2018 Roster  |  2018 Schedule

EAST STROUDSBURG – Despite having lost each of its four Division II All-Americans from the previous year, East Stroudsburg University advanced to the NCAA tournament for a third-consecutive season in 2017.

Replacing nearly half of its starting lineup, the Warriors earned a trip to the DII Final Four in Louisville before ultimately ending the fall with a final record of 17-5. This year's team will look to accomplish a similar feat after losing 6 of 11 starters. The quest for another NCAA appearance begins this weekend, as ESU heads north for 1 p.m. road games at Merrimack (Saturday) and Stonehill (Sunday).

"We have a fairly deep subbing system where we usually have anywhere from 16 to 19 kids in our rotation," 35th year head coach Sandy Miller said. "So even though we've been losing a lot of starters in the past few years, we still have a lot of experienced returners who can step into an increased role.

"We might have some growing pains early as the younger players adjust," she continued. "But we expect to continue getting better every game."

DEFENDERS

Perhaps the biggest loss for ESU from last season is departed senior Sydney McCarthy, the 2017 PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year who also earned first team NFHCA All-America accolades. The DII field hockey nominee for the Honda Broderick award, McCarthy totaled a team-high 31 points (10 G, 11 A).

The Warriors will also need to replace Amanda Crampton, who will miss the 2018 campaign due to an offseason injury after starting all 22 games last fall. Senior Ashley Ceschini is expected to begin the year at the center back position after starting every game on the outside a year ago. Ceschini has appeared in 50 games overall at ESU, earning starts in 39 of those contests.

"Ashley is an experienced player who originally came to us from a very good high school program," Miller said. "She's a solid defender and a good communicator. We have a lot of confidence in her to do well."

Expected to start at the outside back positions to begin the year are juniors Emily Spangler and Brianna Sassaman. Spangler appeared in all 22 games last season in a reserve role, totaling three goals and one assist. Sassaman moves into a more prominent role after strong spring and preseason showings; she appeared nine games across her first two years with the program.

Top reserves at the position include sophomore Jada Martin and freshman Hannah Barbush, while additional depth is provided by sophomore Helen Bradley and freshman Micayla Bonargo.

GOALKEEPER

The Warriors will have a new primary goalkeeper for a third-straight season. Halle Frisco admirably replaced Danielle Ard last fall, earning third team All-PSAC accolades after registering a 0.95 goals-against average with a .787 save percentage.

Taking over for the graduated Frisco will be junior Maddie Richie. She has logged just over 165 minutes of game action across 12 appearances in her first two seasons, totaling five saves and a 1.69 goals-against average.

"We stress with our goalkeepers how they need to be one of the fittest athletes on the team, and Maddie fits that to a tee," Miller said. "She's very fit, and she's worked hard for two years while not getting much playing time. She's ready to step into the starting role and be a leader, we're looking forward to having her out there."

Backing up Richie will be sophomore Margaret Fulton and freshman Caitlin Barker. Both were all-conference selections at Hazleton and Bayard Rustin high schools, respectively.

MIDFIELDERS

ESU returns three starters and several contributing reserves from last year's Final Four squad in the midfield. Junior Kristen English resumes her role in the defensive midfield after starting all 22 games a year ago. She will be joined by senior Karisa Turner, who transitions to a more defensive role after totaling six points (2 G, 2 A) in her junior campaign.

"They both have unbelievable fitness," Miller remarked. "Defensive mid is a tough position to play. We can't afford turnovers from that area, and there is a lot of required communication. They've both been handling the responsibility really well so far."

The top defensive midfield reserve entering the season is sophomore Lea Hughes, who saw action in all 22 games in her debut campaign with the program. Barbush could also move up to play in a defensive midfield role.

On the offensive side, projected starters to begin the year are senior Kelli Shapiro, senior Paige Harrold and junior Karly Conway. Shapiro totaled eight goals and three assists last season, while Harrold contributed three goals and eight assists (second most on the team). Both started all 22 contests. Conway's role is expected to increase after she recorded a pair of goals across 18 reserve appearances in 2017.

Other midfielders who are projected to see significant time include junior Sara Ober, freshman Morgan Mesenbrink, sophomore Jordyn Wigglesworth, sophomore Cara Jarmiolowski and sophomore Lexi Hartmann. Ober saw the most action out of that group last year, appearing in 17 games and totaling four points (1 G, 2 A).

"We like what we've seen out of our midfield so far," Miller said. "We have some pretty solid returners, and it looks like one of our deepest positions in terms of depth."

FORWARDS

Senior Bailey Quinn headlines the Warrior returners in 2018. She achieved second team NFHCA All-America and second team All-PSAC accolades last fall after leading ESU with 13 goals and ranking second with 27 points. Quinn has totaled 21 goals overall across her first 42 appearances with the program after transferring from Division I Old Dominion.

Also back up front is senior Makenna Marhefka. She registered 11 points (5 G, 1 A) last season as one of the team's top forward reserves, and has eight goals overall over the past two years.

"Bailey and Makenna are both doing really well up front," Miller said. "They should be our starters to begin the season."

Miller also expects freshman Celeste Veenstra, a native of Alkmaar in the Netherlands, to see immediate time in her debut season. 

"Celeste has been phenomenal so far," she said. "She has the ability to do things that most players just can't do. Her passing, her reverse shots, her lifts, she has shown a lot of talent."

Junior Grace Martini adds to ESU's forward depth after tallying a goal and an assist across 15 appearances last year. Others who could contribute from a forward and midfield position are sophomore Samantha Bruttomesso-Clarke, freshman Taylor Gramberg, freshman Morgan Mullen, sophomore Melanie Nicodemo and sophomore Gina Lobdell.

OUTLOOK

ESU plays a challenging schedule every year, and this fall is no exception. Three of the Warriors' first four opponents advanced to the DII tournament last season, including national runner-up LIU Post and two-time defending champions Shippensburg, which ESU plays in both the non-conference and PSAC portion of its schedule.

The Warriors also have two games scheduled against defending PSAC champions West Chester. ESU enters the year ranked No. 2 in the NFHCA DII preseason coaches' poll, behind only Shippensburg.

"Last year we had the toughest schedule in Division II, and I think we do again this season," Miller said. "The good news is we don't start conference play until October 3. We still have another month to prepare, and I think our tough early season games will certainly help us in that regard."

After three-straight NCAA appearances, including the program's first national title in 2015, expectations are high entering the year. Miller, though, does not want the team to look too far into the future.

"It's not a given that because we went to NCAA's the last three years, we'll automatically be back there again," she said. "We need to consistently put in the necessary work in practice, and always strive to get better. Our energy has improved over the past few days, but we need to keep it up if we want to remain a factor on the national stage."