SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University head field hockey coach Tara Zollinger has confirmed the recruitment of nine student-athletes who have each agreed to attend the university and will suit up for the Raider field hockey program when preseason camp gets underway in August.
 
The incoming class features a group of three transfers with an international flavor, as well as six first-year players all hailing from the United States.
 
Two of the transfers represent Chile and South Africa, while a third hails from Massachusetts.
 
A total of five different states are represented. Three of the arrivals are from Pennsylvania, one from New York, one from Massachusetts, one from New Hampshire and one from California.
 
These nine players will be a part of a class of 11 total newcomers, joining a pair of mid-year transfers in goalkeeper Grace Meinke and back Kayla Snyder, and will aid a Raider squad that reached the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season.
 
"We are excited to welcome our incoming freshman and transfer student-athletes to Shippensburg University," Zollinger said. "This group brings experience, talent, and the drive to win. We are confident this group will strengthen our team's athleticism and culture in pursuit of competing for championships."
 
The recruits are as follows (in alphabetical order):


Avery Austin
Freshman • Forward
Solana Beach, Cal./Torrey Pines
 
Torrey Pines High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Falcons under head coach Courtney Spleen…competed at the club level for RUSH Field Hockey under coach Brian Schledorn…ranked in the Top 100 nationally in goals scored as a junior and senior…scored 56 points her junior season…tallied 43 points as a senior and was the team's leading goal scorer…also competed in track & field.
 
About Austin: Full name is Avery Mabel Austin…is the daughter of Joe and Tami Austin…has a brother, Brooks; and a sister, Parker…aunt, Shanel Gohsler, played NCAA field hockey at VCU and Northwestern from 1995-1999.
 

Emily Bitters
Freshman • Back
Delmar, Md./Delmar (Del.)
 
Delmar High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Wildcats under head coach Jodi Hollaman…competed at the club level for ShoreByrds under head coach Juli Bradford…First Team All-State as a senior…four-time Delaware state champion…four-time Henlopen Conference Champion…Second Team All-Conference as a junior…helped team to a 70-2 record in four seasons...totaled 22 goals and 23 assists…Scholar Athlete…Merit Honor Roll…ranked 12th in her class with a 4.3 GPA.
 
About Bitters: Full name is Emily Bitters…is the daughter of Chris and Melissa Bitters…has a sister, Hailey, who played field hockey at Syracuse and St. Joseph's…father played baseball at California Riverside and is the general manager of a minor league baseball team.

 
Elaina Fragassi
Freshman • Midfield
Allentown, Pa./Parkland
 
Parkland High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Trojans under head coach Julie Bisci…competed at the club level for X-Calibur under head coach Tiffany Cappellano…Pennsylvania High School Field Hockey Coaches Association (PHSFHCA) Second Team All-State…Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) First Team…The Morning Call All-Area First Team…Lehigh Valley Live All-Area First Team…scored 29 goals as a senior…led the team in scoring three seasons…2024 EPC Scholar Athlete…named to the Principal's List (2020-24)…also competed in track & field.
 
About Fragassi: Full name is Elaina Fragassi.
 

Anne Gardner
Freshman • Forward
Hershey, Pa./Hershey
 
Hershey High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Trojans under head coach Savannah Lenker…competed at the club level for Pa. Revolution under coach Jaime Pollock…2023 Pennsylvania High School Field Hockey Coaches Association (PHSFHCA) First Team All-State…2023 Mid Penn Conference (MPC) First Team All-Star…PHSFHCA Second Team All-State and MPC Second Team All-Star as a junior…MPC Honorable Mention as a sophomore…scored 114 points her senior year…honor roll student…also competed in track & field.

About Gardner: Full name is Anne Elizabeth Gardner.

 
Josefina Golppi
Graduate • Forward
Santiago, Chile/Colegio Olimpo (Rider/Limestone)
 
2023 (Senior): Attended Limestone University…NCAA Division II Senior Team…Second Team South Atlantic Conference…appeared in 17 games, making 16 starts…registered six goals and eight assists.
 
2022 (Junior): Attended Limestone University…a First Team South Atlantic Conference selection…started all 16 games for the Saints…led the team with 10 goals scored.
 
2021 (Sophomore): Attended Rider University… Played in 12 games for the Broncs…scored one goal…a member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Squad.
 
2020 (Freshman): Attended Rider University… played in all eight games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, making seven starts.
 
Colegio Olimpo: Competed at the club level for Universidad Catolica.
 
About Golppi: Full name is Josefina Golppi…is the daughter of Maria de Los Angeles Contreras…has five siblings: Luciano, Raffaella, Borja, Juan and Rocio…is an experienced surfer.
 

Annika Madeja
Freshman • Midfield
Peterborough, N.H./Proctor Academy
 
Proctor Academy: Totaled four varsity letters for the Hornets under coaches Kelli Braley and Trish Austin…competed at the club level for Seacoast United under head coach Mellisa Nawn…Two-time All-State…totaled 16 goals and 32 assists as a defensive midfielder…East-West New Hampshire Senior Game participant…2023 Milford Rotary Club Female Athlete of the Year…graduated cum laude…Academic Book Award…a member of the National Honor Society…also lettered in ice hockey and lacrosse.
 
About Madeja: Full name is Annika Katherine Madeja…is the daughter of Jill Hickox…has a sister, Jacqueline.


Kristen McCormick
Graduate • Goalkeeper
Boston, Ma./Dana Hall School (William Smith)
 
2023 (Senior): Attended William Smith College…National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Senior Team in 2023…named to 2023 NFHCA Preseason All-American Watchlist…started all 16 games she played in, recording seven shutouts (three solo, four combined)…Madeline Buckley '15 Citizenship Award-winner…Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week.
 
2022 (Junior): Attended William Smith College…2022 NFHCA All-Region Second Team…All-Liberty League Second Team in 2022…2022 Liberty League Tournament MVP…Finished 13th in the nation with a 0.91 GAA in 2022…started 19 of 20 games…totaled nine shutouts…four-time Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week…Charles P. Boswell '50 Field Hockey Award-winner.
 
2021 (Sophomore): Attended William Smith College. Played field hockey, lacrosse and squash for the Herons.
 
2020 (Freshman): Attended William Smith College. Played field hockey, lacrosse and squash for the Herons.
 
Dana Hall School: Totaled three varsity letters for the Dragons under head coach Ceilidh MacNeill…competed at the club level for Boston FHC…recorded 131 saves and 12 shutouts over final two high school seasons…also competed in squash, lacrosse and sailing.
 
About McCormick: Full name is Kristen McCormick…is the daughter of Jeffrey and Christine McCormick…has two brothers, Aidan (21) and Jace (20)…father played lacrosse at Syracuse, helping the Orange to its first NCAA Championship in 1983…father was a three-time All-American and inducted to the Syracuse University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
 

Kelly Naudé
Junior • Midfield
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa/Epworth High School for Girls
 
2023 (Sophomore): Attended Coker University…started all 17 games for the Cobras…registered two goals and one assist…scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Wingate…2023 South Athletic Conference (SAC) Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year finalist.
 
2022 (Freshman): Attended Coker University…appeared in 10 games for the Cobras, making six starts...totaled three goals and 17 shots...named to 2023 South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
 
Epworth High School for Girls: Competed under the tutelage of coach Phil Smerdon…team captain for field hockey and indoor hockey and served as the school's Deputy Head Captain of Sport in 2021…a provincial (state) team selection for four years and a one-time provincial team vice-captain…named Most Promising Player, Player of the Year and Most Dedicated Player throughout her high school career…earned academic diligence for three years…competed in field hockey, indoor hockey, basketball, squash and cross country…was indoor hockey league top-scorer and Player of the Season in 2022.
 
About Naudé: Full name is Kelly Naudé…is the daughter of Thomas and Ansie Naudé…has a brother, Kyle…from the same hometown and high school as SU teammate Yasmin De Meyer.

 
Gabby Wameling
Freshman • Forward
Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse
 
Cicero-North Syracuse High School: Lettered for the Northstars under head coach Pete Moore…competed at the club level for ADK Field Hockey under head coach Jen Sykes…a four-time First Team All-Salt City Athletic Conference selection (2020-23)…a three-time New York State Section 3 All-Star (2021-23)…2023 All-Central New York Field Hockey All-Star and Player of the Year nominee…2023 Max Field Hockey High School Player to Watch for the Northeast Region and All-Region Second Team…New York State Salt City Conference Champion (2020, 2022-23)…New York State Section 3 Champion (2022)…New York State Regional Champion (2022)…New York State Class A Finalist (2022)…a four year varsity starter…scored over 50 goals in high school career…High Honor Roll student…a member of the National Honor Society…a five-time New York State Scholar Athlete (2019-23)…also competed in Unified Basketball and Unified Bowling.
 
About Wameling: Full name is Gabriella Sophia Wameling…is the daughter of Joe and Trisha Wameling…has a sister, Giana…sister played Division 1 softball for the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass).