Princeton University Athletics
Seven to Join Princeton Field Hockey in 2008
May 06, 2008 | Field Hockey
Princeton field hockey coach Kristen Holmes-Winn has announced the seven freshman players that will join the field hockey program beginning with the 2008 fall semester. The seven members of the class: Allison Behringer, Erin Jennings, Rachel Neufeld, May-Ying Chelsea Nie-Medalia, Alyssa Pyros, Katie Reinprecht and Kathleen Sharkey will join Princeton's 20 returning players.
Allison Behringer ? Severna Park High School ? Severna Park, Md. ? Midfield
Behringer was a three-year starter at Severna Park and was a part of three-straight State Championships. She was a Washington Post and Baltimore Sun All-Metro and All-State selection as a senior in 2007. In addition to high school field hockey, she played for the Spark Club Team and has had several U.S. Field Hockey experiences, including the NITs from 2002-07 and National Festival and Futures. She also ran indoor track for three years and played varsity lacrosse for four seasons. She will also be a part of the women's lacrosse program at Princeton.
“Allison is a tremendous athlete,” says Holmes-Winn. “She caught our eye at Princeton Elite camp last summer and we came to the fast conclusion that we had to have her on our team. Luckily, the lacrosse staff felt just as passionately as we did. She is tireless in the midfield and approaches every drill with the utmost dedication and enthusiasm. She will bring instant depth to our midfield.”
Erin Jennings ? Emmaus High School ? Emmaus, Pa. ? Midfield/Back
Jennings was four-year varsity player at Emmaus and part of three state championships and two National Championships, coming in her sophomore and senior seasons. Jennings was a first-team Academic All-American and was named first-team Academic All-State. She was also named the Lehigh Valley Field Hockey Scholar Athlete. Jennings has extensive U.S. Field Hockey experience. She was a member of the U-16 Holland Tour team and the U19 Argentina Tour Team. She is a two-time Olympic Development Select Team Member and appeared in the Junior Olympics. She competed on the Pennsylvania/New Jersey High Performance team in 2007 and attended the National Futures Tournament from 2004-2007.
“Erin is no stranger to winning,” says Holmes-Winn. “She will bring a competitive fire and will to win that seems to be inherent in the Emmaus athlete. Erin has a very developed skill set and quite a bit of experience at the high performance level. I feel strongly that she will be ready for the pace and challenges of the college game.”
Rachel Neufeld ? Central Bucks East High School ? Doylestown, Pa. ? Attack
Neufeld was a three-year varsity starter at Central Bucks East, where she served as a captain as a senior. Neufeld was a Suburban One First-Team All-League selection and was chosen to play in Philadelphia All-Star Classic. She won the team's Patriot Player Award for leadership and loyalty and the team's Most Valuable Player. In addition she was a Pennsylvania All-State honorable mention. Neufeld played with the Mystx Field Hockey Club year round.
“Rachel is fast, fiesty and has heaps of potential,” says Holmes-Winn. “Her competitiveness and athleticism will allow her rise to the level of the play around her. I do not think it will take Rachel long to adjust to the pace of the collegiate game and we are excited to have her in our environment full time.”
May-Ying Nie-Medalia ? Princeton High School ? Princeton, N.J. ? Backfield
Nie-Medalia was recently selected to the USFHA Futures Elite Program. She was a first-team All-CVC and Princeton Packet All-Star as a senior at Princeton. She was also a first-team All-Central Jersey selection, named the Captain of the Year by the New Jersey Umpire's Association and named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Nie?Medalia played her junior season at St Mary's School Waverley in Johannesburg, South Africa and was a member of their U16 team that won the Howell-Pullen Tournament in South Africa. She also was part of the Dutch National Champions Training Tour to the Netherlands with The Edge Field Hockey Club. Additionally, she competed at the 2005 and 2007 USFHA National Futures Championship.
“There are not many athletes coming out of the high school environment who are capable of transitioning to a backfield position,” says Holmes-Winn. “May-Ying plays low, she is a strong, smart, physical player who understands the nuances of defense. Her solid delivery skills, work ethic and passion for the game will be great assets as she transitions from the high school to collegiate level.”
Alyssa Pyros ? Dallas High School ? Shavertown, Pa. ? Midfield/Backfield
Pyros was a first-team all-state and all-academic player at Dallas. She was a four-year varsity starter and captained her varsity team as a senior, helping guide the team to the semifinals of the state championships. Pyros was a two-timeTeam Most Valuable Player and was the Rookie of the Year as a freshman. Pyros was part of the championship winning teams at the 2007 National Field Hockey Festival and the 2008 National Indoor Tournament. She was a 2006 Junior Olympics champion and a Futures Elite Selection. Pyros also played with Valley Styx on a year-round basis and played soccer and ran track in high school.
“In my opinion, Alyssa is one of the most under rated players in the nation,” says Holmes-Winn. “She plays the game with quiet confidence and a subtly that lend itself to incredibly effective, fluid play. Smart, poised, fast and a tremendous leader, I believe Alyssa will transition seamlessly to the college game.”
Katie Reinprecht ? Mount St. Joseph's Academy ? North Wales, Pa. ? Midfield/Attack
Reinprecht will join her older sister Sarah on the Princeton roster this fall. She has extensive National Team experience as a member of the U.S. Under 21-National Team and the U.S. Women's National Team Development Squad. She was part of the U21 tours of China in 2007 and Argentina in 2008 and has also been a member of the U19 and U16 national teams. In high school, Reinprecht was a three-time Most Valuable Player and led her team to the state semifinals last season and the finals a season earlier. She is a three-time NFHCA first-team All-American and an all Mid-East Region. She is a four-time Pennsylvania first-team all-state and a four-time AACA All-Star. Reinprecht was the 2006 and 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer Southeast Pennsylvania Player of the Year and played for the 2007 PA/NJ Women's National Championship Team. She was also named ZAG/NFHCA 2007 National Academic Squad.
“Katie's natural abilities are in one word, remarkable,” says Holmes-Winn. “She has a wealth of Junior National Team experience and last summer was the only high school athlete selected to the Senior Women's US development Squad. Anyone who watches Katie play can see that she is special. A deft passer, skilled finisher and one of the better mobile defenders in our country, Katie is the complete package.”
Kathleen Sharkey ? Wyoming Seminary ? Moosic, Pa. ? Attack
Sharkey was second-highest scorer in the nation as a senior in high school with 50 goals and 23 assists last season. She also was a team and league Most Valuable Player and earned first-team all-conference and all-state honors for three-straight years and was a NFHCA Academic All-American. Sharkey played for the NJ/PA team at the 2007 Women's National Championship and was the second leading scorer in the tournament for the tournament champions. She was also the youngest player in tournament. Sharkey has extensive USFHA experience, appearing on the Olympic Development Squad from 2005-08 and touring Chile with the U19 team in 2008. Sharkey and the U19 team took first place at the 2007 Can/Am Games and she toured Holland in 2006 as part of the U16 team. She has also appeared in several futures tournaments and festivals.
“As Pennsylvania's leading goal scorer in 2007, the second leading goal scorer at the Women's National Championships last summer, and the leading goal scorer on the U19 tour to Chile this March, to say that Kat can score goals is truly an understatement,” says Holmes-Winn. “She is a fierce competitor with impeccable instincts around the goal and an enviable selection of shots. Kat is very fun to watch and I have no doubt that she will make an immediate impact at the collegiate level.”
The Princeton field hockey team finished the 2007 season with a 13-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Ivy League play for Princeton's 13th Ivy title in 14 years.
Allison Behringer ? Severna Park High School ? Severna Park, Md. ? Midfield
Behringer was a three-year starter at Severna Park and was a part of three-straight State Championships. She was a Washington Post and Baltimore Sun All-Metro and All-State selection as a senior in 2007. In addition to high school field hockey, she played for the Spark Club Team and has had several U.S. Field Hockey experiences, including the NITs from 2002-07 and National Festival and Futures. She also ran indoor track for three years and played varsity lacrosse for four seasons. She will also be a part of the women's lacrosse program at Princeton.
“Allison is a tremendous athlete,” says Holmes-Winn. “She caught our eye at Princeton Elite camp last summer and we came to the fast conclusion that we had to have her on our team. Luckily, the lacrosse staff felt just as passionately as we did. She is tireless in the midfield and approaches every drill with the utmost dedication and enthusiasm. She will bring instant depth to our midfield.”
Erin Jennings ? Emmaus High School ? Emmaus, Pa. ? Midfield/Back
Jennings was four-year varsity player at Emmaus and part of three state championships and two National Championships, coming in her sophomore and senior seasons. Jennings was a first-team Academic All-American and was named first-team Academic All-State. She was also named the Lehigh Valley Field Hockey Scholar Athlete. Jennings has extensive U.S. Field Hockey experience. She was a member of the U-16 Holland Tour team and the U19 Argentina Tour Team. She is a two-time Olympic Development Select Team Member and appeared in the Junior Olympics. She competed on the Pennsylvania/New Jersey High Performance team in 2007 and attended the National Futures Tournament from 2004-2007.
“Erin is no stranger to winning,” says Holmes-Winn. “She will bring a competitive fire and will to win that seems to be inherent in the Emmaus athlete. Erin has a very developed skill set and quite a bit of experience at the high performance level. I feel strongly that she will be ready for the pace and challenges of the college game.”
Rachel Neufeld ? Central Bucks East High School ? Doylestown, Pa. ? Attack
Neufeld was a three-year varsity starter at Central Bucks East, where she served as a captain as a senior. Neufeld was a Suburban One First-Team All-League selection and was chosen to play in Philadelphia All-Star Classic. She won the team's Patriot Player Award for leadership and loyalty and the team's Most Valuable Player. In addition she was a Pennsylvania All-State honorable mention. Neufeld played with the Mystx Field Hockey Club year round.
“Rachel is fast, fiesty and has heaps of potential,” says Holmes-Winn. “Her competitiveness and athleticism will allow her rise to the level of the play around her. I do not think it will take Rachel long to adjust to the pace of the collegiate game and we are excited to have her in our environment full time.”
May-Ying Nie-Medalia ? Princeton High School ? Princeton, N.J. ? Backfield
Nie-Medalia was recently selected to the USFHA Futures Elite Program. She was a first-team All-CVC and Princeton Packet All-Star as a senior at Princeton. She was also a first-team All-Central Jersey selection, named the Captain of the Year by the New Jersey Umpire's Association and named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Nie?Medalia played her junior season at St Mary's School Waverley in Johannesburg, South Africa and was a member of their U16 team that won the Howell-Pullen Tournament in South Africa. She also was part of the Dutch National Champions Training Tour to the Netherlands with The Edge Field Hockey Club. Additionally, she competed at the 2005 and 2007 USFHA National Futures Championship.
“There are not many athletes coming out of the high school environment who are capable of transitioning to a backfield position,” says Holmes-Winn. “May-Ying plays low, she is a strong, smart, physical player who understands the nuances of defense. Her solid delivery skills, work ethic and passion for the game will be great assets as she transitions from the high school to collegiate level.”
Alyssa Pyros ? Dallas High School ? Shavertown, Pa. ? Midfield/Backfield
Pyros was a first-team all-state and all-academic player at Dallas. She was a four-year varsity starter and captained her varsity team as a senior, helping guide the team to the semifinals of the state championships. Pyros was a two-timeTeam Most Valuable Player and was the Rookie of the Year as a freshman. Pyros was part of the championship winning teams at the 2007 National Field Hockey Festival and the 2008 National Indoor Tournament. She was a 2006 Junior Olympics champion and a Futures Elite Selection. Pyros also played with Valley Styx on a year-round basis and played soccer and ran track in high school.
“In my opinion, Alyssa is one of the most under rated players in the nation,” says Holmes-Winn. “She plays the game with quiet confidence and a subtly that lend itself to incredibly effective, fluid play. Smart, poised, fast and a tremendous leader, I believe Alyssa will transition seamlessly to the college game.”
Katie Reinprecht ? Mount St. Joseph's Academy ? North Wales, Pa. ? Midfield/Attack
Reinprecht will join her older sister Sarah on the Princeton roster this fall. She has extensive National Team experience as a member of the U.S. Under 21-National Team and the U.S. Women's National Team Development Squad. She was part of the U21 tours of China in 2007 and Argentina in 2008 and has also been a member of the U19 and U16 national teams. In high school, Reinprecht was a three-time Most Valuable Player and led her team to the state semifinals last season and the finals a season earlier. She is a three-time NFHCA first-team All-American and an all Mid-East Region. She is a four-time Pennsylvania first-team all-state and a four-time AACA All-Star. Reinprecht was the 2006 and 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer Southeast Pennsylvania Player of the Year and played for the 2007 PA/NJ Women's National Championship Team. She was also named ZAG/NFHCA 2007 National Academic Squad.
“Katie's natural abilities are in one word, remarkable,” says Holmes-Winn. “She has a wealth of Junior National Team experience and last summer was the only high school athlete selected to the Senior Women's US development Squad. Anyone who watches Katie play can see that she is special. A deft passer, skilled finisher and one of the better mobile defenders in our country, Katie is the complete package.”
Kathleen Sharkey ? Wyoming Seminary ? Moosic, Pa. ? Attack
Sharkey was second-highest scorer in the nation as a senior in high school with 50 goals and 23 assists last season. She also was a team and league Most Valuable Player and earned first-team all-conference and all-state honors for three-straight years and was a NFHCA Academic All-American. Sharkey played for the NJ/PA team at the 2007 Women's National Championship and was the second leading scorer in the tournament for the tournament champions. She was also the youngest player in tournament. Sharkey has extensive USFHA experience, appearing on the Olympic Development Squad from 2005-08 and touring Chile with the U19 team in 2008. Sharkey and the U19 team took first place at the 2007 Can/Am Games and she toured Holland in 2006 as part of the U16 team. She has also appeared in several futures tournaments and festivals.
“As Pennsylvania's leading goal scorer in 2007, the second leading goal scorer at the Women's National Championships last summer, and the leading goal scorer on the U19 tour to Chile this March, to say that Kat can score goals is truly an understatement,” says Holmes-Winn. “She is a fierce competitor with impeccable instincts around the goal and an enviable selection of shots. Kat is very fun to watch and I have no doubt that she will make an immediate impact at the collegiate level.”
The Princeton field hockey team finished the 2007 season with a 13-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Ivy League play for Princeton's 13th Ivy title in 14 years.
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