Mercury-Area Field Hockey Season Preview - PA Prep Live

Mercury-Area Field                              Hockey
Season Preview
Boyertown
Head coach: Karen Kooker, third season.
Last year’s record: 3-7 Pioneer Athletic Conference, 9-10
overall (District 1-3A qualifier).
Players to watch: Senior: Lindsay Flack. Junior: Amber
Marburger. Sophomores: Alaina Schmid; Nina Caprio; Alyssa Vu.
Outlook: The Bears constantly fall victim to playing in a
loaded PAC Liberty Division with the likes of league powers
Owen J. Roberts and Methacton as well as Perkiomen Valley and
Spring-Ford. Boyertown was sitting at 8-5 last season before
returning to division play and closing out at districts, going
1-5 down the final stretch. This season, they’ll look to get
back to the district playoffs, despite the loss of two
starting goalies and an injury to leading scorer, Ashley
Dierolf. “We hope for exciting play from our seniors including
Lindsay Flack, Bella Palumbo, Trin Smith and Tara O’Connor as
well as our juniors Amber Marburger and Laura Wigand,” said
Kooker. “Our team goals include having a winning season,
making the PAC playoffs and winning at least one game in
districts.”

Daniel Boone
Head coach: Rachel Hartman, second season.
Last year’s record: 2-8 Berks Division I; 4-12 overall.
Players to watch: Senior: Olivia Cozzone, midfield. Junior:
Haley    Engle,    midfield.     Freshmen:     Clara    Lacek,
midfield/forward; Aubrey Newman, defense/midfield; Devyn
Brennan, defense.
Outlook: Hartman described the Blazers as “an underdog that is
ready to rise up,” which is appropriate given their place in
the Berks Conference the last few seasons. With a realignment

in the Berks Conference standings, Boone shuffles to Division
II, where they’ll join perennial power Berks Catholic (19-5
overall last season) as well as Conrad Weiser (5-11),
Fleetwood (3-13-1), Hamburg (5-10-2) and Schuylkill Valley
(12-8) with a much more manageable regular season schedule.
This year’s crop brings in some talented underclassmen who
should gel with the upperclassmen as the Blazers look to
replace goalkeeper Katie Dotterweich and forward Sydney Hayes.
“We have a very talented set of returners, and a strong
freshman class joining us,” said Hartman. “They are working
hard and are ready to show Berks County what they can
accomplish.”

Hill School
Head coach: Jennifer Weissbach, second season.
Last year’s record: 4-1 Mid-Atlantic Prep League, 13-7 overall
(PAISAA quarterfinalist).
Players to watch: Seniors: Taylor Duffany, forward; Isabella
Palde, midfield; Tatumn Eccleston, forward. Juniors: Ashley
Kling, forward; Alex Conway, forward. Sophomores: Josephine
Palde, midfield; Logan Clouser, midfield.
Outlook: Despite graduating two captains and their three-year
starting goalkeeper, the Blues look poised to make a
substantial run with a bevy of returners along with some
talented newcomers in 2018. First-Team All-MAPL selections
Taylor Duffany along with Isabella and Josephine Palde all
return for a Hill team looking to avenge last year’s 2-1 loss
to Lawrenceville for the league championship.

Methacton’s Katy Benton (9) sends the ball upfield while
   Owen J. Roberts’ Julia Lamb (2) defends during
   Wednesday’s game. (Thomas Nash – Digital First Media)

Methacton
Head coach: Sarah Quintois, seventh season.
Last year’s record: 10-0 PAC; 20-1 overall (PAC Champions;
District 1-3A qualifier).
Players to watch: Seniors: Katy Benton, midfield; Molly Frey,
goalkeeper; Grace Hirst, forward; Frankie Lucchesi,
midfield/defense. Juniors: Rachel Alderfer, defense; Liz
Chipman, midfield/defense. Sophomore: Alexa Kratz,
forward/midfield.
Outlook: Last season’s run for the Warriors came to an abrupt
finish shortly after they finally captured the PAC crown.
Methacton suffered its first loss of the year during the
second round of the District 1-3A playoffs, ending their
promising run well short of expectations. Now, they’ll look to
bounce back following the graduation of five seniors from that

squad, including All-Area First Teamers Olivia Hoover, Emily
Owens (All-Area Player of the Year) and Gretchen Alderfer.
First Team goalkeeper Frey returns in the cage coming off a
stellar junior season where she posted 12 shutouts and allowed
just 14 goals all season while Benton and Hirst should assume
a bigger role on offense. “This year’s team has great strength
through the starting line but several other players will see
significant time,” said Quintois. “There is a great sense of
energy and excitement this year and the team is ready for the
season to begin. The team has sights on making the league,
district and state playoffs.”

Norristown
Head coach: Rachel Shuster, fifth season.
Last year’s record: 0-10 PAC; 0-15 overall.
Players to watch: Senior: Siani Sanders, midfield. Juniors:
Bailee Hendricks, midfield; Basimah Curry, goalkeeper.
Outlook: The Eagles’ last win came during the 2015 season —
putting them at 0-31 overall since moving from the Suburban
One League to the PAC prior to the 2016 season. Last year’s
squad was shut out seven times and Shuster says Norristown is
still working to rebuild the program. “With little coming from
the middle schools and losing some of our upperclassmen girls
for various reasons, we are learning to work together as a new
team,” she said. “We are continuing on working on
communication on the field and skills.”

Methacton’s Frankie Lucchesi dribbles it upfield while
   Owen J. Roberts’ Rylie Hijosh, left, and Bridget
   Gallagher, right, defend. (Thomas Nash – Digital First
   Media)

Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Amy Hoffman, fourth season.
Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC, 17-9 overall (PAC runner-up;
District 1-3A, PIAA-3A quarterfinalist).
Players to watch: Seniors: Natalie Fuertsch, defense; Bridget
Gallagher, offense; Eloise Gebert, midfield; Sophia Murray,
midfield. Juniors: Jenna Kirby, midfield; Julia Lamb,
midfield.
Outlook: OJR’s team members have no shortage of experience
playing on the big stage with three straight appearances in
the PAC Championship along with consistent appearances in the
District 1 and PIAA playoffs. Although they graduated five
members of last year’s squad, including leading scorer and
All-Area First Teamer Bridget Guinan, Hoffman vows that the
Wildcats will have plenty of depth throughout the roster. “We

have a solid core group returning from last year’s roster who
are using their experience to elevate the team play,” she
said. “We’ll have some depth this year giving us the ability
to keep our legs fresh and the energy high throughout our
games. The girls have been working hard and competing every
day to reach their goals of returning to the league, district,
and state playoffs.”

     Perkiomen Valley’s Gabby Martina (3) battles with
     an Upper Perkiomen defender for possession during
     Wednesday’s game. (Sam Stewart – Digital First
     Media)

Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Erik Enters, 10th season.
Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC; 13-7 overall.
Players to watch: Senior: Gabby Martina. Juniors: Danielle
Hamm, Katie Wuerstle, Arianna Martina, Kelly Battinger.
Sophomore: Saige Shine, Cristina Dougherty.
Outlook: There is plenty of positivity surrounding the Vikings
heading into the 2018 season, especially with the return of
leading scorer and All-Area First Team selection Gabby Martina
for her senior season. Gone from last year’s squad are Taylor
Hamm and Hannah Roerden, but returning are Danielle Hamm,
Katie Wuerstle and a bunch of experience all over the field.
That depth will go a long way, says Enters. “This is one of
the deepest teams PV has probably ever fielded,” he said. “Our
bench goes 12-13 deep with a healthy competition for playing
time. Our freshmen group coming in is very talented so don’t
be surprised to see 3-4 of them seeing significant varsity
time throughout the season. Gabby Martina, Danielle Hamm and
Katie Wuerstle will continue to be extremely tough matchups
for opposing teams and won’t be sneaking up on anyone this
season. A really good vibe for this team heading into the
season.”

Merion Mercy’s Katie Murphy and Phoenixville’s Gabrielle
   Herschell try to control the ball. (Barry Taglieber –
   For Digital First Media)

Phoenixville
Head coach: Claire Emplit, second season.
Last year’s record: 8-2 PAC; 14-9 overall (PAC semifinalist;
District 1-AA playoff qualifier)
Players to watch: Seniors: Ameerah Green, forward; Cassidy
Kennedy, forward; Gabby Herschell, midfield; Kyra Trafford,
defense; Hannah Syrek, defense. Junior: Katie Baker, forward.
Sophomores: Aubrie Breisblatt, forward;
Outlook: The Phantoms put together quite a run last fall with
a trip to the PAC and District 1 playoffs, finishing just a
game short of reaching the PIAA Class AA playoffs. Now in
2018, Phoenixville looks plenty poised to make another run.
Gone are defenders Becca Lewis and Tyler Hall, though the
Phantoms return the rest of their starters from last year’s
squad. “Phoenixville had a very successful season last year,
missing the state tournament by one game,” said Emplit. “The

team is looking to build on that success. Several starters
from last years program have returned and will anchor the team
while several younger players develop throughout the season.”

Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Meghan Kugler, second season.
Last year’s record: 5-4-1 PAC; 5-10-1 overall (District One AA
playoff qualifier).
Players to watch: Seniors: Madisan Green, forward; Caroline
Slattery, midfield; Isabel Ameer, midfield. Juniors: Erin
Bell, defense; Maeve Riley, midfield; Nina Mariana, forward;
Grace Brady, midfield/defense. Freshman: Kelly Pires, forward.
Outlook: The Golden Panthers competed well in the PAC’s
Frontier Division but took their lumps outside of it last
season. That said, PJP is a year older boasting a roster
peppered with experienced upperclassmen, though the team will
need to replace forward Gabby Simms and goalie Katie McGuigan,
both lost to graduation. “Our Seniors this year along with our
juniors have stepped up their training and are looking a lot
stronger,” said Kugler. “Something Coach DeBias and I have
been preaching to our girls is ‘positive attitude equals
positive results.’ That goes for both on and off the field.
With Madisan Green, Caroline Slattery, Nina Mariano, and Erin
Bell as our captains, I believe we will have a successful
year.”

Pottsgrove
Head coach: Jodi Sproule, second season.
Last year’s record: 2-6-2 PAC, 4-11-2 overall.
Players to watch: Senior: Lydia Mace, inner. Juniors: Bailey
Murphy, wing; Jayde Yorgey, wing; Sontee Richards, midfield;
Kyra Miller, sweeper; Mikayla Caffrey, defense; Ashley
Livezey, midfield. Sophomore: Riley Simon.
Outlook: The Falcons doubled their win total from the season
prior in Sproule’s first run as head coach. And if this year’s
returners are any indication, that number could improve even

more in 2018. Simon emerged as a freshman last fall where she
led the team in scoring while Murphy will be one of several
experienced juniors returning to the mix. “I’m very excited to
see how much the team has grown since last year,” said
Sproule. “We have a lot of talent, and we grew our numbers to
40 girls this season. Our focus this season will be to score
goals, stay fresh on the field, and give 100 percent.”

Pottstown
Head coach: Brandy Scherer, 13th season.
Last year’s record: 0-9-1 PAC, 3-13-2 overall.
Players to watch: Seniors: Da’zah Regusters, midfielder;
Reilly Owens, defense; Jayla Holloway, midfield; Elsie
Cannell, offense. Sophomore: Lillian Stirk, goalie.
Outlook: Scherer is spreading a ‘small but mighty’ philosophy
within her team as the Trojans look to put a forgettable 2017
season in the rearview with the return of several experienced
seniors. Pottstown returns after being shut out 12 times last
season, including a run of six straight games early in the
year. “Our low numbers create some obstacles but we are really
looking to use those obstacles to create opportunities,” said
Scherer. “We have a solid core of seniors and we are really
looking to pick up where we left off last year with our
successes.”

Spring-Ford’s Caroline Todd fires it into the cage to give the
Rams a lead. (Sam Stewart – Digital First Media)

Spring-Ford
Head coach: Jennie Anderson, eighth season.
Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC, 7-12 overall.
Players to watch: Seniors: Caroline Todd, defense; Arian
Magazzolo, defense; Mary-Pat McKenna, midfield. Juniors: Kate
Crist, midfield; Shannon Kennedy, midfield; Angelina
Pinciotti, forward. Freshman: Ashley Sessa, forward.
Outlook: The Rams suffered five losses last season in games
decided by one goal — results that could have changed the
entire dynamic of the season. Now, they’ll shift focus to 2018
with the return of several experienced players including All-
Area selections Crist and Todd, paired with the arrival of
Sessa, a talented freshman forward who was on the U.S. indoor
junior national team over the summer. “We will look to build
on the experience gained from last year’s playoff appearance
and use it to help us be competitive in all of our games this
year,” said Anderson. “We are looking forward to this year and
hopefully making it back to playoffs.”

Upper Merion
Head coach: Angie Yanocha, 13th season.
Last year’s record: 3-7 PAC; 5-12 overall.
Players to watch: Seniors: Molly Weygand, midfield; Kaleigh
Smith, defense; Nitzy Urias, forward; Rosalee Banks, offense;
Kelly DiMarzio, defense; Deann Boyer, offense; Leah Kaczur,
defense. Juniors: Olivia Colatriano, defense; Samme
Deskiewicz, offense; Danielle Linnebaugh, midfield.
Outlook: The Vikings’ roster is loaded with experienced
upperclassmen as the team transitions to its new turf field
for home games. “We continue to strive to improve our skills
and conditioning,” said Yanocha. “With a big group of seniors
this season we hope it will help lead the team to more wins
this year. We are also very excited that our school has
finally gotten a turf field and with that, we hope to see
overall improvement in the team’s skill.”

Upper Perkiomen’s AiYi Young battles for possession with
Methacton’s Emily Owens during the first half. (Sam Stewart –

Digital First Media)

Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: Jamie Warren, 11th season.
Last year’s record: 10-0 PAC; 19-5 overall (PAC semifinalist;
District 1-AA, PIAA-AA qualifier).
Players to watch: Seniors: Abriana Gatto, forward; Morgan
Fiorito, forward. Juniors: AiYi Young, midfield; Tori
Williams, midfield; Jenna Fiorito, midfield; Carly Eidle,
goalie; Michaela Greczek, forward.
Outlook: The Tribe hasn’t lost a matchup against an opponent
in the PAC’s Frontier Division in each of the past two
seasons, a trend that’s earned them two straight trips to the
PAC Final Four playoffs. Now with the departure of four key
pieces from last year’s squad, Upper Perk will look to blend
some new faces with some of experienced varsity level players,
including standouts Young and Gatto. “The players were very
dedicated over the summer months and excelled at their team
camp,” said Warren. “Our preseason was filled with a lot of
hard work, fun practices and building our teams. We are
looking forward to the competition we will face this season.
Our goal is to continue to work hard at developing team
chemistry and succeeding on and off the field.