Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Announces the Addition of Seven Student-Athletes
2/11/2004 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 11, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Head coach Kelly McCollum has announced the first signing class of her head-coaching career. McCollum is excited about the players who have chosen to be members of the NU field hockey program.
"We are ecstatic about the talent level of the seven student-athletes who have committed to Northwestern field hockey," said McCollum. "All of them bring athleticism and competitiveness to our squad that will certainly make our program better."
McCollum landed two local prospects as well as two athletes from Pennsylvania, two from Ohio and one from Connecticut.
One prospect from the Chicagoland area is Cassie Miller, a native of Lake Forest, Ill. Miller, who guided Lake Forest High School to the state championship in 2002 and a third-place finish in 2003, is a two-time all-state selection. She was named the team's most valuable player as a senior and was a gold medallist in the 2002 Junior Olympics.
Jenny Stancati and Katie Charles join the Northwestern program from Ohio and each possesses the athleticism and talent McCollum is excited to coach. Stancati, a native of Toledo, was a three-sport star at Ottawa Hills High School and was named team MVP in field hockey. She also played softball and basketball, where she garnered numerous honors. She participated in the USFHA Futures program as well as the National Futures Tournament in 2002.
Charles, from Thomas Worthington High School in Worthington, Ohio, was named the player of the year as well as first-team all-state, all-district, and team MVP in 2003. She participated in the senior all-star game after leading her team to the league championship. She will be class valedictorian and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Elizabeth Gemgnani and Amanda Care come to Northwestern from Pennsylvania with a level of experience and success that will help their transition to collegiate field hockey much easier. Gemgnani, from Salisbury High School, in Allentown, Pa., led the Lehigh Valley Area and Colonial League in scoring as a senior. She was named first-team all league and all-area as well as team MVP. A two-year captain, Gemgnani was named in the "Who's Who in Sports." She played club field hockey with current Northwestern freshman Meghan Small.
Care garnered numerous honors during her prep career. She was a two-time all-league selection and was named all-Southwest Pennsylvania in 2003. Care also was named to the Courier Times Golden Team in 2002 and '03. She has played at the highest level of club field hockey as well as participating in the Futures Program and National Futures Tournament in 2003. She has been invited to play in the 2004 Futures Elite Program. Her team, the Spirit Eagles, was National Hockey Festival pool winners in 2002 and '03.
Rounding out the signees is Noreen Stewart, from Farmington High School in Farmington, Conn. Stewart was a two-time first-team all-state selection and three-time Most Valuable Defensive Player Award recipient. She also was named all-state by the Hartford Courant. Stewart played in the New England Field Hockey Showcase All-Star game as a senior and played in the Indoor Nationals twice. A stellar student, she was named to the Northwest Conference All-Academic team three times.
Elisabeth deRoziere, from New Trier High School in Kennilworth, Ill. has accepted admission to Northwestern and will also join the team in the fall. She was an all-state selection in 2003, guiding her team to the state championship game for the second consecutive season. deRoziere was a Pioneer Press All-Star in 2003 as well.
McCollum believes that the current group's efforts are paying off.
"Our staff and players take a great deal of pride in the recruiting process here," she said. "We are looking forward to welcoming these student-athletes into the Northwestern field hockey family."
