Jan. 17, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State field hockey has received National Letters of Intent from five signees, head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss announced. The class, which will begin participation in the 2018-19 academic year, will be joining a field hockey team that went 17-5 last season en route to the programs 32nd-NCAA Postseason appearance - second best in the NCAA.
"I am extremely excited about the class of 2018," said head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss. They are a group of talented and hardworking athletes who truly embrace the values of Penn State and the field hockey program. Positionally, they are a balance of strikers, middies, backs and a goalie. Already they have formed an identity as teammates with each other!"
Morett-Curtiss on Brianna O'Donnell: "Bri is a very quick and fast forward. She is extremely dangerous in the circle as seen by her ability to score lots of goals in a variety of ways. Her speed to pressure the ball will be useful in our pressing situations."
Highlights: A four-year letter winner at North Penn High School, O'Donnell is a three-time MVP, three-time First-Team All-State honoree, One-time First-Team All-League honoree and was selected to the Senior All-Star Game. O'Donnell also was a 2015 JPIL U-16 Champion as well as a bronze medalist at the Disney Showcase the same year.
Morett-Curtiss on Meghan Reese: "Meghan is a prolific goal scorer as evidence by her celebrating the 100 goal mark this past season. Meghan is very strong in her movements to the circle and has a very quick release on her shot. She is the type of forward who will dive for balls to put it in the cage or to keep the play alive. Her father Mark is a passionate Penn State alum!"
Highlights: First-Team All-League honors as a sophomore and junior as well as earning Second-Team, and First-Team All-State honors as a sophomore and junior, respectively. Reese has scored 116 goals and recorded over 53 assists while starting 87 games. Other team accolades include: ESPN Disney Gold 2014; Festival Champions 2014; Shooting Stars Showcase 2015; National Indoor Tournament Pool Winner 2015, National Indoor Tournament 2017; Disney Showcase 2015 National Futures Championship Finalist Runner-Up 2016, 2017; Junior National Camp 2016, 2017; Stars & Stripes Game 2016, 2017; STX Select Event 2016
Morett-Curtiss on Madison Reese: Madison is a true defender in every sense. She is aggressive to deny a forward the ball, and very persistent to make a tackle or to prevent a scoring opportunity. She has strong passing skills and often likes to join in the attacking game from the backfield. Her father Mark is a passionate Penn State alum!
Highlights: Four-year letter winner scoring 24 goals, 36 assists while starting 65 games. All-Colonial League First-Team, All-Area First-Team, All-State First-Team, Co-MVPs. Spooky Nook Sports National Club Champions (2017). Other team accolades include: ESPN Disney Gold (2014); National Club Champions (2014); District XI Champions (2014); Festival Champions (2014); National Indoor Tournament Champions (2015); ESPN Disney Silver (2015); National Indoor Tournament Champions (2016); District Xi Champions (2016); National Club Champions (2017)
Morett-Curtiss on Eleni Prodes: "Eleni shows a lot of versatility on the field from position to position. She does a nice job of playing in the center of the field due to her ability to create plays through passing or dribbling. Eleni also is a vocal communicator on the field and can be very effective if playing in the backfield."
Highlights: Prodes is a four-year letter winner at Liberty High School where she scored 18 goals adding 20 assists starting 18 games. Was named 2nd Team All EPC as a junior and captured the NIT pool championship in 2017 as a member of the WC Eagles.
Morett-Curtiss on Gabrielle Barraco: "Bri has really improved her goalkeeping skills and confidence. Just recently she named to the US U19 team…a great accomplishment and honor. She is an aggressive keeper who also has quick reactions around the goal. Her ability to communicate and organize the defense in front of her is very key in preventing quality shots."
Highlights: Earned First-Team All-EPC and EPC MVP as a senior, First-Team All-Area Morning Call, Morning Call Field Hockey Player of the Year, First-Team All-State 3A, Second-Team All-Region NFHCA, and a U19 Women's National Team selection. Other team accolades include: U.S. U16 Junior Indoor National Team Member 2014, NFC's 2014-2017, Participated in Futures Program 2013-2017, Junior Olympics Gold 2015, Junior Olympics Silver 2016, NFC U16 Silver 2016, NFC U19 Silver 2017, Stars and Stripes Select Game 2016-2017, U19 Junior National Camp 2017, STX Select Tournament 2017 as well as NCC Bronze 2013, JPOL U14 Gold 2014, NIT U14 Gold 2014, Disney U16 Copper 2014 (Marojoka), Festival U14 Gold 2014, Disney U16 Silver 2015, Keystone Games Silver 2015, JPIL U19 Gold 2015, JPOL U16 Silver 2015, JPIL U16 Gold 2016, Keystone Games Gold 2016, NIT U16 Gold 2016, JPOL U19 Silver 2017, NIT U19 Gold 2017, Keystone Games Gold 2017 as a member of Xcalibur Field Hockey club team.