Experienced roster has Pine-Richland in position for 6th straight WPIAL field hockey title

By: Jerin Steele
Sunday, September 1, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Pine-Richland’s incredible run in WPIAL field hockey continued last year with a fifth straight Class 3A title.

With 10 seniors and nine starters returning, the Rams look to be the favorite again, but they know there’s a lot of work to be done to increase the streak to six.

“I personally don’t feel any pressure. Maybe the girls do, but it’s not like we talk about it,” Rams coach Donna Stephenson said. “We don’t say we have to go win No. 6. That’s not really in our frame of reference. We’re just looking at being a competitive team and being our best.

“I think the goal is to have a successful season in terms of what the team is like.”

Ella Perry, Madeline Mill, Maggie Campbell, Georgia Rottinghaus, Elise VanderWeele, Kendyll Jerry, Maddy Myers, Erin Murray and Kylie Schneck are the 10 seniors.

Schneck returns to the field after missing last season due to injury.

Murray and juniors Emma Wallace and Kaylee Bang are returning starters on defense.

Perry, Rottinghaus, Jerry and Mill make up an experienced midfield, while junior Anna Merlack and Campbell also return.

Rottinghaus, an Indiana commit, Perry and Madeline Mill are the team captains, as chosen by a team-wide vote.

For Stephenson, the three most important traits for a captain are leadership, chemistry and commitment.

That blends into a team-wide philosophy, which is an important focus.

“The first day of tryouts, I told them to be worried about the team first, teammates and then yourself,” Stephenson said. “If you do that, you’re already taken care of, because someone else has your back. It’s team, teammate, self. If we do that, I think we can accomplish anything.”

Other returning players with varsity experience are Claire Mill, Myers, Bridget Gilardi, Alyssa Baculik and Naiomi Stewart.

Starting goalie Sara Neuhart graduated, but the Rams have a pair of juniors, Kaelin Koehler and Maddy Merlack, ready to step in.

Newcomers to the varsity team are Riley Gainor, Ella Dunlap, Chandlar Camp, Caroline Zancosky, Emily Iams, Paige Luisi, Madeline Luisi and Reyah Griffin.

There are 44 girls in the program between varsity and JV.

Pine-Richland defeated Peters Township, 1-0, in overtime on a goal by Rottinghaus to win the WPIAL 3A title last year. The Rams won’t have to play Peters Township in the playoffs this season, because the Indians moved to Class 2A.

North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon, Hempfield and Norwin are the other teams in 3A. Stephenson expects there to be good competition waiting for them.

“We have a tough season ahead,” Stephenson said. “It’s probably the hardest schedule we’ve ever had. The reason why is that we’re playing everybody (in section) three times. It used to be you play a team twice and you see them in the playoffs. Now we’re playing everyone three times. That’s much more difficult.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland