Drexel University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Carroccio
Field Hockey Announces Six Signees for the 2012 Season
2/21/2012 9:45:00 AM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia - Drexel Field Hockey Head Coach Denise Zelenak announced the early signing of six student-athletes for the 2012 season. Kristina Derkits, Danielle Grassi, Lauren Hibshman, Mary Lynam, Allie Pickens and Ainslie Rhoads have enrolled in Drexel University and will join the Dragons on the turf this fall at Buckley Field.
Kristina Derkits, a four-year varsity starter and two-time senior captain, led William Allen High School's field hockey team to four Districts appearances. She also holds the school record in assists. In 2010, she won a gold medal at the Disney Showcase and earned a silver medal the following year. Derkits placed second at the 2011 National Club Championship. The Allentown, Pa. native was selected to the L.V.I.A.C. All-Star team as a junior and senior. She also played on the freshmen soccer team and ran track in 2010 and 2011.
Danielle Grassi, a four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain, helped McDonogh High School capture consecutive IAAM Conference B Championships in 2008 and 2009 as well as a runner-up performance at the IAAM Conference A Championship in 2011. She was a three-time IAAM Conference All-Star selection and was recognized as the “Player to Watch” by the Baltimore Sun sophomore, junior, and senior year. The Brookeville, Md. native is currently a member of the Washington Wolves Hockey Club and participated in USA Field Hockey's Futures Elite. Grassi placed second at the 2011 U-19 National Futures Championship and won the 2011 Disney Showcase in the Minnie Division. She is also a member of the varsity track team for four years and played lacrosse in 2010.
Allentown, Pa. product, Lauren Hibshman, was named 2010 and 2011 PFHCA First Team All-State, and a three-time Morning Call All-Area team selection. The four year letter winner received LVIAC All-Conference team honors as a junior and senior. Hibshman was also a member of the 2011 New Jersey Junior High Performance Team that captured gold at the National Championships. She was recently selected to the U-19 Junior National Travel Squad. Hibshman will join Drexel's Meghan Plank in the Canada Tour this coming April with the Junior National Travel Squad. She was also on Parkland High School's track and field team for one year. The senior team captain was named to the 2011 PFHCA All-State Academic team and earned 2011 Gladiator High School Academic All-American honors for her achievements in the classroom.
Mary Lynam helped Donegal's field hockey team secure four Lancaster Lebanon League Section 3 Championships and the 2009 PIAA District III Championship. One year later, her team was the 2010 PIAA District III Finalist. The four-year starter was named First Team All-Star and selected to the All-League team in 2010 and 2011 for the Lancaster Lebanon League. The senior captain received First Team Pennsylvania All-State honors in 2011 and selected to Second Team in 2010. Lynam earned Second Team Lancaster Lebanon League honors in 2009. She was a member of the OD Clan, XCalibur and Simple Field Hockey club teams. On a national level, she was a U-14, U-16 and U-19 National Futures participant. The Mount Joy, Pa. native also played soccer, basketball, and ran track.
Allie Pickens, four-year starter and two-year team captain, holds Glengelg Country School's record in assists for field hockey. She was named to IAAM B Conference All-Star Team in 2009, 2010, 2011. The Glenelg, Md. product helped her team win the IAAM B Conference Tournament Championship in 2010 and finished second in 2009. Pickens received Maryland State Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State Second team honors and was named Glenelg Country School's 2010 Female Scholar Athlete. Pickens is a member of the Washington Wolves Hockey Club. She also played lacrosse, ice hockey, ran track and competed in equestrian events.
Ainslie Rhoads of Chester Springs, Pa. is a goalkeeper for the WC Eagles Field Hockey Club. She is a four-time National Indoor Tournament Pool Champion, three-time Festival Pool Champion and won a silver medal at the 2011 National Club Championship Tournament. Rhoads was selected to the 2011 Junior National Indoor team. In 2009, she won the Disney Showcase Championship. She also was Downingtown East's four-year ice hockey standout. Rhoads received the Union League of Philadelphia's 2011 Good Citizenship Award.
In the 2011 season, Drexel faced three of the four teams that participated in the final four, including national champion Maryland, Old Dominion, and Connecticut. The squad finished 10-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play. These six newcomers will join the Dragons in August when the 2012 season kicks off.
Kristina Derkits, a four-year varsity starter and two-time senior captain, led William Allen High School's field hockey team to four Districts appearances. She also holds the school record in assists. In 2010, she won a gold medal at the Disney Showcase and earned a silver medal the following year. Derkits placed second at the 2011 National Club Championship. The Allentown, Pa. native was selected to the L.V.I.A.C. All-Star team as a junior and senior. She also played on the freshmen soccer team and ran track in 2010 and 2011.
Danielle Grassi, a four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain, helped McDonogh High School capture consecutive IAAM Conference B Championships in 2008 and 2009 as well as a runner-up performance at the IAAM Conference A Championship in 2011. She was a three-time IAAM Conference All-Star selection and was recognized as the “Player to Watch” by the Baltimore Sun sophomore, junior, and senior year. The Brookeville, Md. native is currently a member of the Washington Wolves Hockey Club and participated in USA Field Hockey's Futures Elite. Grassi placed second at the 2011 U-19 National Futures Championship and won the 2011 Disney Showcase in the Minnie Division. She is also a member of the varsity track team for four years and played lacrosse in 2010.
Allentown, Pa. product, Lauren Hibshman, was named 2010 and 2011 PFHCA First Team All-State, and a three-time Morning Call All-Area team selection. The four year letter winner received LVIAC All-Conference team honors as a junior and senior. Hibshman was also a member of the 2011 New Jersey Junior High Performance Team that captured gold at the National Championships. She was recently selected to the U-19 Junior National Travel Squad. Hibshman will join Drexel's Meghan Plank in the Canada Tour this coming April with the Junior National Travel Squad. She was also on Parkland High School's track and field team for one year. The senior team captain was named to the 2011 PFHCA All-State Academic team and earned 2011 Gladiator High School Academic All-American honors for her achievements in the classroom.
Mary Lynam helped Donegal's field hockey team secure four Lancaster Lebanon League Section 3 Championships and the 2009 PIAA District III Championship. One year later, her team was the 2010 PIAA District III Finalist. The four-year starter was named First Team All-Star and selected to the All-League team in 2010 and 2011 for the Lancaster Lebanon League. The senior captain received First Team Pennsylvania All-State honors in 2011 and selected to Second Team in 2010. Lynam earned Second Team Lancaster Lebanon League honors in 2009. She was a member of the OD Clan, XCalibur and Simple Field Hockey club teams. On a national level, she was a U-14, U-16 and U-19 National Futures participant. The Mount Joy, Pa. native also played soccer, basketball, and ran track.
Allie Pickens, four-year starter and two-year team captain, holds Glengelg Country School's record in assists for field hockey. She was named to IAAM B Conference All-Star Team in 2009, 2010, 2011. The Glenelg, Md. product helped her team win the IAAM B Conference Tournament Championship in 2010 and finished second in 2009. Pickens received Maryland State Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State Second team honors and was named Glenelg Country School's 2010 Female Scholar Athlete. Pickens is a member of the Washington Wolves Hockey Club. She also played lacrosse, ice hockey, ran track and competed in equestrian events.
Ainslie Rhoads of Chester Springs, Pa. is a goalkeeper for the WC Eagles Field Hockey Club. She is a four-time National Indoor Tournament Pool Champion, three-time Festival Pool Champion and won a silver medal at the 2011 National Club Championship Tournament. Rhoads was selected to the 2011 Junior National Indoor team. In 2009, she won the Disney Showcase Championship. She also was Downingtown East's four-year ice hockey standout. Rhoads received the Union League of Philadelphia's 2011 Good Citizenship Award.
In the 2011 season, Drexel faced three of the four teams that participated in the final four, including national champion Maryland, Old Dominion, and Connecticut. The squad finished 10-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play. These six newcomers will join the Dragons in August when the 2012 season kicks off.
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