2025 Wilkes Field Hockey Season Preview

WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Wilkes University field hockey team enters the 2025 season looking to return to form after last season.

Ashley Irwin begins her third season as head coach of the field hockey program in 2025. In 2024, the Colonels finished 3-15 overall and 1-8 in Landmark Conference play and missed the conference tournament. 

The program brings in 12 new players, 11 first-years and one transfer, and has 13 returning players. Irwin commented on the overall youth of the roster, emphasizing the pace and energy they bring to the table.

"They're very young, energetic and just bring a great vibe to the program, but they're also fast and everything is upbeat. They're raising the bar."

Irwin also spoke on last season and what it will take for the team to return to the conference tournament this season.

"We can't hide from it. It was a tough year. We bent and bent but we got through it. We really got stronger through the Spring, which is what Spring is for, especially for young players."

She continued, "But we're on the bottom and I like being there. I know it sounds crazy…but the bottom is a great place to be because the view is up, and we're only going to go up. So I'm really excited for the season ahead."

The Colonels' offense is led by junior Morgan Hermanofski (Shickshinny, PA/Northwest Area), who led the team in goals and assists last season. Other returners at the position include Shaelyn Donnelly (Glassboro, NJ/GCIT), Madalyn Thomas (Dallas, PA/Dallas), and Emma Lautenbacher (Bangor, PA/Bangor). Rounding out the forward core are first-years Taylor Bower (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg), Georgia Baskett (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg), Taylor Minick (Reading, PA/Gov. Mifflin Senior), and Maddie Karp (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area).

The midfield retains senior staple Olivia Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West), who finished second on the team in defensive saves. Also returning to midfield is sophomore Elizabeth Hodder (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia), and joining those two are first-years Sage Morgan (Dallas, PA/Lake Lehman) and Lydia Keppel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall). 

The Colonel defense is once again anchored by senior Cortney Keim (Trevorton, PA/Line Mountain), last year's team leader in defensive saves with 15. Other returners on defense include McKenna Budzak (Sweet Valley, PA/Lake-Lehman), Emma Dengler (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East), Emily Bramble (York, PA/Suburban), and Laila Porterfield (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken). First-year Paige Greco (Sugarloaf, PA/Hazelton Area) rounds out the defense.

In the net, junior Olivia Wickel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) returns as the Colonels primary goalkeeper, having appeared in every game last season. However, the team brings in more depth at the position with two first-year goalkeepers, Addyson Swayne (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) and Chloe Gilroy (Manchester, NH/Pace University).

The team begins their season on the road on Saturday Aug. 30 at 12 p.m. against Oswego State before beginning a five-game homestand, starting with Alfred University on Wednesday Sept. 3 and ending with Senior Day on Sept. 14 against DeSales University. Landmark Conference play begins for the Colonels on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. with a road game against Elizabethtown College.