WASHINGTON – American University field hockey coach Steve Jennings has announced the addition of eight incoming freshmen to the 2023 roster. Skylar Duffy (Fredericksburg, Va. / Stafford), Alyssa Freeman (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West), Elizabeth Gaffney (Collegeville, Pa. / Perkiomen Valley), Emma Guydish (Mountain Top, Pa. / Crestwood), Ashley Huddleston (Virginia Beach, Va. / Norfolk Academy), Jordan Reicher (Redwood City, Calif. / Saint Francis), Elle Ridge (Clarence, N.Y. / Clarence), and Sarah Steinman (Palm, Pa. / Upper Perkiomen), will join the Eagles this fall.
 
"We are unbelievably excited to welcome eight incredible people to our program," said head coach Steve Jennings. "The talent, passion and potential of this class is outstanding, and we cannot wait to get started in August. Beyond their abilities as players, it is who they are as people that make them each an important and vibrant fit into our culture.  We can only do big things if we do them together and we know the incoming class of Alyssa, Ashley, Elle, Emma, Jordan, Liz, Sarah, and Skye will bring their own spark to a group that has worked hard and grown significantly this spring!"
 
For the latest on American University Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_FieldHockey) and Instagram (@aufieldhockey).
 

NAME	HEIGHT	POSITION	HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL)
Skylar Duffy	5-7	Midfield/Defense	Fredericksburg, Va. (Stafford)
Alyssa Freeman	5-2	Midfield	Downingtown, Pa. (Downingtown West)
Elizabeth Gaffney	5-4	Goalkeeper	Collegeville, Pa. (Perkiomen Valley)
Emma Guydish	5-4	Midfield	Mountain Top, Pa. (Crestwood)
Ashley Huddleston	5-0	Midfield/Forward	Virginia Beach, Va. (Norfolk Academy)
Jordan Reicher	5-7	Forward	Redwood City, Calif. (Saint Francis)
Elle Ridge	5-3	Forward/Midfield	Clarence, N.Y. (Clarence)
Sarah Steinman	5-1	Defense/Midfield	Palm, Pa. (Upper Perkiomen)

 
 
SKYLAR DUFFY
Fredericksburg, Va. (Stafford) | Club: Panthers United
Midfield/Defense | 5-7

• Parents are Jodie and Brad Duffy.

While at Stafford…

• A four-time letterwinner with 25 career goals.
• Second-team all-district in 2019 and First Team All-District in 2021 (spring season), 2021, and 2022 in addition to being First Team All-Region in 2021 (spring season), 2021, and 2022.
• First Team All-Area in 2022 and Second Team All-State in 2021 and 2022.

While with Panthers United…

• Played for coach Bryce Barnes.
• Was part of the U16 team at the 2021 Nexus Championship, the U16 NIT Pool Champion in 2020, and the U16 NCC fourth place finisher in 2021
• At the VHSL State Championships in 2019 made it to the quarterfinals, in spring 2021 were the runners-up, and were the semi-finalists in 2021 and 2022 

Why she Chose American: I chose AU because of the incredible location, academics, and athletics. The location is one-of-a-kind, and I knew right away that I could see myself here. There are a lot of options academically which will help me find a major that I love. The coaches are very supportive, and I know that I will be able to grow as an athlete and a person.
 

ALYSSA FREEMAN
Downingtown, Pa. (Downingtown West) | Club: WC Eagles
Midfield | 5-2

• Parents are Lisa and Jim Freeman.
• Father Jim played baseball for both Temple and Widener and participated in spring training with the Phillies.
• Sister Nikki played field Hockey at Virginia and brother JJ played baseball at Franklin & Marshall and Delaware. Sister Mia has committed to playing field hockey at Lafayette.

While at Downingtown West…

• A 4x Chemont Champion and earned Second-Team Chesmont both sophomore and junior year.
• A 2x District Champion
• Earned honorable mention for the All-State team.

While with WC Eagles…

• Played for Jun and Richard Kentwell

Why she Chose American: "I chose American because it had everything I wanted and more. The location is so beautiful, and I feel like I can become extremely involved. The field hockey program already seems like home to me, which is a huge deal. I feel like American will offer everything I need to thrive."

 
ELIZABETH GAFFNEY
Collegeville, Pa. (Perkiomen Valley) | Club: X-Calibur FHC
Goalkeeper | 5-4

• Parents are Sarah and Mark Gaffney… has one younger brother, Thomas.

While at Perkiomen Valley…

• A member of the 2021 First Team All-Conference and 2022 Second Team All-Conference with high school team
• Also honored to 2021 First Team All-State, 2021 First Team All-Area, 2022 All-Area Honorable Mention, and awarded the 2021 Varsity MVP Team Award

While with X-Calibur FHC…

• Played for Alli Lokey and Tony Montes
• An integral part of the 2019, 2021, and 2022 NIT Championship team and the 2019 Festival Championship team.
• Part of the 2021 U16 JPOL Championship team, the 2022 U19 PJIL Championship team, and the 2022 U19 JPOL Elite Runner Up team.
• On a national level, was selected to the 2021 Nexus Championship and 2021 AAU Junior Olympic Games.

Why she Chose American: "I chose AU for the incredible mix between challenging academics and highly competitive athletics. American's high priority on academics really appealed to me, and their recent investments in the sciences was a perfect match for what I wanted to study. The coaching staff made me feel welcomed the moment I stepped on campus, and the team culture is incredibly supportive and something I'd love to be a part of for the next four years!"

 
EMMA GUYDISH
Mountain Top, Pa. (Crestwood) | Club: WC Eagles
Midfield | 5-4

• Parents are Joseph and Holly Guydish.

While at Crestwood…

• A 3x District Champion in 2020, 2021, and 2022
• Named to the All-Star Team and the All-State First Team as a junior

While with WC Eagles…

• Played for coach Amanda Tredinnick
• Was on U19 NIT, Pool G first place team.

Why she Chose American: "I chose American for a couple of different reasons. First off, I when I visited, everyone that I met was so welcoming and kind; they were able to tell me all about being a student athlete at American and why it's such a great opportunity. Also, American has a great field hockey team that's very successful and I wanted to be a part of that."

 
ASHLEY HUDDLESTON
Virginia Beach, Va. (Norfolk Academy) | Club: TCOYO Field Hockey
Midfield/Forward | 5-0

• Parents are Anna and James Huddleston.
• Mother Anna ran D1 track at Northcentral College and DePaul University.

While at Norfolk Academy…

• Was a three-sport varsity athlete all four years (field hockey, indoor track & field, and soccer)
• Earned All-Conference 2nd team and All-Conference tournament MVP across all teams (field hockey, soccer, and indoor track)
• Was voted by team and coaches to be the MVP of the Norfolk Academy Field Hockey Program

While with TCOYO Field Hockey…

• Played for coach Mary Werkheiser
• Was captain of the top-7 team in the nation and was the assist leader on the team.

Why she Chose American: "I chose American University because its high performance and standard for both athletic and academic performance is what I strive to accomplish in my four years of college. I want to be pushed to my limits in order to succeed as a student-athlete, and I know my coaches, peers, professors, and advisors will help me complete this goal."
 

JORDAN REICHER
Redwood City, Calif. (Saint Francis) | Club: NorCal Impact
Forward | 5-7

• Parents are Jeff and Joni Reicher.
• Cousin Matt Fondy played soccer at USCS and played professional soccer between 2011-2020 for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, LA Blues, Chivas USA, Chicago Fire, Louisville FC, Jacksonville Armada, North Carolina Railhawks, North Carolina FC, and the Oakland Roots. 

While at Saint Francis…

• Second team all-league freshman year
• First team all-league junior year
• Pole vaulted and was the WCAL pole vault champion as a junior 

While with NorCal Impact…

• Played for coaches Nicole Ng and Lifon Huynh.
• Attended the 2021 Nexus Nationals with the U16 team and the 2022 Nationals with the U19 team.
• Was MVP of the Eagles Classis Tournament as a freshman. 

Why she Chose American: "Everything about American's field hockey program is so amazing and I'm so excited to be a part of it. D.C. is such an amazing place to be, and American's majors are very interesting."
 

ELLE RIDGE
Clarence, N.Y. (Clarence) | Club: WNY Whalers Field Hockey
Forward / Midfield | 5-3

• Parents are Eric and Joy Ridge. 

While at Clarence…

• Played midfield for the Clarence Red Devils under Marissa (Faso) Flyn.
• Led Western New York (WNY) two years in a row (2021, 2022) in both goals and assists.
• Earned First Team All-States twice, First Team ECIC three times, and was honored to the First Team All-WNY two times.
• Helped lead the team to the state semi-finals for field hockey two years in a row.
• Also played varsity lacrosse and earned first team all WNY for lacrosse in 2022.

Why she Chose American: "When I first visited, I loved the campus and the coaching staff. Everyone was so welcoming, and it felt like home."
 

SARAH STEINMAN
Palm, Pa. (Upper Perkiomen) | Club: X-Calibur FHC
Defense / Midfield | 5-1

• Mom is Beth Steinman.
• Her sister Rachel played field hockey at Temple (2011-15); cousin Casey Umstead played field hockey for UConn and the USA Women's National Team; cousin Brett Umstead played baseball and football at Ursinus College; uncle Bruce Blank played baseball at Lafayette; and uncle Ray Steinman played baseball at DeSales.

While at Upper Perkiomen…

• Played for coach Jamie Warren
• Was a member of the All-Conference team junior and senior year and All-Area honorable mention.
• A member of the 3x PAC 10 Championship winning team (2019, 2020, 2021)
• A member of the 2019 District 1-2A Runner-Up, 2020 District 1-2A Semifinals, and the 2019 District 1-2A 5th place PIAA State Quarterfinals team. 

While with X-Calibur FHC…

• Played for coach Allie Lokey, Tiffany Cappellano, and Brian Hope

Why she Chose American: "I chose American because of its amazing atmosphere. The coaches and players really made AU feel like a second home. The location is exactly what I was looking for in a college and the academic opportunities are endless."