Division II field hockey is back this Thursday. To kick off the 2024 season, take a look at some of the teams expected to be at the top this fall.
Despite the smaller size of the division, Division II still packs a punch – with highly competitive teams and intense rivalries. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has found continued success, having a team win the last 12 National Championship titles. While the PSAC is a consistently strong conference, teams in the Northeast-10 (NE10) have been getting closer to reaching the top – so stay tuned to see who will take it all this season!
Kutztown
Chris Sponagle/Kutztown University
The 2023 National Champion Golden Bears look to remain atop of Division II this season. After not receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 despite a stellar season, Kutztown managed to secure one last fall after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Shippensburg in the PSAC semi-final. The Golden Bears proved their worth by defeating the then-No.2 Raiders in the NCAA semi-final, then taking down then-No.1 East Stroudsburg in the final. This year, Kutztown will look to win a PSAC title in addition to a second national championship.
The Golden Bears should feel confident entering this season under the direction of head coach Marci Scheuing, who enters her 11th season with Kutztown and after leading the squad to their first ever National Championship victory in 2023. Outside of their strong coaching staff, the Golden Bears return two National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American picks in senior midfielder Juliana Donato and defender Sarah Gatehouse. Donato, Gatehouse, Erin Gonzalez, Grace Harrold, and Danielle Panati were all named to this year’s NFHCA DII Watchlist. Mia Kepler returns for her fifth year in goal after finishing second overall in Division II in save percentage (0.817) and first in goals against average (0.52).
East Stroudsburg
After taking the NCAA title in 2022 and then losing 2-1 to Kutztown in the championship last fall, East Stroudsburg is hungry to win another national title. The Warriors finished 18-3 last season, taking down Shippensburg in overtime to win the PSAC crown. East Stroudsburg returns 22 of their athletes from the 2023 season while welcoming nine new players, including freshman Sydney Frantz. Frantz was an offensive weapon in high school, totaling 178 points in her varsity career, and was named the 2023 Lehigh Valley Health Network Player of the Year. Frantz will fit nicely alongside the Warrior offense, which includes NFHCA All-American Jady van Gils and Minke Klijn. Defensively, the Warriors have big shoes to fill with the graduation of All-American Maddy Barbush and goalkeeper Amy Supey.
The Warriors are led by head coach Sandy Miller, who enters her 40th season at the helm. Miller is just shy of 500 career wins with ESU and has plenty of experience in the NCAA post-season, leading the team there 14 times and winning two titles.
Shippensburg
Dave Janosz, Dynamic Elements Photo
The Raiders head into the 2024 season coming off a 15-5 overall record, and an 8-1 record in conference play. Yet another stand-out PSAC team, Shippensburg looks to make it back to the NCAA championship game this year, after falling short in the semi-finals to Kutztown in 2023 and losing to East Stroudsburg in the final in 2022.
Some of the offensive threats returning for the Raiders this fall include NFHCA two time All-American Agus Garibaldi, who had a total of 38 points as a sophomore and 40 her freshman year. Along with Garibaldi, Emilia Conners, Yasmin de Meyer, and Hannah White have all been named to the 2024 NFHCA DII Watchlist. Shippensburg returns goalkeeper Emma Albee, who led Division II in save percentage (.821) to end the 2023 season. The Raiders have won the most national titles in recent years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021) and this fall they look to regain their position on top of the Division II standings.
Other Teams to Watch:
Assumption
After finishing last season 16-7 overall and 12-1 in the Northeast-10 (NE10), the Assumption Greyhounds were slotted to finish on top in this year’s NE10 Preseason Poll. Assumption suffered their lone 2023 conference loss to Saint Anselm, then lost to the Hawks again one week later in the NE10 Championship Game. The Greyhounds then flipped the script and went on to defeat Saint Anselm in the first round of the National Tournament, 2-1. Their tournament run was short-lived as the Greyhounds lost to East Stroudsburg University in the semi-finals, 3-0.
Assumption returns Mia Salah, who tallied 29 points last season, Elle Murray, and Caroline McSweeney – three offensive weapons who will be essential to the Greyhounds. Returning to the defensive end is senior Callie Beauparlant, who was named to the NCAA Division II All-Tournament Team last season.
Pace
After exiting the NCAA tournament early the past two years, the Pace Setters look to prove their talent and abilities during their 2024 campaign. The Setters have depth in their roster this fall, led by senior captain and three-time All-American Krista Dietz, who finished last season with 62 points. Another returner to watch is goalkeeper Celeste Pagliaroli, who started all 21 games in her first year and recorded a save percentage of .791. Pagliaroli and Dietz were both named to the 2024 NFHCA Division II Preseason Watchlist.
Joining the squad is graduate student Jenna McCrudden, who played previously at Kent State University. While McCrudden is new to the Pace team this season, some of her teammates are rather familiar. McCrudden, Pagliaroli, Dietz, and freshman Bella Basulto all grew up playing for Hudson Valley Field Hockey Club. The Setters welcome in seven freshmen and return some of their top talent, as this team looks to improve upon their 13-8 2023 record and make another NCAA Tournament appearance.
By USWNT
