Tiger Field Hockey Announces 2021 Recruiting Class

Wittenberg field hockey is excited to add ten incoming freshmen as announced by Tiger Head Coach Bronwen Gainsford.

Joining the Tiger line-up in the fall will be; Caitlin Archdeacon, Shannon Csordos, Lucy DeVita, Rachel Gesell, Allyson Miller, Lauren Neutzling, Courtney Odom, Victoria Pipinich, Lyndsey Seagraves and Katie Webber.

"I am thrilled to announce our incoming class for the Fall of 2021," Gainsford said, "The incoming group brings high energy and enthusiasm that will help push our program forward towards our conference goals."

#40 Caitlin Archdeacon | Saratoga, CA | Westmont High School

Archdeacon is a goalkeeper out of Saratoga, California where she earned All-League honors in 2019 and 2020 to go along with First Team Honorable Mention in 2018 and 2019. As a three-year varsity letter winner, Archdeacon was also a member of the soccer team, a four-year Honor Roll member and four-year Renaissance Academic Award Recipient. In 2017 and 2018, Archdeacon was honored with Student of the Month laurels, earning Scholar-Athlete honors in 2017. Archdeacon played her club hockey for the San Jose Fly.

Coach Bronwen on Archdeacon

Archdeacon is a dynamic, vocal keeper in charge of the backfield.

#13 Shannon Csordos | West Plainfield, NJ | West Plainfield High School

Csordos is a defender, joining the Wittenberg field hockey program out of West Plainfield, New Jersey. A multi-sport athlete in high school, Csordos was the 2020 captain of her West Plainfield High School field hockey and bowling teams, while also playing softball. Csordos was a National Honor Society Member and Italian Honors Society Secretary, along with earning 2020 AP Scholar distinction. Csordos played her club field hockey for the Mid Jersey Knights.

Coach Bronwen on Csordos

Shannon brings a calm composure to the game along with a competitor's spirit.

#15 Lucy DeVita | Columbus, OH | Upper Arlington High School

DeVita joins the Wittenberg program as a forward out of Columbus, coming from Upper Arlington. A captain of her high school team in 2020, DeVita earned three varsity letters along with 2019 All-League Honorable Mention. DeVita collected the 2017 Perseverance Award, adding Academic All-Ohio Honors to her accolades in 2017, 18, 19, and 2020. A member of National Honor Society and Art National Honor Society, DeVita was a four-year Honor Roll recipient. DeVita played her club field hockey at Field Hockey Life.

Coach Bronwen on DeVita

Lucy is a versatile player with quick hands and is calm under pressure.

#3 Rachel Gesell | Dexter, MI | Dexter High School

Gesell comes to Wittenberg as a defender from Dexter, Michigan. Earning a long list of accolades, Gesell was part of two Michigan State Championship teams in 2019 and 2020, collecting two conference championships along the way in those same seasons. Gesell earned High School Division One All-State Second Team honors in 2018, achieving Honorable Mention designation in 2019, before closing out her high school career as a First Team All-State honoree in 2020. Gesell is a four-time Conference Academic Award recipient, as well as a four-time NFHCA High School National Academic Squad honoree. Graduating atop the Class of 2021 from Dexter High School, Gesell played her club field hockey at Pinnacle Field Hockey Club.

Coach Bronwen on Gesell

Rachel has a tremendous work ethic, great consistency, is steady under pressure, and strong ability to outlet the ball from the backfield. She is a competitor!

#21 Allyson Miller | Saline, MI | Saline High School

Miller is a dual-threat combo, coming to the Tigers, playing midfield and forward out of Saline, Michigan. A two-year varsity letter winner, Miller made the 2019 and 2020 Michigan State semifinals, collecting a conference championship in 2019 along the way. A dual-sport athlete in high school, Miller earned two varsity letters in lacrosse at Saline and was named team captain for both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. As a four-year Gold Honor Roll Member, Miller received both the English and French Department Awards, along with the Woodie Merchant Leadership Award, adding 2019 and 2020 NFHCA National Academic Squad honors. Miller played her club field hockey for Pinnacle Field Hockey Club. 

Coach Bronwen on Miller

Allyson brings great energy, work ethic, and persistence in the forward line.

#11 Lauren Neutzling | Columbus, OH | Bishop Watterson High School

Neutzling comes to Wittenberg as a defender from Bishop Watterson High School in nearby Columbus. A three-year varsity letter winner, Neutzling was a member of the OHSAA State Championship Bishop Watterson team. Excelling in the classroom, Neutzling was a four-year honor roll recipient. Neutzling played her club hockey at Field Hockey Life.

Coach Bronwen on Neutzling

Lauren is athletic, has great ball-handling and a winning mentality.

#29 Courtney Odom | Louisville, KY | Atherton High School

Odom joins the Tigers as a forward out of Louisville, Kentucky from Atherton High School. On the field, Odom earned the 110% Coaches Award and the Rebels Player Choice Award. In the classroom, Odom was a three-time honor roll recipient. Odom played her club hockey for Bluegrass Field Hockey.

Coach Bronwen on Odom

Courtney is energetic, tenacious and quick!

#9 Victoria Pipinich | Fort Worth, TX | All Saints Episcopal High School

Pipinich joins the Tiger field hockey program as a defender, coming to Wittenberg from Fort Worth, Texas out of All Saints Episcopal High School. Pipinich collected TAPPS MVP in 2019 along with field hockey MVP in 2019 and 2020. Adding to her list of accolades, Pipinich earned All-District honors in 2019 and 2020, as well as, earning TAPPS State Championship titles in 2017 and 2020.  Pipinich was an All-Cup Episcopal Cup Player in 2020. A multi-sport athlete, Pipinich earned All-American laurels in soccer in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, adding First Team All-District honors in 2019 and team MVP honors in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Pipinich earned All-American honors in track and field in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. She currently holds the 800-meter school record at All Saints Episcopal and earned Newbie of the Year in 2017. In the classroom, Pipinich earned National Art Honors Society in 2017 and Artist of the Year in 2019. Pipinich was a Cum Laude recipient 2019-2021, an Honors College recipient 2017-2021 and Honors Classics Diploma 2017-2021, earning Highest Distinction Junior Honors Thesis 2019. Pipinich played her club field hockey for Cowtown Field Hockey Club.

Coach Bronwen on Pipinich

Victoria brings a winning mentality, athleticism, and versatility. 

#77 Lyndsey Seagraves | Hilliard, OH | Hilliard Darby High School

The Tigers goalkeeper Lyndsey Seagraves from Hilliard Darby High School from nearby Hilliard, Ohio. Seagraves served as captain for Hilliard Darby in 2017. She also participated in bowling, earning Second Team and Third Team All-OCC recognition. Seagraves was a four-year Cum Laude Honors student in the classroom while at Hilliard Darby. She played her club hockey for Coyotes Field Hockey Club.

Coach Bronwen on Seagraves

Lyndsey has a strong voice on the field and is a brick ball in the backfield.

#2 Katie Webber | Columbus. OH | Upper Arlington High School

Webber comes to Wittenberg as a forward from Upper Arlington High School in nearby Columbus. Serving as team captain in 2020, Webber was a three-year varsity letter winner, collecting the 2020 Impact Award and Second Team All-League honors. Webber earned the MVP Midfielder Award in 2017. In the classroom, Webber was a four-year honor roll student. Webber collected Academic All-Ohio accolades in 2018, 2019 and 2020. She added Central Ohio Field Hockey Coaches for Academic Excellence Scholar-Athlete Award in both 2019 and 2020 to her collection. Webber played her club field hockey at Field Hockey Life.

Coach Bronwen on Webber

Katie brings a high energy and enthusiasm on the field, ready to win the ball on the forward line.