Pennsbury High School Field Hockey Season Preview 2022
They say it takes between 4-5 years to build a profitable, successful business. This season the Pennsbury Field Hockey program enters its fourth year since head coach Traci Curtis took over, and they are ready to prove that mantra to be true.
Pennsbury FH is not a corporation, but rather a family and it has been profitable and successful in many ways that are not necessarily business related. Since 2019, the coaching staff has been building and growing a program with a philosophy founded on encouraging female athletes to come out on the other side the best version of themselves on and off the field, while simultaneously growing in the sport. They have yet to make it into the playoffs but consider the progress made as people and players over four years to be a huge victory. Last season they fell just below Neshaminy and CR South in their division, beating CR North twice, and CR South once, which had never been done since this staff took over. Many of the 2021 losses had closer margins reflecting a more solid battle from the Falcons, and the work done to nurture an amazing team culture permeated it all. That culture is what will continue to drive their success.
2022 is going to be exciting. The senior class consists of the players who started with Curtis and assistant coach Brittany Sheenan from the beginning. “It will be a very special and emotional time for us as we guide those returning seniors out and watch them graduate,” Curtis added. “The best part is the legacy they will be leaving behind.” Top players to watch in 2022 include senior goalie Jordan Vradenburgh (committed to Stevenson), senior forward Meg McClure (committed to Dickinson), senior midfielder Molly Murray, senior back Olivia Graebner (committed to Wofford for lax), senior back Reagan Ward, junior back Gabby Darling, and junior back Riley Henderson. The defense will be awesome to watch under Vradenburgh’s leadership. She is a key component to our success as the keeper and will work well with Graebner, Ward, Darling, and Henderson to help guide and design what is needed from each player. McClure is a dominant forward line player and a fantastic leader on the field. Her effort alone wins games, and her skills just keep getting better by the second. Murray, who has also grown since being a freshman on varsity, will control the midfield for the Falcons, and Graebner, who will be a captain again for PHS and is a solid, consistent force, will be asked to do it all as a defensive mid. We are very excited about Ward in the defensive end this year along with Henderson who can be a key utility player for us as both defender and midfielder when needed.
Additional players to watch include senior Rachel Stein and junior Rylie Borgman, whose work ethic and mindset serve as catalysts for success for all. Honestly, every underclassman is a player to watch. They all have something to add and have been working very hard this summer to improve. There is a large group of rising sophomores who will be battling for spots, and that only makes our program stronger.
It is always hard to make predictions about the season and schedule with the constant ebb and flow of programs in the SOL. The goal we have as a program is to stay true to who we are and remember our purpose and vision. We look to compete and gain respect and prove to ourselves that we are worthy of winning against anyone. With the addition of our new head JV coach Lori Riley, our staff is committed to pulling everything we can from every player across the board. Every season is new and a chance to once again create something awesome together.
We look forward to what lies ahead and wish all teams the best as we move into the 2022 field hockey season.
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