WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University field hockey team welcomes 11 newcomers to the Hilltop for the 2023 campaign, as announced by Head Coach Christy Longacre on Monday. Nine freshmen and a pair of graduate transfers highlight the incoming class that will join 17 returners for the Hoyas from a year ago.
 
"Our staff and myself are excited to announce our 2023 recruiting class," Head Coach Christy Longacre said. "Welcome to the Hilltop Elena Perez Alejandro, Darby Campbell, Ella Fahey, Anna Gill, Izzy Lee, Elizabeth Rossotti, Caroline Suko, Ava Tilger, Kerry Elliott, Lindsay Strong and Lois Lekawael!
 
"Each member of this recruiting class possesses special qualities both in their play and person that will propel our program forward. The 2023 class is an extremely hardworking and talented group with a passion for learning and growing their whole person. This class joins us from a variety of regions including Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Spain, and the Netherlands. Each player offers a unique perspective and different style of play. Elena's seamless play in the midfield creates a glue connecting both the forwards and the backs as one unit. Darby brings her tenacious game, physicality, and power. Ella offers her technical goalkeeping skills and ability to set for a second shot. Anna uses her length and vision to find possession passes. Izzy's athleticism and versatility in playing anywhere is rooted in her knowledge of both sides of the ball. Elizabeth utilizes her speed and high energy style of play. Caroline generates attacks with her aggressive attacking mindset and her willingness to go forward. Ava brings her keen distribution skills and presence in the backfield. Kerry offers us stability and her strong vision to connect passes. Lindsay maintains her composure in defending and doing simple things well which enhances her ability to link up with those around her. Lastly, Lois brings her hunger to score and a wealth of knowledge to our front five.
 
"We were thrilled for each of these players to commit to our program and are eager for their arrival on campus to begin our fall 2023 journey!"
 
Lois Lekawael
Graduate Student
Middelburg, The Netherlands / Nehalennia [Boston College]
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Played four seasons at Boston College … Saw action in 40 games, starting 13 for the Eagles … Reached the NCAA Final Four and the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game as a freshman in 2019 … Scored four goals during her time in Chestnut Hill … A four-time All-ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient and on the Boston College Dean's List …Won club championships with HC Walcheren champions in 2012, 2013 and 2014 …Played for Deltalent in 2014-2016 … Also played at Zwart-Wit from 2015-19, winning club championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018 … Father played semipro soccer for eight years and was selected to Dutch U21 team … Sisters all play field hockey in the Netherlands.
 
Why Georgetown: Having the opportunity to receive a world-class education and play field hockey on a competitive level is the reason why I joined the GUFH family. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to use my last year of eligibility at Georgetown University and cannot wait to get started!
 
Lindsay Strong
Graduate Student
Concord, Mass. / St. Mark's School [Wellesley College]
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Played four years at Wellesley College …  Named an NFHCA All-American in 2021 as a member of The Blue, as well as the 2022 NFHCA Watch list … NFHCA First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference (NEWMAC) in 2021 and 2022 … Led Wellesley as captain in 2022 … Posted four goals, one assist and seven defensive saves during her collegiate career …  Graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley in May 2023 … Attended St. Mark's School and was awarded the Peter M. Schuh Scholarship Prize … Father played squash at Bowdoin College.
 
Why Georgetown: I decided to further pursue field hockey and academics at Georgetown because of the driven and supportive team and coaches and the ability to pursue a master's in data science at such an amazing university.
 
Darby Campbell
Freshman
Madison, N.J. / Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child
 
Prior to the Hoyas: A three-year varsity player for Oak Knoll … Totaled 14 goals and helped lead the Lionesses to a State Championship in 2021 … Honored as a First Team All-State Non-Public selection and earned High Honors each semester in the classroom … Played club field hockey with New Heights Field Hockey, participating in RCCs and NCCs …Hails from a long line of college athletes … Mother played field hockey and lacrosse at Harvard … Father played lacrosse and squash at Harvard …Sister plays lacrosse at Harvard and her brother was a First Team All-American in lacrosse at Villanova and currently plays in the Premier Lacrosse League.
 
Why Georgetown: I chose GUFH because of the family-like atmosphere I felt when spending time with the team. I also felt so lucky to be able to choose somewhere with high level field hockey while getting a great education. What makes the program unique is the sense of feeling at home the second you step on campus and are surrounded by the team.
 
Kerry Elliott
Freshman
Blue Bell, Pa. / The Hill School
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Three-year starter and varsity captain for Hill School Field Hockey … Helped the Rams to three Atlantic Prep League Championships … MAX Field Hockey Champions and PAISSA State Champions … Rams were nationally Ranked for three years and were the top-ranked high school team in the country in 2022 … In the classroom, named to the All-Academic Team three times and earned the Calhoun Economics Junior Prize Day Award … Played club field hockey with WC Eagles, winning three NIT Championships … Father played baseball at Georgetown … Brother played football at Georgetown … Other brother also played baseball at Franklin & Marshall and another currently plays football at Trinity … Aunt played field hockey and lacrosse at Georgetown.
 
Why Georgetown: Growing up and visiting campus, I've always known I wanted to go to Georgetown. I am really excited to play at a great program with awesome coaches and pursue the endless academic opportunities.
 
Ella Fahey
Freshman
Wellesley, Mass. / Tabor Academy
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Spent four years on the Tabor Academy varsity field hockey team, serving as captain her senior year … Led the Seawolves to a pair of Independent School League championships … Named an All-NEPSAC Class A Honorable Mention, All-ISL and was named a Boston Globe Massachusetts All-Scholastic All-Star … Played club field hockey for NorthEast Elite … In the classroom, named to the Honor Roll sophomore through senior years and was an honoree for the 2022 NFHCA High School National Academic Squad.
 
Why Georgetown: I chose GUFH not only because of the astounding academic opportunity at Georgetown but because of how welcoming and comfortable I felt with the team/coaches my first time on campus. I am so excited to be able to pursue my academic and athletic life at Georgetown, surrounded by such an amazing group of girls.
 
Anna Gill
Freshman
Princeton, N.J. / The Lawrenceville School
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Led the Lawrenceville School Field Hockey team as a captain her senior year to cap a four-year varsity career for the Big Red … Amassed 8 goals and 30 assists during her high school career … Honored all four years as First Team All-County … An All-Prep A First Team selection, CJFHCA honoree, member of the First Team All-MAPL, a The Trentonian All-Prep selection, All-Area All-Star Team member, First Team All-Area and a First Team All-Conference selection … Played club field hockey for Princeton Field Hockey Club … In the classroom at Lawrenceville, earned High Honors all four years and was named to the Mid Atlantic Prep League All-Academic team while publishing prize essays … Father played ice hockey at Princeton.
 
Why Georgetown: I love to be competitive whether on or off the field and I felt Georgetown was the perfect place to expand my academic and athletic career. I also always knew I wanted to attend a college in a city, and Georgetown allows the dual opportunity of a campus and city atmosphere.
 
Izzy Lee
Freshman
Richmond, Va. / The Collegiate School
 
Prior to the Hoyas: A five-year varsity field hockey player for The Collegiate School … Helped the team to three League of Independent Schools (LIS) Championship titles and captained the Cougars to the 2022 Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) State Championship in 2021 ... All-LIS Team for three seasons and was a two-time selection to the VISAA All-State First Team Division 1 and All-Metro First Team … Named to the Max Field Hockey Class of 2023 Players to Watch List in 2022 … As a senior, named to the NFHCA High School All-South Region Team and to the Max Field Hockey 2022 Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team … In the classroom, twice named to the NFHCA High School National Academic Squad and was on the Honor Roll for all four years of high school … Played club field hockey for Panthers United and helped her club squad to NIT championship titles in 2018 and 2020, a FOCUS Tournament championship title in 2021 and a Shooting Star Pool A championship title in 2022 … Father played football and baseball at St. Lawrence … Mother played lacrosse at Oneonta State … Sister played field hockey at Appalachian State.
 
Why Georgetown: I chose GU because the school's and coaches' values and goals were aligned with mine. I wanted to attend the best school for me academically and play field hockey at the D1 level. The coaches made it clear they prioritize academics. They believe you can be highly competitive in both academics and athletics. GU offers a wide variety of majors that I can choose from, and provides many internships and post-graduate opportunities. It also has a strong alumni network. I fell in love with the beautiful campus and its proximity to Washington, DC. DC is two hours from my hometown, and my sister attends graduate school at GW. My visits with the field hockey team were incredibly welcoming and positive.
 
Elena Perez Alejandro
Freshman
Madrid, Spain / Nuestra Señora del Recuerdo
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Attended high school at Nuestra Señora del Recuerdo and played club field hockey for both Club de Campo Villa de Madrid and the Madrid Selection … With Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, helped the team to a third-place finish at the Juvenil Spanish Cup in 2020 and a first-place finish in the Spanish Indoor Hockey Championship in 2022 …  With Madrid Selection, she helped her squad to a first-place finish at the 2021 U16 Autonomic Spanish Competition and a second-place finish in the 2021 U18 Autonomic Spanish Competition … In the classroom, won an award for a top-ranked GPA during the 2021 school year … Sister is a member of the U21 Spanish National Field Hockey Team.
 
Why Georgetown: I decided to commit to GUFH because I think it is a perfect way to continue playing field hockey and to receive a high-quality education. I am very excited to start this new chapter of my life. For me it is a very big change, universities in the US are very different to the ones here in Spain and I am moving across the world, away from my family. However, I can't wait to live new experiences and to meet new people.
 
Elizabeth Rossotti
Freshman
McLean, Virginia / Potomac School
Prior to the Hoyas: Captained the Potomac School's field hockey squad and was a four-year varsity athlete … Led the Panthers in goals and assists in the 2021 and 2022 seasons ... Twice named to the Independent School League All-League Team and helped the Potomac School to two appearances in the VISAA state tournament …. Played club field hockey for Freedom HKY, where her team earned third place at the 2021 National Club Championships, won their bracket in the 2022 Disney Sunshine Showcase and won their pool in the 2022 U19 National Indoor Tournament … Also played for Next Level Field Hockey, helping her squad to win their pool in the 2022 Shooting Star Easter Tournament and 2023 Disney Sunshine Showcase .. Father rowed at Penn and her mother played lacrosse at James Madison ... Brother also attends Georgetown.
 
Why Georgetown: I have been an athlete as long as I can remember, and cannot imagine not having the fun, friendships, structure, challenge, and sense of accomplishment that sports, and especially field hockey, provides as I start my college career. I grew up following my dad's passion for Georgetown basketball and dreamed of playing in the BIG EAST myself someday. Georgetown offers an amazing opportunity for me to follow my interest in criminal justice. I know at Georgetown that caring for the self and others is important and am excited to play on a team that shares that philosophy.
 
Caroline Suko
Freshman
Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East
 
Prior to the Hoyas: A three-year career on the Central Bucks East varsity field hockey team … Named all-league honorable mention and was honored as the team's offensive player of the year in 2021 … During the 2022 campaign, captained the Patriots and was named second team all-league … Invited to compete in the MAX Field Hockey High School Invitational … Played club field hockey for both Princeton Field Hockey Club and FSC … Off of the field, garnered multiple academic awards including Distinguished Honors, the Lamp of Learning Award, the President's Award and the Principal's Award.
 
Why Georgetown: I decided to commit to GUFH because I appreciate how honest and understanding Coach Christy and Coach Liz are; they have created an environment that feels like family. Georgetown's focus on supporting the "whole person" is also prominent on this team, and I think GUFH emphasizes this while continuing to strive to be a competitive program.
 
Ava Tilger
Freshman
Moorestown, N.J. / Moorestown
 
Prior to the Hoyas: Led the Moorestown High School Varsity Field Hockey Team as a captain in 2022 after four years with the Quakers … Won a sectional group championship in 2021 and amassed multiple individual awards during her high school career … Named a MAX Field Hockey Top 100 Player, A MAX Field Hockey All-Region First Team Defense member, an NFHCA All Region New Jersey First Team Defense member and a MAX Field Hockey New Jersey Top 40 Player to Watch … Named Second Team All-State, All-Group 3 New Jersey First Team, SJFHCA All South Jersey First Team  and All Olympic Conference First Team … Recipient of the Moorestown High School Joan Lewis Coaches Award and was named the 2021 Player of the Year by the Burlington County Scholastic League … Invited to play in the SJFHCA Senior All-Star game, selected to the 2020 Under Armour Select Game and was selected for the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic squad … In the classroom, named to the NFHCA High School National All-Academic Squad … Played club field hockey for Spirit of USA, helping her team to USA Field Hockey NJ/NY Regional Club Championship titles at the U14, U16, and U19 levels … Earned second place in U19 NIT Pool A and took second place at the U19 NCC Championship … Included as a U12, U14, U16, and U19 Future/NEXUS Championship Region 6 Selection … Father played football at Lafayette.
 
Why Georgetown: I chose to pursue my academic and field hockey career at Georgetown University to graduate from a world-renowned university and play field hockey with some of the most skilled players in the country. I hope to learn and develop as a player and student surrounded by intelligent individuals. In addition, I strive to be a positive, impactful addition to the GUFH Team.