip to the Boston area to take on Assumption and then Bentley, before returning home for a non-league home opener against Shippensburg. West Chester faces Assumption Friday evening at 6 p.m. in Worcester, Mass., before heading to Waltham, Mass., for a 12 p.m. start at Bentley on Sunday.
 
The Golden Rams lost their top three scorers, who accounted for nearly 70 percent of the team's goals, from a year ago.  With that being said and an injury to boot, Cohen feels she has the resources and the confidence in her players to build an even stronger attack in '25.
 
"Everyone can score goals up front," Cohen said. "It's a much more balanced attack. We are using a rotation of four to five forwards, who are seeing an equal amount of time."  "They all have speed, can shoot the ball, and work very well together."
 
 Helping with the transition is a style and a system that Cohen believes uniquely fits this group, and it is something that they have been honing in on since the end of last season.
 
"We are going to play our style and that's fast and aggressive," added Cohen. "They will play as a unit this fall, understanding your individual role on the field matters."
 
"We look so much better up front. You are not going to be successful if your forwards are not scoring an even amount of goals. These kids share the ball. They all possess different qualities, which is nice. Some are fast, some are tall. Some enjoy creating corners, while others love to rip the ball.  They are smart.  The diversity of each is what makes them good. They are all very vocal working together as a group."
 
So … Who makes up this new-look offensive attack for the Golden Rams?
 
Senior Caitlynn Szarko (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) is probably the most recognizable face offensively. She started all 19 games last fall and posted 10 points (3G, 4A). A pair of sophomores who Cohen described as playing "baby minutes" their freshman campaign, have ignited a lot of excitement and have packed a powerful punch into the forward line. Nina Scott (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) and Alexa Lehman (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) will play a much larger role in 2025.
 
"Scott and Lehman have been standouts in camp this summer," Cohen praised. "They both came in fit and have shown an awful lot of speed up front. They both shoot the ball very well. It has just been a different vibe from them as compared to last year."
 
Senior Erin O'Donnell (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn [James Madison]) saw action in 15 games and made four starts last season. She brings that same speed, along with experience, to the group of five forwards expected to lead the way.
 
The final member of the group was the one big change that Cohen made when a forward  went down to injury this summer. Junior Gianna Funari (Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace) makes the jump from the back line to the forward line this year. One of West Chester's stalwart defenders a year ago will be asked to become a leader up front now.
 
"Gianna is a two-way player for us. She will play forward and also be in the backfield pending on the needs of the game. It is wonderful to have a player like G, who can attack and also defend."
 
The idea came to Cohen during the spring while Funari was out with an injury. Seniors Kennedy Graham (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) and Gianna Jaszczak (Coatesville, Pa./Downingtown West) did a great job in her place.  "We essentially have 5 quality backs and 5 quality forwards as Funari will play both positions. As far as we are concerned this is a win-win situation for us."
 
Rounding out the forward line and providing depth to the talented group is senior Bella Aulisio (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West). Junior Isabella Schute (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) can lay either forward or midfield. Aulisio appeared in 10 games last season while Schute got into nine contests.
 
Perennial all-conference performer, Ella Shockley (Delmar, Del./Delmar) and junior Mikenna Price (Henryville, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) anchor a back line that will see Graham and Jaszczak alongside them.
 
"We have five players who will share the responsibility and can play all three positions in the back," Cohen boasted. "Ella, being a seasoned veteran on the team will be a great leader and role model from the back line."  
 
Shockley is the team's leading returning scorer. She scored four goals and added five assists for 13 points last fall. Most of those points came on penalty corners – an area that Cohen feels this team will be less dependent upon to provide the scoring. Cohen believes this team can generate goals from its field play much more than it did in past years. She does not want to rely solely on corners.
 
Rounding out the defense will be a pair of sophomores Eileen O'Brien (Oceanside, Calif./San Pasqual) and Olivia Scatamacchia (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley).
 
The role of the midfield in Cohen's system is in the transition. The coaching staff has been tinkering with formations to find one that fit the team's strengths.  The strength of this group is in its speed on the outside.
 
Junior Allison Patel (Mickleton, N.J./Kingsway Regional) has been a standout performer during pre-season camp. She will anchor the middle of the field and quarterback the transition game from her midfield position. Cohen loves the progress she has made from last season.
 
"(Patel) had some injuries that hampered her in the fall and spring," Cohen explained. "But, she has been very vocal in the middle of the field. She controls everything and has done an excellent job at it."
 
Sophomore Veerle Hersman (Lisse, The Netherlands) is the team's second-leading returning scorer from 2025. She posted four goals and two assists. She strengthens the midfield for the Golden Rams; she adds a certain offensive dynamic, with a variety of skills, that provides depth to the midfield.
 
Flanking Hersman and Patel will be any combination of returning midfielders who all have come into the fall season ready to play. Junior Sofia Brown (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) appeared in all 19 games a year ago and made 16 starts.  Sofia Brown is affectionately known as "Jack Jack" by Cohen as she is the 'jack of all trades.'  Brown adds the aggressive style that Cohen loves.  Patel and Brown played an awful lot together last fall and that chemistry shows.
 
Junior Laura Rogers (Delmar, Del./Delmar) is smart on the ball. She makes the simple play and distributes the ball well. She played with Shockley in high school and two complement each other very well. "Her cool, calm, collected vibe, suits the team well," Cohen states.
 
Lana Hughes (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh [Fairfield]) is probably the first off the bench for the Golden Rams, but has the ability to crack the starting lineup on any given day.  Sisters Lily and Emma Coombs (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) play up top in the midfield.  Sophomore Gabrielle Brightbill (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) also returns to the midfield.
 
West Chester's biggest question mark entering the 2025 campaign was in the cage where fifth-year senior Ryan Curley played all but 15 minutes of last season. She has now graduated and is coaching alongside Cohen this fall.
 
To fill that void, Cohen went out and got sophomore Audra Szymborski (Furlong, Pa./Central Bucks East [Wingate]), who played her freshman year at Wingate University where she was named first-team All-SAC (South Atlantic Conference), freshman of the year and defensive player of the year – a pretty good haul trophy-wise for a college freshman. She authored a 1.19 goals-against average in 16 games, making 15 starts. Szymborski has won the starting job over returning junior Alina Burger (Konigs Wusterhausen, Brandenburg, Germany).
 
"Audra Szymborski has been a standout in camp," Cohen stated. "She was here in the spring and only allowed two goals in during our scrimmages. She really works hard and listens to (Goalie Coach) Ryan (Curley). She has a very similar style to Ryan."
 
Don't let Szymborski's initial impression fool you though. Cohen is very confident in all three of her goalkeepers and really likes how they push one another.
 
We also have Alina coming back and a freshman, Addison van Rensler (Newark, Del./Caravel Academy), who has shown to be very capable. We have three goalies who all can play. Each one of them has a slightly different style.
 
SEASON OUTLOOK
I think we really are versatile," Cohen concluded. "We can score goals, and we can score them really quickly. We don't just have to score off corners anymore. This squad is going to work hard, and they are never going to quit. The work rate never stops.
 
"We should have another nice year. These players have seen what they want to do differently throughout their time with the team.  They are motivated to improve upon the success of 2024 and will continue to push forward to reach their goals."
 
When you play in a very good conference, players are stronger on the ball and more athletic. Whoever wins the conference gets that automatic bid. That is huge. I love that idea. But, you have to get in first. Then, you prove your worth.  We will be ready to prove our worth."