2020 Field Hockey Roster

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia field hockey head coach Michele Madison announced Emily Graeff (Phoenixville, Pa.), Anneloes Knol (Utrecht, Netherlands), Esha Shah (Ellicott City, Md.), Alexandra Morgan (Winnetka, Ill.), Lilly Hengerer (Bedminster, N.J.), Meghen Hengerer (Bedminster, N.J.), Gery Schnarrs (Camp Hill, Pa.) and Mary VanLoh (Houston, Tex.) will join the Cavaliers for the 2020 season.

“Overall, I am very excited about this talented incoming class,” Madison said. “They possess, at different levels, the things we value at UVA: a strong skill set, potential top-speed play and connectivity with teammates. I really think we have eight glue players, players who compete and play to make the team better. They seem to be extremely coachable. We will see how they cope when they are challenged to play out of their comfort zone, which is where all the mistakes and growth happens.  I am looking forward to getting them in a UVA uniform!”

Emily Graeff (Phoenixville, Pa.)

  • Member of the US Women’s Indoor Junior National Team since 2017
  • MAX Field Hockey Top 50 Class of 2020
  • Three-time First Team All-Interac
  • 2018-2019 Second Team All-Delco
  • 2018-2019 Second Team All-Main Line
  • Helped lead Academy Of Notre Dame de Namur to back-to-back PAISSA and Interac Championships in 2016 and 2017
  • 2017 College Connection Defender of the week
  • Traveled with the WC Eagles on a trip to China in 2017

Madison quote: Emily is a defender from WC Eagles club team where she played with Makayla Gallen, Annie McDonough. Adele Iacobucci and Lizzy Shim. What I like about Emily’s game is her strong skill set and her poised competitive demeanor. She will have to strengthen all distribution skills including an aerial pass but could challenge for minutes in a talented but lean back field. She will most likely be groomed for a future side back position.”

Anneloes Knol (Utrecht, Netherlands)

  • Won the Junior Dutch National Champion Indoor U16 title and the Final Four Dutch U16 National Championships U16 in 2017-18 while playing for the Kampong club teams,
  • Youngest girl selected for DOD 2013, a national tournament for regional teams
  • Played four consecutive years on a regional team with the 15 best players from the region.
  • 2011 Dutch National Champion for Hockey Technique while being named the first runner-up in 2015 and second runner-up at the Dutch championship shoot out in 2017
  • Also ran track, qualifying for the Dutch U18 championship in both the 800 and 1500 meters outdoor track in 2019
  • School speed skating champion of the city of Zwolle in 2013

Madison quote: Anneloes will help predominantly in a strong returning midfield.  Immediately, she will add vertical play at speed. Once she learns our system and how her teammates play, she will add value and quality with the pace she brings to the field.”

Esha Shah (Ellicott City, Md.)

  • 2019 Maryland Offensive Player of the Year
  • 2019 Howard County Field Hockey Player of the Year
  • MAX Field Hockey Mid Atlantic All-Region first team
  • Two-time first team All-State and All-Howard County
  • 2019 First Team Baltimore Sun All-Met after being named to the second team as a junior
  • 2019 Washington Post All-Met second team
  • Finished her four-year prep career at Mt. Hebron with 46 goals and 14 assists
  • Scored 17 goals with seven assists during her senior season, helping to lead the Vikings winning the county championship
  • 2019-20 U.S. Women’s National Indoor Development Team
  • 2018-19 U.S. Junior Women’s National Indoor Team
  • Was also a sprinter on the indoor track & field team at Mt. Hebron High

Madison quote: “Esha is one of the most efficient high school field hockey players I have seen. She has great field sense and skills to take her game to any level. Area of growth will be using her top speed and applying relentless defensive pressure to maximize her talents. Her versatility is an added bonus as she can play multiple positions. Repeatability cardio will have to improve over the summer.”

Alexandra Morgan (Winnetka, Ill.)

  • Named to the 2020 U.S.A. Field Hockey Rise Women’s National Team (formerly known as the US U-19 Junior National Team)
  • Was also a member of the 2018 U-17 USA Women’s National Field Hockey
  • 2018 Illinois Field Hockey Player of the Year
  • Four-time Illinois Independent School League Player of the Year
  • National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American her junior and senior seasons as well as being a three-time All-Region honoree
  • Three-time first team all-state after being named to the second team as a freshman
  • Scored 101 goals in her high school career
  • Four-time first team All-Independent School League First Team
  • Led North Shore Country Day team to 4 state final four appearances, and first state championship game in school history
  • Goes by the nickname “Xas”

Madison quote: Xas’ skill set separates her from the rest. She will add quality to a strong midfield as she possesses the ball well and delivers great passes. Xas will have to add more vertical play and use her skill and speed to eliminate. Excited to see how her game will grow at this level once she adds her top speed and gains the strength to propel her skill sets.”

Lilly Hengerer (Bedminster, N.J.)

  • Scored 53 goals with 40 assists in three years at Bernards High School
  • Two-time North Jersey Group 2 First Team after being named to the second team her sophomore year
  • Three-time All Somerset County First Team, All-Division First Team, and Skyland Conference First Team
  • Earned the Scholar-Athlete distinction three times
  • Played on the Irish U16 National Field Hockey team, earning her first national team cap against USA
  • As a member of the Irish U16 team, played a three-game series against Scotland in Scotland as well as traveling to Spain to compete in the Six Nations Tournament
  • Member of the Irish U15 girls soccer team from 2014-16, scoring the winning goal in a match against Northern Ireland
  • Twin sister, Meghen, is also joining the team

Madison quote: Lilly can create opportunities for herself inside the attacking 25. She has the skills and strength to win the 1-on-1 battle. I can’t wait to see her game will explode in UVA’s attacking style. She will need to improve her explosive first three steps to create separation and learn how to apply high intensity pressure on the press.”

Meghen Hengerer (Bedminster, N.J.)

  • 2020 U.S. Women’s National Indoor Development Team
  • Scored 37 goals with 30 assists in three years at Bernards High School
  • Two-time North Jersey Group 2 First Team after being named to the second team her sophomore year
  • Three-time All Somerset County first team, first team All-Division and first team All-Skyland Conference
  • Earned the Scholar-Athlete distinction three times
  • Played on the Irish U16 National Field Hockey team, earning her first national team cap against USA
  • As a member of the Irish U16 team, played a three-game series against Scotland in Scotland as well as traveling to Spain to compete in the Six Nations Tournament
  • Member of the Irish U15 girls soccer team from 2014-16, scoring a goal in a match against England’s U15 squad
  • Twin sister, Lilly, is also joining the team

Madison quote: Meghen, who is a midfielder/back, brings much needed depth to our back four. She was a decent tackler at the high school level. She can body up and will need to use her body more to win the positioning battles. We value strong distribution skills from out-backs and Meghen will keep improving those over time.”

Gery Schnarrs (Camp Hill, Pa.)

  • 2019 Rise Junior National Camp Selection
  • 2019-20 USA Women’s National Indoor Development Team
  • Set the career points record at East Pennsboro Area Senior High with 198
  • 2019 PA High School Field Hockey Coaches Association All-State First Team while also being named to the Mid Penn All-State first team
  • 2019 PHSFHCA Scholar Athlete
  • 2019 All-Sentinel Player of the Year
  • Two-time Max Hockey All-Region first team after earning second team honors as a sophomore
  • Max Field Hockey Top 50 Players of Class of 2020
  • Three-time All-Sentinel first team
  • Three-time Mid Penn All-Star First Team after earning second team honors as a freshman
  • 2018 Mid Penn Capital Division MVP

Madison quote: Gery is an all-around versatile field hockey player. She can play at both ends of the field so we will have to see how her game develops to put her where her strengths can be used the most. She scored lots of goals in high school but has played defense and midfield in club and indoor.”

Mary VanLoh (Houston, Tex.)

  • Three-time All South-Zone honoree
  • Helped St. John’s win the Southwest Preparatory Championship in both 2018 and 2019
  • Three-time NFHCA High School National Academic Squad (2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Max Field Hockey Top Performer
  • Member of the Texas Pride Field Hockey Club

Madison quote: Mary’s game grows every time I see her play. She does the work to get in position ahead of the ball and has the skills to finish around the goal mouth. It always takes time for the incomings to adjust their game to the overall speed and Mary will need that time. The good thing is, I know she can do it.  She is coachable, so the sky is the limit. Fitness and physicality will have to improve over the summer.”