University of Albany Field Hockey Signs Five Newcomers for 2009 Season - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The UAlbany field hockey program has received National Letters of Intent from five student-athletes for the 2009 season, as announced by head coach Phil Sykes on Tuesday, March 3. Tessa Knapp (Marathon, N.Y./Marathon), Taylor Luke (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), Brianna Schwoyer (Telford, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite), Kristi Troch (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton) and Nina Walters (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) will all join the Great Danes in the fall semester.

Knapp led Marathon to the 2006 and 2007 NYSPHSA Class C State Championship, as the Olympians posted an 85-5 record over her four-year career. She scored 80 goals and recorded 36 assists on the high school level, en route to being named a second team All-American as a senior. A two-time captain, Knapp earned all-state honors in 2007 and 2008 and was a three-time all-star. She was named to the NFHCA/Penn Monto All-Region Team as both a junior and a senior. Knapp is also a three-time junior Olympian, and has participated in five national indoor tournaments with Team CNY. She also led Team CNY to the bronze medal at the 2009 Disney Showcase and the silver medal at the 2006 and 2007 Empire State Games. A four-year student council member and class officer, she was also a member of FBLA and the Art and Foreign Language Club and intends to major in sociology.

Luke, a four-year starter and senior captain, led Bridgewater-Raritan to four conference championships, two county titles and four North Jersey Group IV Section I and II championships. Luke scored 20 career goals and holds the school record with 32 assists. She was a member of the National Futures program from 2004-08 and played in the national championship in 2006. She competed at the Garden State Games as a member of the U16 gold medal team in 2005 and captained the U19 gold medal team in 2007. Luke earned NJFHCA All-Star and Group IV second-team accolades, and was also named to the Somerset County and Skyland Conference first team on three occasions. A 2009 Academic All-America honoree, she intends to major in human biology.

Schwoyer was a four-year letterwinner at Dock, leading the Pioneers to the 2008 State AA semifinals after taking the Bicentennial League championship for the third consecutive season. A team captain, Schwoyer was the team’s most valuable player as a senior, while also earning the Bicentennial League MVP award. A three-time all-conference first team selection, she was also named first team All-State AA athletically, and was an All-State AA Academic Team member. She finished her career with 50 goals and 48 assists. As a member of the High Styx club team, Schwoyer has played at four National Field Hockey Outdoor Festivals, earning the gold medal in the U19 pool in 2008. She has also participated in five indoor tournaments and five Keystone Games. A member of the National Honor Society, she will graduate in the top 10 percent of her high school class, and intends to major in biology.

Troch is the third player to come to UAlbany from Lehighton High School. A three-year letterwinner for the Indians, she earned first team all-state and All-Mountain Valley Conference honors as a senior goalkeeper. A team captain, Troch led Lehighton to back-to-back MVC and District 11 championships. As a member of the First Class Titanium club team, she earned a gold medal at the 2008 National Indoor Tournament and was a three-year member of the Futures Program. A member of the National Honor Society, Troch was named to the 2008 NFHCA High School National Academic Squad. She is also a member of FBLA and FCCLA, and will graduate in the top 10 percent of her graduating class.

Walters, a four-year letterwinner at Lafayette High School, was named to the 2008 NFHCA High School All-Region team after recording 72 points as a senior. She finished with 40 goals and 63 assists in her career, breaking her high school’s record with 29 helpers as a junior. The 2008 Suburban Conference Player of the Year was a two-time All-Metro first team honoree and three-time all-conference first-team selection. She was a three-year team MVP for Lafayette, and was named team captain three consecutive seasons, becoming the first sophomore in school history ever selected. Walters participated in the Futures Program from 2006-09, and was a member of the 2008 National Futures Elite Team as well as the Regional Team in 2006 and 2008.

“We are very excited about our incoming class,” said Sykes, who guided the Great Danes to their first-ever America East Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth last fall. “We have a well-rounded group coming in, as they are all exceptional students and athletes. I am most pleased with the depth that this class will create for our team. All of these girls come from very good high school and club programs, and their competitiveness and experience will make our team very dynamic.”

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2008 UAlbany Field Hockey Signings

Tessa Knapp, Marathon, N.Y./Marathon Central School

Taylor Luke, Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan

Brianna Schwoyer, Telford, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite

Kristi Troch, Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton

Nina Walters, Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette