During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rutgers athletics community was affected heavily. To help make up for the lost time, the NCAA granted Rutgers athletics an additional year of eligibility to play their desired sports. 

Five Rutgers field hockey seniors (Kassidy Shetler, Katie Lamour, Kerrie Burns, Gianna Mancini, and Gianna Glatz) all decided to take the extra year to have the opportunity to play for a final season at Rutgers. In doing so, they’ve helped take the program to great heights. All five are starters that have played key roles in leading the team to a 13-3 record that includes victories over 10 ranked teams. Rutgers is currently ranked third in the nation and have positioned themselves as one of the nation’s top programs thanks to these players efforts. 

Shelter’s abilities are highlighted in her performance on the field as she is poised to make her 70th career start this Friday. She has posted 12 career goals to go with four assists. 

A pair of senior captains, Katie Larmour and Kerrie Burns, both from Northern Ireland, came to Rutgers for another year with the same goals and aspirations to win the B1G conference. 

Katie Larmour, midfielder came back as a sixth-year senior, as a knee injury suffered in the 2018 season opener caused her to take a medical redshirt for that year. A starter in every game since her hiatus, she was named an All-American last season after finishing first on the team in assists and second in points. Having been a member of the program since 2016, Larmour is ready to put a stamp on her career this season. 

Gianna Mancini has been a fixture in the midfield in her RU career. This season, she has tallied four goals, including the game-winning goal in double-overtime against Indiana in a 1-0 win. 

Mancini took on her last year with her sister Isabella, who is a junior on the team. She is proud to be playing with her sister for one more year.

Gianna Glatz, the Scarlet Knights’ goalkeeper, is the backbone of the team. She has five shutouts this season so far, including three against three nationally ranked teams and boasts one of the top goals-against-average marks in program history. 

When the opportunity for an extra year presented itself, Glatz communicated with the advisor in the Graduate School of Education. They were very supportive of her pushing back her program, where she will still have the chance to pursue a Master’s Degree in teaching. 

Under head coach Meredith Civico’s guidance, these seniors have helped the program rise to new heights, making the NCAA Tournament in 2018. 

This season the team has risen to a top-three ranking in the country and taken down 10 ranked teams. Regardless of the setbacks from the pandemic had, this team is ready to make this season a special one. 

This group has accomplished great things so far in their time ‘On the Banks’. With the opportunity to host the Big Ten Tournament on their home field next week, there’s serious momentum for this group to make a statement in this extra season at RU.