Shippensburg University Field Hockey Team Prepares for 2025 Season Under New Coach Rayell Wallace
The Shippensburg University field hockey team is gearing up for its 2025 season, a year that promises significant changes following the departure of former head coach Tara Zollinger. Under the guidance of new head coach Rayell Wallace, the team aims to maintain its winning tradition, despite the challenges that come with rebuilding and integrating new players.
Key Takeaways:
- New head coach Rayell Wallace brings over five years of head coaching experience from Slippery Rock University, where she built a successful program and won several championships.
- Wallace cited family and resource availability as key factors in her decision to join Shippensburg University, highlighting the team's rich history and favorable recruiting area.
- Returning key players include redshirt senior Emma Albee, the 2024 PSAC Defensive Player of the Year, and senior forward Agus Garibaldi, a three-time first-team All-American.
- The team returns four All-PSAC selections, including senior Savannah Silvestre and junior Hannah White, both of whom earned second-team honors.
- Freshmen Madison Fissel, Gracie Hivner, Sierra Crews, and Ava Kientzy join the team, bringing competition and driving the team to push its limits.
- Assistant coach Katie Lammando returns for her third season, bringing valuable experience and ideas to the table.
- The team begins practice with a focus on establishing team understanding and language, with a goal of introducing new concepts and building trust.
Statistics:
- The Shippensburg University field hockey team boasts a 19-2 record from the 2024 season, where they won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship and reached the national semifinals.
- Redshirt senior Emma Albee recorded nine shutouts and allowed just 0.77 goals per game in the 2024 season.
- Senior forward Agus Garibaldi has been named a first-team All-American each of the past three seasons and is ranked in the top 10 for career goals and points at Shippensburg University.
- The team was picked to finish third in the preseason PSAC coaches' poll, ahead of its season finale against Kutztown.
Sources:
- "Shippensburg University field hockey team begins 2025 season with new coach Rayell Wallace." (Source: Shippensburg University Athletics)
- "Shippensburg's field hockey team looks to build off historic 2024 season." (Source: Herald-Mail Media)
- "Rayell Wallace named new head coach of Shippensburg University field hockey." (Source: Times-Herald)