On Thursday, April 6, 2017, Souderton seniors Ali Casciato, Nina Disco and Rachel Kagarise were recognized for committing to continue their field hockey careers at the collegiate level. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Ali Casciato – West Chester University (Field Hockey)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Ursinus, Shippensburg
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “West Chester University has always been a top college choice for me. After attending tours and clinics, I fell in love with the campus and the team. WCU provides many opportunities for me to excel academically and athletically.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “As a young kid, I always dreamt of playing field hockey at the collegiate level. My recruiting process started in ninth grade when I began attending college showcases and clinics and after I earned a starting position on varsity as a freshman. In June 2015, end of my sophomore year, I attended the College Connection Showcase Camp at West Chester University. College Connection is fully focused on helping competitive high school prospective student-athletes achieve their dreams to play a the college level.
“I had e-mailed many colleges to tell them that I would be there and I hoped they would come look at my film or watch me play. One day at the snack stand, both the West Chester head coach and assistant coach recognized me, complimented my play and started talking more about West Chester and their upcoming events. In October 2015, after attending many hockey events and talking more with the coaches, I decided that West Chester University would be my home for the next four years starting in the Fall of 2017.”
Coach Nicole Bauer says: “Ali was hurt for a couple of weeks during the season, but she was our (beast) in the backfield. She took no prisoners, she wasn’t afraid to run through brick walls for the team. She was part of our corner team, and she had a very powerful drive. She also was not afraid to lead people vocally on the field, determining where they should be. She was our most vocal leader.”
About Ali:
Favorite food: Potatoes
Favorite movie: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Favorite music: R&B/Soul, Hip Hop/Rap, Alternative, Pop, Country
Nina Disco – West Chester University (Field Hockey)
Major: Speech Pathology
Final list of colleges: West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Misericordia
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “I chose West Chester University because the first time I visited and played on campus, it felt right. West Chester offers a great program for both field hockey and my future career, which is very important. It also isn’t very far away which means my family can come and watch my games, which is very important to me.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “In middle school, I decided I would want to play field hockey at the collegiate level. It has always been a big part of my life, and I couldn’t imagine not stepping on the field anymore to play competitively. My recruiting process started in ninth grade when I started going to clinics, showcases, and National Field Hockey Festivals in Florida and California. This is when I started reaching out to coaches and getting more serious with who I was staying in contact with. Junior Day at West Chester is when I decided that I wanted to become a Golden Ram for the next four years after touring the campus and practicing with the coach.”
Coach Nicole Bauer says: “Nina was definitely the top leader on our team. She was very big on having the team be a family and working together and doing things together and just the culture of the team. She was a big burst of energy on the front line for us. Her stick skills are really good, and she was able to create corners. That was one of the things we worked on this year - trying to create as many corners inside the circle as we could so that we were up in different situations. By the end of the year, she really got that down.”
About Nina:
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: Life As We Know It
Favorite music: Bruno Mars & Ed Sheeran
Rachel Kagarise – Lebanon Valley College (Field Hockey)
Major: Physical Therapy
Final list of colleges: Lebanon Valley, Scranton
Reasons for choosing Lebanon Valley: “I wanted a college that would be relatively small so that I would have a low student-to-faculty ratio and also the chance to get to know more people on the campus. Lebanon Valley also had a great six-year physical therapy program and was the perfect distance from home. I really liked the coach and the team and hope to be able to play a lot and make an impact on the field.”
What was the progression that led you to playing field hockey at the collegiate level? “I started thinking about playing field hockey in college my freshman year and officially started going to recruitment tournaments my sophomore year. I really wanted to play in college because I always had a positive experience with my teammates, and I also wanted to continue to be active in a competitive way in college.
“My club field hockey coaches really encouraged me to keep practicing and going to tournaments so that I could get recruited. My parents were also very supportive of me with helping to send out emails to college coaches and taking me to tournaments over Thanksgiving break and in the summer.”
Coach Nicole Bauer says: “Rachel Kagarise was a solid leader in the back. When Ali Casciato was hurt during some of the season, Rachel developed into a vocal leader. She had a good drive out, and she gained a lot more confidence throughout the season to guide people in the back. She is a very talented hockey player, and she’s also extremely smart as well.”
About Rachel:
Favorite food: Fettuccine Alfredo
Favorite movie: The Dark Knight
Favorite music: Alternative
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