Virginia Announces Seven Incoming Student-Athletes

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia head coach Michele Madison has announced that Noa Boterman (Laren, Netherlands), Jans Croon (San Diego, Calif.), Emily Field (Mechanicsville, Va.), Tyler Kennedy (Houston, Texas), Grace Parsons (Bear Creek, Pa.), Jackie Stinger (Malvern, Pa.) and Taryn Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) will join the field hockey team for the 2021 season.

“I am very excited to see how these athletes have developed through the Covid period – I literally have not seen them play in a live setting since February 2019,” said head coach Michele Madison. “Growth now will be exponential in real time. This group comes to us from coast-to-coast — California, Texas, St Louis, Pennsylvania and Virginia—and from Holland. I am looking forward to being surprised every day.

Noa Boterman (Laren, Netherlands)

• Has played on the Dutch U15, U16 and U18 Junior National Teams
• As a member of the U16, played at the Six Nations Tournament, helping to lead the team to a second-place finish
• Made her in 2020-21 with the First Ladies Team of Kampong, playing in the highest National league (de Hoofdklasse)

Madison on Boterman: Noa was a fit even through the “zoom screen”. If her game matches the enthusiasm breaking through the computer screen, I bet she will grab every opportunity at Virginia to be the very best she can be. She competed at the top level for her age group at the famous Kampong. We are very excited to see how her game contributes.

Jans Croon (San Diego, Calif.)

• Named 2020 MAX Field Hockey West/Mid-West Region Players to Watch
• Member of the 2020 and 2021 US RISE Junior National Team
• Lived in Haarlem, the Netherlands until age 13, playing field hockey at MHC Alliance
• Was a competitive speed skater until moving to the United States
• Played beach volleyball while living in Manhattan Beach, California, before moving to San Diego
• Attended Mira Costa High School freshman through junior year, which did not sponsor field hockey, before transferring to Torrey Pines High as a senior

Madison on Croon: Jan’s journey to UVA is unique, via Holland, California and now Charlottesville. A multi-sport athlete always brings surprise elements.

Emily Field (Mechanicsville, Va.)

• Played at Trinity Episcopal, the 2018 and 2019 Virginia State Champions with a record of 48-0 in the last 3 years
• 2019 First Team Virginia All-State, First Team League of Independent Schools (LIS), First Team Richmond-Times Dispatch and Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team
• MAX Field Hockey Top-50 player for the class of 2021
• Also competed in golf at Trinity Episcopal

Madison on Field: Emily’s skill and consistent performance caught our eye game after game. She is competitive and confident. Her success at Trinity and with the Richmond Panthers has prepared her to contribute.

Tyler Kennedy (Houston, Texas)

• Varsity goalie for both the field hockey and lacrosse teams at St. John’s School
• Two-time recipient of St. John field hockey’s Terry Warren Award for Empathy and Effort as well as being named the 2020 team MVP
• MAX Field Hockey Top-50 player for the class of 2021
• 2019 South Preparatory Conference Champions, with the team winning in overtime after she saved all of the 1 v 1s she faced

Madison on Kennedy:  Tyler showed skills and potential early on in the process. She is technically sound and knows how to keep the ball out of the goal. Shining in goal for Texas Pride, one of the nation’s top clubs, surely bolsters the talent of our successful goalie team already here.

Grace Parsons (Bear Creek, Pa.)

• Played field hockey, basketball and lacrosse at Wyoming Seminary
• Three-time PIAA State Champion (2018, 2019, 2020) and runner-up in 2017
• Four-time District 2 Champion
• PIAA 1A First Team All-State
• Scored Double OT Game-winner in the state championship against Oley Valley in 2019
• 2020 Citizens Voice All-star
• Second Team Citizens Voice All-Stars for lacrosse in 2019 after being an honorable mention in 2018

Madison on Parsons: Grace’s presence on the field exudes resilience. Her energy, work ethic and determination sets her apart from the average player. She comes from a historically outstanding program in Wyoming Seminary where top Division 1 athletes are recruited every year.

Jackie Stinger (Malvern, Pa.)

• Named to the 2021-22 USA Field Hockey Women’s National Indoor Team
• Helped lead Villa Maria Academy Field Hockey to the 2017 PIAA Class 2A State title and three PIAA District 1 Class 2A championships
• Earned three varsity letters, including one as a freshman
• Most Improved Player Award for the 2015-16 Indoor Horizon FHC season
• Has also played lacrosse, basketball and soccer

Madison on Stinger:  Jackie had her eyes set on UVA. She will add necessary depth to the goalkeeper team moving forward. She wants to put in the time and energy to be an ACC goalkeeper. The proof is in the pudding. I am excited to see what she will bring to the table.

Taryn Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.)

• Led all high school players in the state of Missouri in total points and goals all four years with a career tally of 135 goals and 361 points
• Also led the state in assists in 2017 and 2019, tallying 91 career assists
• Three-time Missouri State Champion with Villa Duchesne along with a runner-up finish in 2019
• 2018 MAX Field Hockey State Player of the Year
• 2019 NFHCA All American 2018 (3rd team) and 2019 (1st team)
• 2019 MAX field hockey All American 2019 (2nd team)
• Metro player of the year 2018, 2019, 2020
• All-Metro first-team 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Conference player of the year 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• All-Conference first team 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Louis Post Dispatch All-Decade Team (2010-2019)
• 2019 US RISE Junior National Team
• Father, Keith, played in the National Hockey League from 1992 – 2010 for the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues. He is a member of the USA Hockey Hall of Fame
• Brother Matthew plays in the NHL for the Calgary Flames from 2016 to present
• Brother Brady plays in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators from 2018 to present

Madison on Tkachuk:  We were very fortunate to secure Taryn from the Gateway club where UVA’s all-time leading goal scorer and former assistant coach Meredith Thorpe had a stellar career. Taryn is of that caliber. She is just as happy setting up a goal as scoring herself. As long as the team is scoring. Attacking is her passion. Competing is in her blood. I am excited to see what’s ahead for her in the ACC.