Field Hockey Welcomes Seven Incoming Student-Athletes
12/16/2024 12:12:00 PM | Field Hockey
Pios bring in six from domestic high school ranks, add Welsh goalkeeper
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (December 16, 2024) – Head coach Sydney Van Der Merwe has announced seven additions to the Sacred Heart University field hockey team, as part of the program's 2025 recruiting class.
The incoming septet is balanced positionally, with two forwards, two midfielders and two backs among the six field players. In addition, Van Der Merwe has added a goalkeeper from Wales with junior national team experience. The six domestic signees all hail from the high school ranks and are concentrated in the northeast, ranging from New Hampshire to Maryland.
Ruby Butler
High School: Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Hometown: Cardiff, Wales
Position: Goalkeeper
Comes to SHU with junior national team experience, as she was previously selected to the Wales U18 national squad in 2024 and the U16 national team in 2022. Helped backstop Ysgol Glantaf to the 2024 Welsh schools U18 national title after capturing county championships at the U14, U16 and U18 levels throughout her career. Played at the club level for Whitchurch Hockey Club, Howardian Hockey Club, and Cardiff & Met. Claimed Welsh Club Cup title in 2023 with Howardian and qualified for the Euro Club Challenge in the process.
Raena Crandall
High School: Franklin High School
Hometown: Franklin, Mass.
Position: Forward
National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region selection at Franklin High School. Boston Globe Division 1 Player of the Year as a junior in 2023. Boston Herald All-Star selection. Two-time Hockomock League All-Star selection, as a junior and a senior. Named team captain and selected to the state All-Star team as a senior in 2024. Team captured Hockomock League titles in each of her four seasons. Also lettered in lacrosse at Franklin.
Lizzie Day
High School: Lower Dauphin High School
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa.
Position: Forward/Midfield
Captured a Pennsylvania state title as a sophomore in 2022 and finished as state runner-up in 2021 at Lower Dauphin High School. Max Field Hockey All-Region selection and Mid-Penn Commonwealth Third Team selection. Team was three-time district champion and one-time district runner-up during her career. Also lettered in basketball at Lower Dauphin.
Sophia DePrima
High School: Williamsville North High School
Hometown: Williamsville, N.Y.
Position: Back
Four-time All-Western New York pick, including First Team accolades as both a junior and a senior, at Williamsville North High School in the suburbs of Buffalo. Three-time team captain and four-time All-ECIC First Team selection. Also lettered in ice hockey, flag football and softball at Williamsville. National Honor Society inductee.
Erin Lynch
High School: Dover High School
Hometown: Dover, N.H.
Position: Back
Helped lead Dover High School to a Division 1 state title in New Hampshire as a junior in 2023. A two-time team captain and two-time First Team All-State selection in the Granite State. Named Dover's Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2024. Selected to the 2024 Twin State All-Star Game, between New Hampshire and Vermont. Played at the club level for Seacoast Field Hockey. Also lettered in lacrosse at Dover. National Technical Honor Society member.
Bell Mazza
High School: Garrison Forest School
Hometown: Westminster, Md.
Position: Midfield
Captured conference titles as a sophomore and a junior in 2022 and 2023, respectively, at Garrison Forrest School, in the suburbs of Baltimore. Also lettered in badminton at Garrison Forrest. Played at the club level for Freedom HKY and Stateline HKY.
Emma-Rose Phillips
High School: Washington Township High School
Hometown: Sewell, N.J.
Position: Forward
Three-time All-Tri-County Conference selection at Washington Township High School in southern New Jersey. Named to the NCC All-Star Team in 2023 and four-time selection among the top 100 of the class of 2025 in the state of New Jersey. Member of the National Honor Society, as well as the science and Spanish National Honor Societies as well. Also lettered in both indoor and outdoor track & field, lacrosse and bowling at Washington Township.
The Pioneers will return to the field in late August to open their 27th season of varsity competition.
Pictured, top row, left-to-right: Crandall, Phillips, Lynch, Day. Bottom row, left-to-right: DePrima, Butler, Mazza. All photos courtesy of respective student-athletes.
The incoming septet is balanced positionally, with two forwards, two midfielders and two backs among the six field players. In addition, Van Der Merwe has added a goalkeeper from Wales with junior national team experience. The six domestic signees all hail from the high school ranks and are concentrated in the northeast, ranging from New Hampshire to Maryland.
Ruby Butler
High School: Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Hometown: Cardiff, Wales
Position: Goalkeeper
Comes to SHU with junior national team experience, as she was previously selected to the Wales U18 national squad in 2024 and the U16 national team in 2022. Helped backstop Ysgol Glantaf to the 2024 Welsh schools U18 national title after capturing county championships at the U14, U16 and U18 levels throughout her career. Played at the club level for Whitchurch Hockey Club, Howardian Hockey Club, and Cardiff & Met. Claimed Welsh Club Cup title in 2023 with Howardian and qualified for the Euro Club Challenge in the process.
Raena Crandall
High School: Franklin High School
Hometown: Franklin, Mass.
Position: Forward
National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region selection at Franklin High School. Boston Globe Division 1 Player of the Year as a junior in 2023. Boston Herald All-Star selection. Two-time Hockomock League All-Star selection, as a junior and a senior. Named team captain and selected to the state All-Star team as a senior in 2024. Team captured Hockomock League titles in each of her four seasons. Also lettered in lacrosse at Franklin.
Lizzie Day
High School: Lower Dauphin High School
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa.
Position: Forward/Midfield
Captured a Pennsylvania state title as a sophomore in 2022 and finished as state runner-up in 2021 at Lower Dauphin High School. Max Field Hockey All-Region selection and Mid-Penn Commonwealth Third Team selection. Team was three-time district champion and one-time district runner-up during her career. Also lettered in basketball at Lower Dauphin.
Sophia DePrima
High School: Williamsville North High School
Hometown: Williamsville, N.Y.
Position: Back
Four-time All-Western New York pick, including First Team accolades as both a junior and a senior, at Williamsville North High School in the suburbs of Buffalo. Three-time team captain and four-time All-ECIC First Team selection. Also lettered in ice hockey, flag football and softball at Williamsville. National Honor Society inductee.
Erin Lynch
High School: Dover High School
Hometown: Dover, N.H.
Position: Back
Helped lead Dover High School to a Division 1 state title in New Hampshire as a junior in 2023. A two-time team captain and two-time First Team All-State selection in the Granite State. Named Dover's Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2024. Selected to the 2024 Twin State All-Star Game, between New Hampshire and Vermont. Played at the club level for Seacoast Field Hockey. Also lettered in lacrosse at Dover. National Technical Honor Society member.
Bell Mazza
High School: Garrison Forest School
Hometown: Westminster, Md.
Position: Midfield
Captured conference titles as a sophomore and a junior in 2022 and 2023, respectively, at Garrison Forrest School, in the suburbs of Baltimore. Also lettered in badminton at Garrison Forrest. Played at the club level for Freedom HKY and Stateline HKY.
Emma-Rose Phillips
High School: Washington Township High School
Hometown: Sewell, N.J.
Position: Forward
Three-time All-Tri-County Conference selection at Washington Township High School in southern New Jersey. Named to the NCC All-Star Team in 2023 and four-time selection among the top 100 of the class of 2025 in the state of New Jersey. Member of the National Honor Society, as well as the science and Spanish National Honor Societies as well. Also lettered in both indoor and outdoor track & field, lacrosse and bowling at Washington Township.
The Pioneers will return to the field in late August to open their 27th season of varsity competition.
Pictured, top row, left-to-right: Crandall, Phillips, Lynch, Day. Bottom row, left-to-right: DePrima, Butler, Mazza. All photos courtesy of respective student-athletes.
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