Year in Review: Field HockeyYear in Review: Field Hockey
Field Hockey

Year in Review: Field Hockey

STANFORD, Calif. - Year three of the Roz Ellis era ushered in a new Cardinal core after Stanford graduated seven seniors the year prior. 

Fielding a team of 16 underclassmen, Stanford enjoyed a number of bright spots throughout the 2023 campaign and gained valuable experience during ahead of its transition into the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

Gemma Townsend registered an impressive freshman season, leading the Stanford attack in both goals (5) and assists (3) on the year. The Esher, England native became the first Cardinal freshman to lead the team in all scoring categories since Corrine Zannoli in 2017. Star Horlock also tallied double-digit points on the season with 10, while Daisy Ford and Kendall Dowd shared time between the posts with 52 and 41 saves, respectively. 

RECAPPING 2023
After opening the season with three hard-fought battles against ranked foes, Stanford got in the win column for the first time with a 6-3 victory over Richmond on home turf, led by freshman Gemma Townsend who had a five-point performance on the afternoon. 

Later in non-conference play, Stanford knocked off Big Ten opponent Michigan State in comeback fashion, with seniors Caroline Guden and Haley Mossmer scoring the tying and game-winning goals to lead the Cardinal to a 3-2 overtime win. 

Stanford celebrated Senior Day in a big way, knocking off eventual America East champion California, 4-3. The Cardinal scored three times in the second half to overtime a two-goal halftime deficit, as Haley Mossmer scored the go-ahead goal midway through the fourth quarter in her final game on Varsity Field Hockey Turf. Star Horlock also notched the first multi-goal game of her career in the game. 

The following game, Daisy Ford and Kendall Dowd combined to fend off ten Vermont shots to earn a 1-0 shutout conference win over the Catamounts. Star Horlock scored her third goal in a two-game stretch in the lone score of the contest.

Stanford finished the season 4-11 on the season, tallying a pair of conference wins in America East play. 

TRIO EARNS AMERICA EAST HONORS
Following the conclusion of the regular season this past weekend, three Stanford student-athletes garnered All-America East honors in the program's final season in the conference. 
 
Midfielder Star Horlock highlighted the Cardinal with a pair of honors, being selected to the All-America East second team and All-Rookie squad. Gemma Townsend joined her fellow freshman on the all-rookie squad, while Daisy Ford was chosen to the All-Academic team.

STANFORD SIGNS FIVE FOR 2024
Stanford unveiled Roz Ellis’ third recruiting class at the helm of the Cardinal field hockey program, with Nadine Brenninkmeyer, Anya Jackson, Hailey King, Jenny O'Grady, and Bea Varley will continue their field hockey careers on The Farm next season. 

"Very happy to welcome our 2024 class to campus soon", said head coach Roz Ellis. "We have a diverse class coming in who all have the ability, attitude, and work rate to contribute to our inaugural season in the ACC. The building blocks are in place, and we are ready to welcome our class into our culture and push them towards greatness.

An exciting incoming freshman class joins the Cardinal squad that will returns 88 percent of its offensive production from the 2023 season. 

IMPACT TRANSFERS INCOMING
In addition to an exciting recruiting class, Stanford signed two transfers that are set to join the squad next season in Alayna Burns and Allison Kuzyk. 

Burns brings immediate leadership to the Cardinal attackers, appearing in 59 games at forward in her previous four seasons at Duke. Reaching the NCAA semifinals with the Blue Devils a season ago, the Medford N.J., native registered six goals and three assists during her four-year stint with the Blue Devils.

Kuzyk provides an immediate scoring threat to a Stanford team that returns 88 percent of its offensive production from the season ago, netting 23 goals and 47 points in three seasons at Pennsylvania (All 2020 Ivy League fall sports were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions).

The addition of Burns and Kuzyk marks the second consecutive season that Stanford has bolstered its team through the transfer portal, with former MAC Freshman of Year Maroussia Walckiers making eleven starts with two goals and an assist in her first season as a Cardinal in 2023. 

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STANFORD ADDS KAHN TO STAFF
The Cardinal coaching staff added a huge piece during the 2023 offseason, as the program announced the hiring of Maddie Kahn as Assistant Goalkeeping Specialist. 

A standout athlete during her five years of competition, Kahn arrives on The Farm after stints with North Carolina and Lehigh. Kahn brings championship-level experience to Stanford, leading North Carolina to the national championship last season as the starting netminder for the Tar Heels. 

Prior to her time in Chapel Hill, Kahn was a four-year starter at Lehigh where she started between the pipes in each of her 61 games with the Mountain Hawks. The Ocean City, N.J. native lead Lehigh to the 2022 Patriot League Championship and collected numerous accolades, including multiple All-Patriot League honors and a 2021 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year selection.

A first-of-its-kind position on the Stanford field hockey staff, Kahn will work closely with Stanford's goalkeepers in her new role to provide individualized coaching and support to help them reach their full potential.

CARDINAL, WHITE, AND BLUE
Former Stanford standout goalkeeper Kelsey Bing was named to Team USA ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, becoming just the second athlete in program history to be named to an Olympic roster, joining Cardinal alum Nancy White in 1980. Former head coach Sheryl Johnson was also an Olympian, winning the bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games with the United States. 

Bing led the United States to its first Olympic bid since 2016 with an exceptional performance at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in January. Team USA finished with the silver medal, going 4-1 in the event with wins over India, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan. Bing earned Goalkeeper of the Tournament honors. 

The program's all-time leader in saves at 418, Bing was a three-time America East Goalkeeper of the Year (2017-19) and led the Cardinal to three America East conference championships in 2016, 2017, and 2019. 

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Name Honors
Scout Butler

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Mia Clark NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Kendall Dowd

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Chantal Eiwanger

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Daisy Ford

America East All-Academic Team

NFHCA Scholar of Distinction

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Bella Ganocy

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Ella Ganocy

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Anna Ghuliani

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Caroline Guden

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Star Horlock

All-America East Second Team

America East All-Rookie Team

America East Rookie of the Week (Oct. 3)

NFHCA Scholar of Distinction

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Liv Martin NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Haley Mossmer

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Puja Nanjappa NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Kate Nemec NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Claire Nockolds NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Esther Pottebaum NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Tottie Taylor

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad

Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll
Gemma Townsend

America East All-Rookie Team

America East Rookie of the Week (Sept. 12)

NFHCA Scholar of Distinction

NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Maroussia Walckiers NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad