WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University field hockey team is ready for their second season of competition in the Landmark Conference, hosting matches at Schmidt Stadium.

Ashley Irwin begins her second season as the head coach of the Colonels field hockey program in 2024. In her first season, the Colonels finished their debut campaign in the Landmark with a 4-5 conference record and a 9-9 overall record, reaching the Landmark Conference Tournament first round. Irwin mentored two All-Landmark Honorable Mention selections in Morgan Hermanofski (Shickshinny, PA/Northwest Area) and Cortney Keim (Trevorton, PA/Line Mountain), nine NFHCA National Academic Squad members, and two NFHCA Division III Scholars of Distinction in McKenna Budzak (Sweet Valley, PA/Lake-Lehman) and Morgan Millard (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg Area).

The program brings in fourteen new players and has nine returning players. Irwin remarked on this roster, emphasizing the energy around the locker room.

"This year's group – it's pretty special. From day one, they anticipated what they had coming in. [They] really took time to get to know the freshmen and get to know them… It's awesome to be around."

The team leadership structure has changed from years past, with this team embracing the idea of 'leadership groups', where everyone is a part of the learning process.

"We have two speaking captains, five captains overall… they understand the blueprint that we have for our program moving forward, and the vision is clear… To have their leadership, it's a big help."

Irwin emphasized skills that the team is looking to improve on in order to make a deep run in the postseason.

"Year two, we're going for it… [a point of emphasis is] paying attention to detail, we had some upsets, some one goal games that… we're looking to get back this year." She added that the program is "working extra hard on cleaning small things up to have bigger plays down the road."

The Colonels' defense is led by junior Cortney Keim (Trevorton, PA/Line Mountain), who led the Landmark Conference in defensive saves in 2023, which also ranked second in all of Division III. Other returners on the defensive side of the ball will be McKenna Budzak (Sweet Valley, PA/Lake-Lehman) and Emma Dengler (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East). Rounding out the defense is sophomore transfer Emily Bramble (York, PA/Suburban) and first years Caitlin Compton (Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen), Giavana Famiano (Cape May, NJ/Middle Township), and Genesis Del Carmen Duran (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty).

Wilkes' midfield will be composed of junior Olivia Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West), who ranked second on the team in points last year, as well as seniors Bridget Rosenfeld (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa), Lexie Nevel (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick), and Kellie Scott (Northport, ME/Kents Hill).

The 4th highest scoring offense in the Landmark from a year ago returns its top six goal scorers: Hermanofski, Gayoski, Scott, Rosenfeld, Keim, and Nevel. Millard also returns and will look to continue her playmaking role in the offense, as she tallied six assists and ten points in her sophomore season. Joining the squad are first-year forwards Anyiah Torres (Cape May, NJ/Middle Township), Elizabeth Hodder (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia), Emma Lautenbacher (Bangor, PA/Bangor), Madalyn Thomas (Dallas, PA/Dallas), and Alyssa Morrison (Cape May, NJ/Middle Township).

With the graduation of senior Carly Eidle (East Greenville, PA/Upper Perkiomen), the Colonels will turn to new talent to anchor the goalkeeper position this season. First year Isabel Snyder (Bloomsburg, PA/Central Columbia) and sophomore Olivia Wickel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) are set to compete for the starting role. Both will be crucial in filling the void left by Eidle, who averaged the second most saves and saves per game in the MAC Freedom in 2022 and boasted a .701 save percentage. The Blue and Gold will look to their new goalkeepers to step up and deliver key performances between the pipes.

The team will begin their season at home Saturday, August 31st, at 1:00 p.m. against Oswego State before embarking on a three-game road trip September 4th, at 6:00 p.m. at William Paterson University. The first of Wilkes' nine Landmark Conference games is a home contest against Goucher College on September 21st at 1:00 p.m. This year's senior day festivities will take place on October 26th at 4:00 p.m. when the team hosts Catholic University of America.