Nine Pennsylvania high school field hockey programs are ranked in MAX Field Hockey’s national 2024 preseason poll.
It is the largest representation from any state on the list of 25, with New Jersey having four high schools, followed by Virginia and Connecticut with three each. Texas and Illinois have two programs on the list, and Missouri and Massachusetts round it out with one each.
The Hill School takes the top spot, followed by The Kinkaid School, and the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, according to MAX Field Hockey. Hill has “six Team USA U18 Junior National Team members and three of the Top 10 players in the Class of 2026, the elite talent on this roster is unmatched,” MAX Field Hockey reported.
The statement published on MAX Field Hockey’s website continues: “First year Head Coach Katherine Bowie takes over a 17-3 squad that held the top spot for much of last season and finished the year at #3 after only losing 1 goal games to #1 Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (PA), and #2 St. John’s School (TX). Led by returning First Team All-American senior Riley Savage (Top 50, University of Virginia commit) and Third Team All-American junior Sofia Ferri (Top 10, U18 JNT), Hill lost only 2 players to graduation, and return major impact players including junior Opal Sparling (Top 10, U18 JNT, Stanford University commit), junior Abby Gerdeman (Top 10, U18 JNT, Duke University commit), senior Aubrey Turner (Top 50, U18 JNT, University of Maryland commit), and senior goalkeeper Natane King (Top 50, Syracuse University commit).
Across the country in Houston, Texas, The Kinkaid School enters the season at the #2 spot. Led by First Team All-American senior and University of Virginia commit Caroline Raynes in the midfield and Top 50 senior and University North Carolina commit Merritt Skubisz in goal, Head Coach Jackie Ciconte enters her 11th season at the helm with high expectations for her squad.”
Notre Dame scores 13:25 Reverse baseline shot; Hill earns a corner, 13:04 pic.twitter.com/8fhJlmtRWL
— FemaleAthleteNews (@Female_FANews) November 15, 2023
25. West Perry, Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania
24. Glenbrook Field Hockey, Glenview, Illinois
23. Phillips Academy Andover, Andover, Massachusetts
22. Darien High School, Darien, Connecticut
21. John Burroughs School, Saint Louis, Missouri
20. New Trier High School, Winnetka, Illinois
19. First Colonial High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia
18. Staples High School, Westport, Connecticut
17. Taft School, Watertown, Connecticut
16. Manheim Township High School, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
15. Oak Knoll School, Summit, New Jersey
14. Conestoga High School, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
13. Palmyra Area High School, Palmyra, Pennsylvania
12. West Essex Regional High School, Caldwell, New Jersey
11. Emmaus High School, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
10. Independence High School, Ashburn, Virginia
9. St. John’s School, Houston, Texas
8. Lower Dauphin High School, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
7. Norfolk Academy, Norfolk, Virginia
6. Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
5. Kingsway Regional High School, Woolwich Township, New Jersey
4. Villa Maria Academy, Malvern, Pennsylvania
3. Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Villanova, Pennsylvania
2. The Kinkaid School, Houston, Texas
1. The Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Photo: Academy of Notre Dame vs The Hill School championship, November 2023, Bob Benscoter
By FAN – US
