UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team has announced the signing of an excellent group of student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLIs). Six new players will be joining head coach Char Morett-Curtiss and the Nittany Lions next fall.
The newest group of Nittany Lions will include Sofia Acosta (Malvern, Pa.); Emily Bullard (Doylestown, Pa.); Anouk Knuvers ('s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands); Phia Mannino (Doylestown, Pa.); Aubrey Semler (Orefield, Pa.); and Maddie Tambroni (State College, Pa.).
Sofia Acosta – Malvern, Pa./The Episcopal Academy
Sofia Acosta comes to Penn State from Malvern, Pa. A soon-to-be graduate of The Episcopal Academy, Acosta earned multiple All-Delco and All-InterAc honorable mention nods and was a member of the High School National Academic Team. She earned letters each season of her varsity career and was tabbed team captain by her teammates. Acosta played in the 2018 and 2019 Stars and Stripes Games, the AAU Junior Olympics and the U14, U16 and U19 National Futures Championships. She is the daughter of Holly Acosta and is considering a biology major at Penn State.
Morett-Curtiss on Acosta: "Sophia is simply a very fundamentally sound defender. She plays the position with strong defensive skills and tactical knowledge. What you notice most about Sophia when around the play is that she will make a tackle and immediately look to release the ball for a quick transition play. She is confident in her position in the backfield and communicates positively to those around her. Sophia has the versatility to play various defensive positions in college and has benefitted from being coached by two former US players in Gina Buggy and Stefanie Fee at Episcopal Academy."
Emily Bullard – Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East High School
Emily Bullard is a Doylestown, Pa., native and will graduate from Central Bucks East High School. Bullard has been a member of four-straight league championship teams. She is a four-time all-conference selection and an all-state pick as well. Bullard leaves CB East with nearly 1,400 career saves and 42 career shutouts as one of Pennsylvania's top goalies. A four-time letter winner and a team captain once, Bullard is also a high honors student. Bullard played on the U17 Junior National Team in 2019 and was a member off the O16 Rise Junior National Team in 2020. She is the daughter of Amy and Andy Bullard and is considering a forensic science and biology major. Bullard has five relatives (aunts, uncles and cousins) who are Penn Staters as well. Her father played men's soccer at Delaware and younger sister Katie plays for the Girls Academy at the Ukrainian Soccer Club.
Morett-Curtiss on Bullard: "Emily is a very smart and aggressive goalkeeper with a patient presence in the cage. Often her decision making and anticipation can make a difficult save look easy. Emily has really developed into a notable keeper at the high school and club ranks. She has attended a number of our camps and clinics and thus has been able to learn from Stuart Smith. Stuart has been extremely impressed with her coachability and becoming a student of the game! We are looking forward to Emily adding depth and a competitive spirit to our goalkeeping position."
Anouk Knuvers – 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands/Stedelijk Gymnasium Den Bosch
Anouk Knuvers comes to Happy Valley from 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. She will graduate from Stedelijk Gymnasium Den Bosch. An outstanding team leader, Anouk has been voted team captain twice by her teammates. She has played in the Dutch National Youth League as well. Knuvers has one younger brother, Benjamin. She is the daughter of Chantal and Johan Knuvers and is considering a business major at Penn State. Knuvers is looking at sports marketing or law as potential career paths.
Morett-Curtiss on Knuvers: "Anouk is a solid center back player with strong skills both defensively and offensively. She has the ability to quickly move the ball up the field to enhance our transition game. Playing consistently in the midfield back position she has learned to positively communicate in transition to defense as well and can help to organize a unified defense. Her commitment to playing field hockey in the US matches her desire to earn a business degree from Smeal. We're thrilled that she has selected Penn State to achieve both her athletic and academic goals. While COVID prohibited she and her family from an actual visit they all felt a strong connection with the Penn State team and staff over zoom."
Phia Mannino – Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East High School
Phia Mannino comes to Penn State from Doylestown, Pa. She will graduate from Central Bucks East High School this coming spring. Mannino earned second team all-league honors as a freshman and has gone on to earn first team all-league, first team all-region and first team all-state laurels since. A superb offensive threat, Mannino has led her team in scoring multiple times and was four-time letter winner and a team captain this past season. She is the daughter of Meghann and Dino Mannino and has two siblings, brother Dominick (brother) and Isobel (sister). Both siblings are current Penn Staters. Her mother played field hockey for the Nittany Lions and her father played baseball and soccer at Delaware Valley. Mannino is considering education or environmental science as career paths.
Morett-Curtiss on Mannino: "Phia is a player who instinctively thinks….go to goal! Her Mother, Meghan, had the same attributes as a former Nittany Lion Field Hockey player. Phia has deceptive skills and can quickly change speeds to eliminate a defender. She has a myriad of shooting skills and is quick to get a shot off, jump on a rebound or redirect a shot. Her speed on the field in very noticeable and will certainly help in our attacking and pressing efforts. Phia will join her sister, Isabella, brother Dominic and mother Meghan as part of the Penn State Family."
Aubrey Semler – Bethlehem, Pa./Parkland High School
Aubrey Semler is a native of Bethlehem, Pa., and will graduate from Parkland High School. She has been a national Top 50 Class of 2021 player in each of her high school seasons. Semler has been a multiple all-conference player and has earned second team and honorable mention all-state laurels. She has been a member of numerous championship club teams. Semler's club teams have won multiple U16 and U19 titles and she has played for USA Field Hockey's U16 and U19 squads as well. Semler was a part of multiple USA Field Hockey regional and tournament title squads and a member of the U19 AAU Junior Olympics team. Semler is the daughter of Sharon and Anthony Semler and she has one older sister, Avery. Her father played football at Lehigh where he was a quarterback for the Mountain Hawks. Sister Avery played field hockey at Kutztown and Big Ten foe Iowa. Aubrey is considering a business major.
Morett-Curtiss on Semler: "Aubrey is a creative attacker who plays very unselfishly. She has versatile skills in the attacking circle and shows tremendous poise around the cage. Aubrey is a player who thinks two steps ahead of the play and can therefore put herself in a good support position or lead up the field. She instinctively transitions quickly from either offense to defense or vice versa showing her competitive nature. Aubrey is always threat on the field when she has the ball and a positive voice to her teammates."
Maddie Tambroni – State College, Pa./State College High School
Local State College product Maddie Tambroni will join the Nittany Lions after she graduates from State College High School this spring. Tambroni has been a four-year starter for State College and has earned first-team All-Mid-Penn laurels. She was an honorable mention all-state pick last year while she awaits this year's award announcements. Tambroni has earned four letters at State High and has been voted team captain twice by her teammates. She has earned four letters in both field hockey and lacrosse. Tambroni is the daughter of Chelle and Jeff Tambroni and has two sisters, Carissa and Ella. Her mother Chelle, played field hockey at Penn State. Her father, Jeff, is the head coach of Penn State's men's lacrosse team and played college lacrosse at Hobart.
Morett-Curtiss on Tambroni: "I first noticed Maddie when she was in 2nd grade! She stood out then amongst her peers at our Youth Field Hockey Program. Right away I noticed her attention to details, her keen focus on absorbing coaching and her willingness to learn and grow. Since that time, she has really developed into a well- rounded field hockey player capable of playing a number of positions. Maddie has shown the ability to be an effective midfield player with great field vision and possession passing. Having coached her Mother, Chelle, at Penn State I am excited that Maddie will bring the same enthusiasm and love of the game to Penn State."
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.
