UNC Field Hockey 2026-2027
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, I have enjoyed watching these girls play for a long time. Coach Shelton was phenomenal as a coach, Erin was as good as I have seen as a player. Now, Coach Shelton has retired & a great player is our coach, we will find out a lot about our future this year.Looks like EM secured our first class of ‘32 verbal commitment.
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Going to be interesting to see a Carolina team without the nations best player on the roster. It’s been what, 8 years w Matson/Heck on the field?
I asked her about that in our interview a bit ago and it certainly appears she’s recruited to that same high standard at least
I asked her about that in our interview a bit ago and it certainly appears she’s recruited to that same high standard at least
2 and one is a current assistant coach (Romeo Riccardo Hutchinson)
I ‘know’ you well enough to know this is sarcasm.
Midfielder Lily McClay (U16 WNT member, ranked Top 10 in her class out of CT) is our newest verbal commitment.
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Nice find!
MF from CT: Fairfield Ludlowe HS
Her commitment post:
MaxFH 2028 Top 10
FHCP #11 ranked recruit
2025 MaxFH 3rd Team A-A
USA U-16 Team alumnus
Note that at least 12 if the top 20 2028 players according to FHCP have already committed; this class is moving quickly. Princeton, Mich and tOSU got a quick jump, each landing three of the top 20.
We tend to do well in particular with the WC Eagles Club team, the best club in the USA by far. Matson played for the WC Eagles for almost 9 years (9y.o - 18 y.o) so needless to say she has a pretty strong connection with her former coach Jun Kentwell and business manager Richard Kentwell who founded the club and still run it today.
4 of the top 10 2028 recruits are on the WC Eagles team. Two have committed elsewhere. So hopefully we are feeling good about #1 overall recruit Kendall Longenberger and/or #2 Camilla Lutte? Miss out on both and it will be difficult to land a top 3 2028 recruiting class at this point. That is, unless we/they decide definitively that Reese D'Ariano is now a 2028 recruit. If/when that happens, we are doing great in the 2028 class.
We tend to do well in particular with the WC Eagles Club team, the best club in the USA by far. Matson played for the WC Eagles for almost 9 years (9y.o - 18 y.o) so needless to say she has a pretty strong connection with her former coach Jun Kentwell and business manager Richard Kentwell who founded the club and still run it today.
4 of the top 10 2028 recruits are on the WC Eagles team. Two have committed elsewhere. So hopefully we are feeling good about #1 overall recruit Kendall Longenberger and/or #2 Camilla Lutte? Miss out on both and it will be difficult to land a top 3 2028 recruiting class at this point. That is, unless we/they decide definitively that Reese D'Ariano is now a 2028 recruit. If/when that happens, we are doing great in the 2028 class.
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Does anyone know the current status of 2025 Freshman #18 Olivia "Liv" Anderson? This past Spring she suffered a leg injury which required her to walk very slowly on crutches.
#11 Jenna Narleski had another shoulder injury and then corrective surgery. She is one of the six UNC returnees to participate in the upcoming
2026 Senior Nexus Championship. They will be joined by two 2027 Tar Heel verbal commits.
They are enumerated here:
www.usafieldhockey.com
Devon Anderson matriculated and was on the team this past spring. Of the exhibitions I attended, she did not play. By all appearances, she is happy with her decision. Her parents were present and supportive at the WFU spring exhibition.
Devon and Lily McClay have a commonality: their FH Club is AGH.
#11 Jenna Narleski had another shoulder injury and then corrective surgery. She is one of the six UNC returnees to participate in the upcoming
2026 Senior Nexus Championship. They will be joined by two 2027 Tar Heel verbal commits.
They are enumerated here:
2026 Senior NXC Teams
www.usafieldhockey.com
Devon Anderson matriculated and was on the team this past spring. Of the exhibitions I attended, she did not play. By all appearances, she is happy with her decision. Her parents were present and supportive at the WFU spring exhibition.
Devon and Lily McClay have a commonality: their FH Club is AGH.
Many Tar Heel legends in this video… but one Terp Miss Katie O’Donnell still haunts me. Man she was fast. This game also had to of been one of the very few times in her collegiate career where she did not wreak havoc/tally any points
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Thank you for your reply, minas823. I attended that tournament. At the time, I was still trying to figure what I was watching. The first several years I attended games at Davidson College. When UNC rolled into town in 2007 to play the host Wildcats, I realized there was entire 'nother world of Div-1
collegiate sports, namely Carolina field hockey.
As minas823 points out, KD Bam was to Maryland who EM is to Carolina.
Let me briefly note several UNC players that are still active in field hockey.
#20 Poppy, UNC Assistant Coach Caitlan Van Sickle, former Olympian
#14 Kelsey Kolojejchick (KK) 1st UNC 4 time first team All American, former Olympian and head coach at Bucknell
#26 Jackie Kintzer Briggs former Olympian and Associate Head Coach WFU
Not active but the Fall 2026 team could really benefit from a player of Falso's immense talents.
#23 Katelyn Falgowski Ginolfi (Falgo) - very long list of accomplishments; jersey retired.
collegiate sports, namely Carolina field hockey.
As minas823 points out, KD Bam was to Maryland who EM is to Carolina.
Let me briefly note several UNC players that are still active in field hockey.
#20 Poppy, UNC Assistant Coach Caitlan Van Sickle, former Olympian
#14 Kelsey Kolojejchick (KK) 1st UNC 4 time first team All American, former Olympian and head coach at Bucknell
#26 Jackie Kintzer Briggs former Olympian and Associate Head Coach WFU
Not active but the Fall 2026 team could really benefit from a player of Falso's immense talents.
#23 Katelyn Falgowski Ginolfi (Falgo) - very long list of accomplishments; jersey retired.
Promo but no 2026 schedule or roster
Short list gleaned from other teams' postings - corrections & additions welcomed, thx
Duke vs UNC Aug 21st Fri 5pm - exhibition at Duke
- at WFU, ACC/Big Ten Challenge
- Aug 28th, Fri
UNC vs Mich at 3:30pm
WFU vs Iowa at 6:00pm
- Aug 30th, Sun
UNC vs Iowa at 11:00am
WFU vs Mich at 2:00pm
- At KSS, the Conference Crossover
- Sept 4th, Fri
Princeton vs ODU at 3:00pm
UNC vs Penn at 6:00pm
- Sept 6th, Sun
Penn vs ODU at 11:00am
UNC vs Princeton at 12:30pm
Short list gleaned from other teams' postings - corrections & additions welcomed, thx
Duke vs UNC Aug 21st Fri 5pm - exhibition at Duke
- at WFU, ACC/Big Ten Challenge
- Aug 28th, Fri
UNC vs Mich at 3:30pm
WFU vs Iowa at 6:00pm
- Aug 30th, Sun
UNC vs Iowa at 11:00am
WFU vs Mich at 2:00pm
- At KSS, the Conference Crossover
- Sept 4th, Fri
Princeton vs ODU at 3:00pm
UNC vs Penn at 6:00pm
- Sept 6th, Sun
Penn vs ODU at 11:00am
UNC vs Princeton at 12:30pm
At the time, I sensed it straightaway.
This venue was not your typical Traveling Wilburys type.
Bigger, maybe, and more electric.
Hey. It was the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Championship Final Four weekend.
Fully grown adults adorned in purple and white cheerleader attire waved pom poms
and directed their faithful towards the entrance of Jack Katz Stadium at Duke
University. Man, they were excited. In the stands, they lined the bottom walkway
in front of their section and dared anyone to impede their exhortations. I tried
to become invisible and quitely pass them in order to reach the Carolina section.
As I did, an individual jumped up and back into me and knocked me into the railing.
She never missed a beat - just kept on cheering. Foreshadowing? Perhaps.
Both teams came out full throttle. The NW press was relentless and effective.
Still we, Carolina, managed to score. NW defense backed off a bit which gave us
alittle breathing room. We scored again. The first frame ended and both sides
"went to their respective corners." During the second period, only NW scored.
Halftime was over. Before the second half started, however, I watched unfold
a first for me. A NW fan, a player's mom I think, had marched the length of the
bleachers and stopped in front of the section where I sat. Directly in front of her
on the pitch was her team, and if I am correct, her daughter. She demanded that they
get off their "ascots" and win this "dang" game. Well, her words did not land on
deaf ears.
Several years ago after Coach Fuchs won her first Div-1 NCAA Championship, Leah
Secondo asked her about the support she had received from the "Backyardians",
the parents, fans and even her players. Give her credit. As her emotions welled
up, she was articulate, grateful and honest, I think. When she got to what her players
meant to her, she was perhaps the most emotional. Of the things she said, this is
what I remember: in a halting voice, "Well, I am not the easiest coach to play for."
Dang. I want our Tar Heels to defeat them - again.
And because the sting is more recent, you can rest assured that goes double for lacrosse.
Happy 250th Fourth of July.
This venue was not your typical Traveling Wilburys type.
Bigger, maybe, and more electric.
Hey. It was the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Championship Final Four weekend.
Fully grown adults adorned in purple and white cheerleader attire waved pom poms
and directed their faithful towards the entrance of Jack Katz Stadium at Duke
University. Man, they were excited. In the stands, they lined the bottom walkway
in front of their section and dared anyone to impede their exhortations. I tried
to become invisible and quitely pass them in order to reach the Carolina section.
As I did, an individual jumped up and back into me and knocked me into the railing.
She never missed a beat - just kept on cheering. Foreshadowing? Perhaps.
Both teams came out full throttle. The NW press was relentless and effective.
Still we, Carolina, managed to score. NW defense backed off a bit which gave us
alittle breathing room. We scored again. The first frame ended and both sides
"went to their respective corners." During the second period, only NW scored.
Halftime was over. Before the second half started, however, I watched unfold
a first for me. A NW fan, a player's mom I think, had marched the length of the
bleachers and stopped in front of the section where I sat. Directly in front of her
on the pitch was her team, and if I am correct, her daughter. She demanded that they
get off their "ascots" and win this "dang" game. Well, her words did not land on
deaf ears.
Several years ago after Coach Fuchs won her first Div-1 NCAA Championship, Leah
Secondo asked her about the support she had received from the "Backyardians",
the parents, fans and even her players. Give her credit. As her emotions welled
up, she was articulate, grateful and honest, I think. When she got to what her players
meant to her, she was perhaps the most emotional. Of the things she said, this is
what I remember: in a halting voice, "Well, I am not the easiest coach to play for."
Dang. I want our Tar Heels to defeat them - again.
And because the sting is more recent, you can rest assured that goes double for lacrosse.
Happy 250th Fourth of July.
So, that makes 4 international recruits for this class.
It’s hard to determine how talented they are without proper rankings, but given the quality of our prior international talent, I think it’s safe to assume all 4 will be starter quality?
It’s hard to determine how talented they are without proper rankings, but given the quality of our prior international talent, I think it’s safe to assume all 4 will be starter quality?
The other three I think are a safe bet (based off of quick google assessments). Micky has very little online info which means she isn’t associated with any national teams. I have no doubt she’s talented and skilled, just may not be up to the level of the other international recruits.
I also can't find much information on Micky Van Baasbank. Her Instagram is private; that is usually the best starting point. That could mean there is not much to say, but more likely she and her family have just done a good job of keeping her out of the fish bowl.
Her club team is Gooische Hockey Club. they have a ton of youth titles; clearly one of the best Dutch club teams, but they do almost no player promotional content; it is all about the club.
I don't think she was on the Dutch National Team in any capacity but it is actually pretty rare for these top 25 or so players to come to the USA. Baasbank has been a part of the KNHB (Royal Dutch Hockey Association) Regional Development Pool which is their top pipeline for youth; about 60-80 players per birth year. So think of her as a top 100 Dutch player; likely more prestigious than being a top 100 USA player.
Note: I am digging into a subject I am not very knowledgeable about here, with the help of Google. I may have errors, though I tries to fact check myself.
Her club team is Gooische Hockey Club. they have a ton of youth titles; clearly one of the best Dutch club teams, but they do almost no player promotional content; it is all about the club.
I don't think she was on the Dutch National Team in any capacity but it is actually pretty rare for these top 25 or so players to come to the USA. Baasbank has been a part of the KNHB (Royal Dutch Hockey Association) Regional Development Pool which is their top pipeline for youth; about 60-80 players per birth year. So think of her as a top 100 Dutch player; likely more prestigious than being a top 100 USA player.
Note: I am digging into a subject I am not very knowledgeable about here, with the help of Google. I may have errors, though I tries to fact check myself.
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Somewhere around 80% of international players at UNC the last 10 years have ended up starters. Here are the Dutch ones specifically
So 10 of 12 players had major roles on the team, 9 started the large majority of their games. And the other two did play, but transferred out pretty quick.
- Eef Andressen - 36 starts in 2 seasons 2016-17
- Eva Smolenaars - 87 starts in 5 seasons 2017-21 - 2nd Team A-A
- Eza Van't Hoog - 92 starts in 4 years 2015-18 (every game) - 1st Team A-A
- Yentl Leemans - 45 starts in 2 years 2018-19 (every game) - 1st team A-A, ACC DPOY
- Karlijn Goes - 1 start in her only season 2019 (transferred out)
- Britt Schlatmann - 1 start in her 2 seasons 2020-21 (transferred out)
- Lisa Slinkert - played in 79 games in 4 seasons, but no starts 2021-24 19 goals
- Jasmina Smolenaars - 81 starts in 4 years 2021-24
- Sietske Bruning - started every game healthy over 4 seasons 2022-25- 1st Team A-A
- Sanne Hak - started every game over 3 seasons 2023-25
- Pleun Lammers - started 35 games over 2 seasons 2023-24
- Isabelle Boere - started all 23 games her only season 2025
So 10 of 12 players had major roles on the team, 9 started the large majority of their games. And the other two did play, but transferred out pretty quick.
With the 5in5 rule application to just graduated college seniors now in multiple lawsuits, hypothetically, this is where our graduated seniors now stand:
Exhausted 5 years already; not a candidate:
So in theory we have two spots open, possibly more.
Exhausted 5 years already; not a candidate:
- Kara Heck
- Sanne Hak
- Ryleigh Heck
- Dani Mendez
- Sietske Bruning
- Kate Wimmer
So in theory we have two spots open, possibly more.
Okay and thanks for sharing and for the updated information. IMO, I think we need to move on and just let those seniors and grad students have just graduated move on. You have to draw the line in the sand and start anew somewhere. I really do like the 5 for 5 rule, but I also hate the fact that those students athletes who have just gradated are trying to come back and play for another year; especially if some of them are already playing professionally, or on professional summer league teams right now. This is going to do more harm than good because there is a lot of high school athletes who just graduated from high school are now on college campuses throughout our nation and they are now on next year's rosters for all sports. This is going to cause a lot of headaches for them as well as for all the coaching staffs; especially when you have already accepted the fact that those college seniors and grad students just now graduated and you have already moved on and made preparations for the upcoming season and now have focus your attention to the incoming freshmen, recruiting for the 2027 year, etc. From a college coach's stand point, you have too much already to deal with and adding this back on it going to cause more headaches, time management, etc.
I see no logic behind arbitrarily giving last year's 3rd year players (and younger) one more year, but excluding last year's 4th year players, other than it makes things easier for the NCAA to manage. The much easier (and legally defensible) place to "draw the line" would be to apply the same rule to everyone.
I also see no logic in UNC teams choosing to skip all 5th year players if/when they become eligible on principle while our opponents grab them up and get better.
I do not suggest we lead the charge on expanding eligibility; the players' lawyers are doing that already. It will be whatever it is according to the courts. But when they come online, you better believe that any and every UNC team with open roster spots will be looking to see if they can get a stronger team, while weighing that against the consequences of last-minute roster changes.
The freshman already have signed LOIs at this point; even compensation agreements depending on the sport and caliber of player. . Most of them are on a college campus already as well. they certainly should be protected, and they have some contractual protection and I certainly would not support them getting booted. I don't think that will happen at UNC. At least not from our end. Someone who was expecting a freshman starting roles might be released from agreement if they request it. That would be the consequences you weigh against.
I also see no logic in UNC teams choosing to skip all 5th year players if/when they become eligible on principle while our opponents grab them up and get better.
I do not suggest we lead the charge on expanding eligibility; the players' lawyers are doing that already. It will be whatever it is according to the courts. But when they come online, you better believe that any and every UNC team with open roster spots will be looking to see if they can get a stronger team, while weighing that against the consequences of last-minute roster changes.
The freshman already have signed LOIs at this point; even compensation agreements depending on the sport and caliber of player. . Most of them are on a college campus already as well. they certainly should be protected, and they have some contractual protection and I certainly would not support them getting booted. I don't think that will happen at UNC. At least not from our end. Someone who was expecting a freshman starting roles might be released from agreement if they request it. That would be the consequences you weigh against.
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I do feel for the two classes wedged between the COVID year group and the 5x5 group because they had very unlucky timing, but I agree that extending eligibility to the Class of 2026 is silly, particularly for fall sports where they probably stopped training (and mentally came to terms with retirement) after what they assumed would be their final season.
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