Long Announces First Recruiting Class With Rutgers Field Hockey
Feb 15 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (February 15, 2012) – Rutgers field hockey head coach Meredith Long has announced the addition of five players to the 2012 roster, marking her first recruiting class since being named the program’s leader in January. Alyssa Bull (Oakville, ON, Canada), Katie Champion (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), Carley Hawkins (Harrisburg, Pa.), Nicole Imbriaco (Clark, N.J.) and Ali Stever (Ocean City, N.J.) will join the Scarlet Knights for the 2012 season.
“I am pleased to announce the incoming freshmen class for the fall of 2012,” Long said. “I am confident that these young women will play a vital role in our program’s future success. Each of them exhibits outstanding personal character, talent and work ethic.
“At the start of the year we set out to build a program around the best field hockey talent in New Jersey,” Long continued. “It is our goal to compete at the highest level in the BIG EAST Conference and nationally. With the addition of Ali Stever, Alyssa Bull, Nicole Imbriaco, Katie Champion and Carley Hawkins, I believe we are closer to achieving that goal.”
Alyssa Bull
Midfield/Forward
Oakville, ON, Canada/Oakville Trafalgar HS
Four-year member of the Oakville Trafalgar High School Senior Team … Team captain during her junior and senior seasons … Accumulated 72 career goals and 111 assists – including 35 goals and 33 assists during her final season … Named the Red Devils Most Valuable Player in each of her last three seasons … A member of the Titans Field Hockey Club from 2008-11, playing with the indoor and outdoor teams … Played with the Ontario Provincial Teams from 2009-11 ... Earned a second-place finish at the Senior National Championships as a member of the Junior Canadian National Program in 2011 … Also competed on the soccer and volleyball teams at Oakville Trafalgar … A two-time recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award and the Co-President of the Red Devils Council … A member of the Honor Roll all four years of high school.
Long comment about Bull: “Alyssa is an extremely exciting player. We will look for her to make an immediate impact on the forward line and in the midfield. She is a member of the Junior Canadian National Squad and her experience at this level will be invaluable in taking our program to the next level.”
Katie Champion
Midfield
Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township HS
Four-year varsity starter at Egg Harbor Township High School … 2011 team captain … Three-time team MVP (2009-11), after leading the squad in scoring for each of the past three seasons … Owns the Egg Harbor Township scoring record with 64 career goals … Three-time All-Cape-Atlantic League First Team honoree … Three-time Atlantic City Press First Team selection … An Atlantic City Press Player of the Week … Helped team to four Division Titles … A member of the South Jersey Edge club team since 2008 … Won the gold medal in the 2011 USAFH National Hockey Festival with the Edge … Also competed on the track and lacrosse teams at EHTHS … Was the indoor track team’s MVP in 2011 … Named Second Team All-CAL in 2010 for the 400 meter Intermediate Hurdles … First Team All-CAL in 2011 for the 400m IH and the 4x400 meter relay after qualifying for States … Broke schools records for spring track in the 400m IH and 4x400m relay … Won first in the St. Joe Drug Free Weightlifting Competition (205 deadlift, 150 squat, 75 bench) … Member of the National Honors Society and a four-year Varsity Scholar.
Long comment about Champion: “Katie is a true athlete in every sense. Another South Jersey standout, she is a fierce competitor. She is feisty, fast and has great game awareness. She will also look to earn time on the forward line.”
Carley Hawkins
Midfield/Back
Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin HS
Played at Central Dauphin High School under Janelle Kern … Helped lead the Rams to a Commonwealth Division Championship, a Mid-Penn Championship and a PIAA Final Four during her senior season … A three-time Mid-Penn Conference All-Star … Served as CD’s team captain in 2011 … A Patriot News Big 11 Second Team honoree and an All-State Team Honorable Mention following her senior season … Named to the All-State All-Academic Team in 2011 … Two-time District 3 Qualifier with the Rams … Also a member of the Central Dauphin lacrosse (2011-12) and indoor track teams (2010-11) … A three-time USFHA NIT Champion with her club team … The 2011 Disney Showcase U19, FL Champion under coach Jody Angelini … A member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll since 2006 at Central Dauphin.
Long comment about Hawkins: “Carley wanted to be a Scarlet Knight the first moment she stepped on the Rutgers campus. She is a steady, poised and intelligent defender. Carley comes from a winning Central Dauphin program and knows what it takes to be successful.”
Nicole Imbriaco
Forward
Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson HS
Totaled 68 goals and 52 assists in her career at Arthur L. Johnson High School … A three-time All-Essex-Union Super Conference First Team, All-Union County Coaches First Team and All-Union County Star Ledger First Team … Two-time All-North Jersey First Team … A All-State Second Team honoree in her senior season after recording 32 goals and 20 assists … Three-time North II Group II Sectional State Champion with the Crusaders … Ranked 13th in the state of New Jersey in points … Sits in second in Arthur L. Johnson High School history in season goals and career goals … Earned the 2011 Crusader Student Athlete Award … A member of the Italian National Honor Society and the National Honor Society.
Long comment about Imbriaco: “Nicole is an outstanding player from Arthur L. Johnson High School. She has great hands, solid stick skills and a great sense for goal scoring. She takes care of the details and puts herself in optimal scoring position in the circle. She will look to earn time on the forward line.”
Ali Stever
Back/Midfield
Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City HS
Two-time Cape Atlantic League Champions with Ocean City High School … In her junior season, the Red Raiders were South Jersey Champions and New Jersey State Semi-Finalists … Credited with 37 goals and 20 assists over the final two years of her high school career … Named the team’s 2011 fall season captain … A two-time First Team All-Cape Atlantic League selection, First Team All-South Jersey and First Team All-Press of Atlantic City … Selected for the Senior All-Star South Jersey Showcase … Varsity starter her freshman and sophomore seasons at Mount Saint Joseph Academy High School … Won the 2009 National Hockey Festival Championship with Mystx Field Hockey … A member of the USA Futures Program since 2007 and the Spirit of USA Field Hockey since 2010.
Long comment about Stever: “Ali is a standout player from Ocean City High School in South Jersey. She epitomizes the core values that we are looking for in this new era of Rutgers field hockey. We will look to her presence and poise in both the back and midfield positions.”
The signees will join 13 letterwinners and seven returning starters from the 2011 roster, who posted a 5-13 record during a rigorous schedule that included six nationally ranked opponents.
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