UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 20, 2018 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team has announced the signing of an outstanding group of student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLIs). Seven top individuals will be joining head coach Char Morett-Curtiss and the Nittany Lions next fall.
The newest group of Nittany Lions will include Lauren Delgado (East Earl, Pa.), Emily Farrell (Wyoming, Pa.), Carly Gannon (Havertown, Pa.), Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.), Evelyn Murray (Virginia Beach, Va.), Aubrey Mytych (Wyoming, Pa.) and Wirth Paityn (Thompsontown, Pa.).
"I am very excited about the 2019 class and their passion for Penn State Field Hockey," said Morett-Curtiss. "All of these outstanding field hockey players are excellent students, leaders in their respective schools and will represent Penn State as first class student-athletes. This class covers every position from strikers to goalkeeping so we have a bright future and they will certainly add depth and talent to the team."
Lauren Delgado – East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot High School
Lauren Delgado had an outstanding career at Garden Spot High School. A goalie, Delgado was a two-time First Team All-Star in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, earning the honor as a junior and senior. A three-year letter winner, Delgado totaled nearly 400 saves and nine shut-outs over her last two years in the cage. An outstanding student, she was also a two-time Lebanon-Lancaster League Academic All-Star and a member of the National Honor Society. The daughter of William and Sherri Delgado, Lauren is considering a biochemistry major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Delgado: "Lauren is a goalkeeper that we first noticed at our summer camp two years ago. She has tremendous agility and position awareness around the cage. She is always eager to improve her skills and tactical knowledge of the position. Lauren has outstanding presence in the goal and will certainly continue to benefit from Stuart's goalkeeping coaching."
Emily Farrell – Wyoming, Pa./Dallas High School
Emily Farrell will come to Penn State after a superb high school career at Dallas High School. Farrell was a four-year letter winner at Dallas and was team captain as a senior. During her time with the Mountaineers, Farrell helped guide the team to nearly 50 wins. She was a four-time all-conference pick. She was honorable mention all-state as a sophomore and then first team all-state as both a junior and senior. Farrell was also a two-time Max Field Hockey Top 100 selection, earning the honors as a junior and a senior. An Honor Roll student at Dallas High, she was named to numerous all-academic teams. The daughter of Jim and Megan Farrell, Emily is considering a health and human development major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Farrell: "Emily is fairly new to the sport of field hockey and has shown great game sense and a competitive nature when playing. She is a player who always looks to distribute the ball and support her teammates on the field. Emily also has strong communication skills and positively keeps those around her engaged. She has the versatility to play either a back or midfield position at the next level."
Carly Gannon – Havertown, Pa./Haverford High School
Carly Gannon will join the Nittany Lions after wrapping up an outstanding career at Haverford High School. She helped lead the Fords to nearly 70 wins in four seasons and was team Most Valuable Player twice. Gannon, a team captain twice, was a two-time first team All-Central League selection and earned All-Delaware County and All-Main Line honors as well. She played in the Philadelphia Field Hockey Senior All-Star Game. An outstanding athlete, she earned letters in field hockey, lacrosse and basketball. Gannon was a member of the National Honor Society and earned Honor Roll and all-academic team laurels as well. The daughter of Nick and Mo Gannon, Carly is considering a kinesiology major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Gannon: "Carly is a player with tremendous speed and field hockey strength. She has the ability to play a variety of positions in both the midfield and defensive end. Carly is dangerous in counterattack situations because she has a dynamic first step to start the attack and sees the field well. As a defender, she is quick and tenacious to defend."
Kelsey Love – State College, Pa./State College High School
Kelsey Love will join the Nittany Lions after a superb high school career right here in Happy Valley at State College High School. Love helped lead the Little Lady Lions to three straight District 6 Championships in four years as a letter winner. She was a three-time member of the Mid-Penn Commonwealth first team. Love was also a PennLive second team selection and earned honorable mention all-state laurels as well. A super student, Love was a member of the PIAA Al-Academic Field Hockey Team and earned State High's Principle's Award. Love is the daughter of Steve and Lisa Bervinchak-Love (both Penn Staters). Lisa is the current Associate Head Coach for the Nittany Lions and was a standout player for the Nittany Lions in the 80s. Kelsey is considering an engineering major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Love: "Kelsey really has great game sense and vision on the field. She is a playmaker who can deceptively distribute the ball with either a strong hit or aerial throw. Kelsey anticipates very well on both attack and defending situations. She has grown up watching Penn State Field Hockey and now will be able to contribute to the program herself."
Evelyn Murray – Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial High School
Evelyn Murray will come to Penn State after a stand-out performance at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Va. Murray helped guide the Patriots to three Beach District Championships, two Region Six Championships and one Virginia State Championship during her four years as a starter. Murray has already earned all-state honors twice with this year's team yet to be announced. She was the 2018 Virginia High School Preseason Player of the Year. Murray has earned multiple all-conference and all-region honors as well. Superb in the classroom, Murray was an AP Scholar with Distinction, won the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Student-Athlete Achievement Award and was on the NFHCA National All-Academic Squad. The daughter of William and Debra Murray (a Penn Stater), Evelyn is contemplating a statistics major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Murray: "Evelyn has always shown us her desire to wear the Blue and White! Over the years we have watched her grow as a defender with great strength in her skills and keen vision to distribute the ball. Evelyn is a hard worker and competitor who has really developed her understanding of defensive concepts. She will be a good communicator and team defender on the field."
Aubrey Mytych – Wyoming, Pa./Wyoming Seminary Prep
Aubrey Mytych will join the Penn State family after a stellar career at Wyoming Seminary. Mytych has helped lead Wyoming Seminary to two-straight Wyoming Valley Conference titles, two District 2 championships and the Pennsylvania State Championship game. A four-year letter winner, Mytych has earned multiple All-Wyoming Valley Conference, all-district and all-state honors. She earned Max Field Hockey Top 50 laurels, won an AAU Junior Olympics Gold Medal and competed in the Keystone State Games and National Futures Championship title games as well. Mytych was a Citizens Voice and Times Leader All-Star and led the conference in scoring, goals and assists at various times during her stand-out high school career. She was a Dean's List student as well. The daughter of Stephen and Kim Mytych, Aubrey is considering a forensic science major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Mytych: "Aubrey is a dynamic and dangerous forward in the circle. She is quick to counterattack and has strong scoring skills to either redirect a shot with a tip or take a deceptive backhand shot herself. Aubrey is a natural scorer and will certainly be a threat when in the circle. She is really a feisty and fun player to watch."
Paityn Wirth – Thompsontown, Pa./Greenwood High School
Paityn Wirth will come to Penn State after a stellar career at Greenwood High School. A member of multiple U19 and U17 national teams and touring teams, Wirth has earned High School All-America honors on multiple occasions and has excelled at the highest levels nationally. Wirth has earned multiple first team All-State honors and was the Tri-Valley League Offensive MVP three times. Paityn finished up her high school career among the top 10 all-time high school goal scorers in the nation with 180 career goals. She will leave GHS as the county record holder in goals (180), assists (66) and points (426). Wirth helped lead Greenwood to District 3 and state championships during her time with the Wildcats and also represented the U.S. National Indoor Team at the Word Cup last year in Germany. An outstanding athlete, she was also a state qualifier in track and field. Wirth is a member of the National Honors Society and the Spanish National Honors Society as well. The daughter of Greg and Linnea Wirth, Paityn is contemplating a business or marketing major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Wirth: "Paityn has been on our radar since 6th grade because of her passion for field hockey! She is extremely talented as seen by her accomplishments with the US teams. What is most impressive about Paityn is that she makes those around her better and is an effective and unselfish player. Her elimination skills and her ability to finish in the circle make her most dangerous on the field."
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
