College programs and national teams have taken notice of the staggering level of field hockey talent in the St. Louis area. Sponsored by Athletic Republic, here’s a list of 26 Field Hockey Phenoms to have on your radar as we begin the 2026 season, which begins Friday, August 28.
Forwards
Annie Tilghman, senior, Ladue
With blazing speed and excellent field vision, Tilghman scored 20 goals and added 16 assists last season, good for seventh in the area in point production. She is committed to Trinity College.
Trudy Redmond, senior, Villa Duchesne
An outstanding finisher in the circle, Redmond scored 15 goals and added 12 assists to rank as the second-leading point-producer for the Saints last season. For her career, she has 57 goals and 33 assists. She is committed to Georgetown.
Celia Medeiros, senior, Nerinx Hall
A natural goal scorer with an insatiable hunger in the circle, Medeiros was one of nine players in the STL area to put up 20 goals last season. She is committed to SLU.
Lila Merlin, junior, John Burroughs
A two-time member of the U-16 USA Women’s National Team, Merlin led the state champion Bombers with 26 goals last season, including the overtime game-winner in the state semifinal. She is committed to Princeton.
Avery Mussellman, senior, Kirkwood
A three-year starter and first-team All-Conference selection, the fast, gritty and skillful Mussellman led Kirkwood with 10 goals and 25 points last season. She is committed to UC-Davis.
Mia Ryan, senior, St. Joseph’s
A tireless runner known for late-game heroics, Ryan assumes a major leadership role for an Angels’ team that finished as state runner-up last season. She led St. Joseph’s with 10 goals and three game-winners. She is committed to Indiana.
Victoria Noble, junior, MICDS
Tied for the area lead with 33 goals last season, Noble scored multiple goals in 11 games, including four in the state quarterfinal. In two seasons, she has scored 62 goals and added 29 assists. She is committed to Brown.
Midfielders
Hadley Krewet, senior, Kirkwood
A first-team All-Conference performer, Krewet uses blazing speed to quickly turn defense into offense. She scored a hat trick against rival Webster Groves and the overtime game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Cor Jesu, the first win in program history over the Chargers.
Hannah Ponciroli, junior, Villa Duchesne
Ranking second in the STL-area in point production with 32 goals and 17 assists last season, Ponciroli produced 10 multi-goal games and seven game-winners in earning GISL co-Player-of-the-Year honors. She is committed to Wake Forest.
Hazel Stewart, senior, Principia
A captain for Principia as it restarts its field hockey program, Stewart possesses outstanding skill, a high field hockey IQ and compassionate leadership. She is committed to Amherst.
Grace Inserra, senior, Visitation
The glue of the Vivettes team, Inserra is a two-time team captain. She scored game-winning goals against Westminster and Oakville and earned first-team all-GISL honors. She is committed to Rhodes College.
Mallory Jerlecki, senior, MICDS
Jerlecki scored nine goals and dished out 23 assists last season, ranking second in the STL-area. A second team All-Region selection, Jerlecki is committed to Boston College.
Kayla Arb, junior, Summit
The Player-of-the-Year in the Suburban Red Conference, Arb scored 14 goals, including five game-winners, and added 9 assists to help Summit earn an 18-3-1 record last season.
Scottie Stanec, junior, John Burroughs
Selected to play on youth national teams in both the United States and Canada, Stanec is a cerebral and selfless player with superb instincts on both ends of the field. She is committed to Harvard.
Ellemieke Ferguson, senior, MICDS
A dynamic midfielder, Ferguson scored 17 goals and added 17 assists last season, tallying a point in 17 of the Rams’ 25 games. She is committed to Boston College.
Olivia Wineinger, senior, Eureka
A fast, gritty midfielder, Wineinger is adept at both starting and finishing offensive opportunities. She scored five goals last season, including a hat trick against Parkway West. She is committed to Maryville.
Emily Williams, junior, Lafayette
The Suburban Yellow Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year, Williams led the Lancers with 29 goals, including five hat tricks, and added 19 assists. She is committed to Quinnipiac University.
Caroline Campbell, senior, Westminster
A two-year captain capable of playing multiple positions, Campbell scored six goals and added 13 assists last season. She is committed to Middlebury.
Defense
Lauren Pelikan, senior, Villa Duchesne
A great anticipator and almost impossible to maneuver past, Pelikan has solidified the Saints’ defense since her freshman season while scoring 21 goals and adding 44 assists in her career. She is committed to Michigan State.
Melia Saffold, junior, Ladue
A rock-solid defender who dished out four assists last season, Saffold excelled on defensive corner opportunities and produced a bevy of defensive saves. She is committed to Iowa.
Finnley Desloge, senior, John Burroughs (feature photo)
A current member of the U-18 USA National Team, Desloge participated in the Jr. World Cup in Amsterdam over the summer and scored the first goal for the USA. She scored 12 goals and added 16 assists last season. Desloge is committed to Boston College.
Avery Etling, senior, Cor Jesu
Possessing incredible closing speed and stick skill, Etling thwarted numerous breakaway attempts and helped the Chargers earn six shutouts last season.
Claire Kroh, senior, Pembroke Hill
The rock of the Pembroke Hill team for three seasons, Kroh has recovered from a torn ACL suffered last season and is ready to resume her outstanding field hockey career. She is committed to Washington & Lee.
Goalies
Mary Malloy, junior, St. Joseph’s
A steady and acrobatic ball-stopper, Malloy willed the Angels into the state title game with a brilliant, penalty shootout performance in the semifinal. She placed second in the area in GAA (0.82), wins (17) and solo shutouts (11). She is committed to Boston College.
LJ Masson, junior, Visitation
Recovering from a knee injury suffered as a freshman, Masson placed second in the area in saves (266) and fourth in save percentage (.839) as a sophomore.
Mary Claire Lindh, senior, Nerinx Hall
A agile and fearless goalie who excels against top competition, Lindh made 56 saves in the four games against teams that reached the final four and stopped 16 shots in a 3-2 victory over Ladue.
For photo galleries throughout the field hockey season, visit: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Field-Hockey.