To kick off the field hockey season, here is a list of 25 dynamic forwards, all-around midfielders, stonewalling defenders and acrobatic goalies that you won’t want to miss. This list, sponsored by Athletic Republic and grouped by position, has enough talent to field two fantastic starting 11’s (plus a few subs), but the field hockey talent in St. Louis is much greater than this list.
Forwards
Kate Logsdon, senior, John Burroughs
Selected to the U-21 Nexus Championship team, Logsdon scored 27 goals last season, which included nine multi-goal games and four hat tricks. She is committed to play at the University of Virginia.
Vicky Derdoy, senior, Ladue
The Suburban Yellow Conference Player-of-the-Year notched 27 goals and added 15 assists, scoring at least one goal against every team that reached the final four. Derdoy is committed to play at the University of Albany.
Evie Harris, senior, Visitation (feature photo)
A first-team All-GISL performer, Harris scored 18 goals, including a hat trick in a playoff victory over Parkway West. She is a four-year varsity starter and will serve as a senior captain.
Mia Ryan, junior, St. Joseph’s
A speedster on the wing and crafty passer, Ryan led the Angels with 16 assists and scored the game-winning goal in overtime to propel St. Joseph’s into the final four. She is committed to play at the University of Indiana.
Hannah Ponciroli, sophomore, Villa Duchesne
The bigger the moment, the better Ponciroli performed during a stellar freshman season that included 20 goals, 27 assists and the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over John Burroughs in the state championship game.
Annie Tilghman, junior, Ladue
A versatile player who plays both forward and midfield, Tilghman scored 12 goals and added nine assists in helping Ladue reach the state quarterfinals. She scored the game-winner in three of the Rams’ final six games, including in a playoff victory over Summit.
Emma Vendt, senior, Marquette
The Offensive Player-of-the-Year in the Suburban Yellow conference, Vendt scored 24 goals, added 10 assists and figured in on 72 percent of the goals scored by the Mustangs.
Celia Medeiros, junior, Nerinx Hall
A second-team GISL performer as a sophomore, Medeiros led the Markers in scoring with 10 goals and five assists, including a hat trick against Lafayette.
Avery Sommerkamp, senior, St. Dominic
Her slick, short corner inserts and powerful reverse shots have made Sommerkamp a dangerous offensive force. In her third year on varsity, she will serve as a team captain for the Crusaders.
Midfielders
Ellemieke Ferguson, junior, MICDS
Named a Top-100 player for the Class of 2027 by Max Field Hockey, Ferguson traveled to the Netherlands to play in the Sport Euro Tour this summer. As an MICDS sophomore, she scored seven goals, added 12 assists and delivered a hat trick in a playoff victory over Visitation.
Katy Chapman, senior, John Burroughs
A member of the 2025 U-18 Women’s National Team, Chapman was a starting midfielder who helped the USA team go undefeated in Spain this summer, defeating Spain, England, Poland and Scotland. She is committed to play at the University of Virginia.
Mallory Jerlicki, junior, MICDS
A speedster with superb on-field communication and a quick shot, Jerlicki scored 17 goals and added 28 assists to help MICDS return to the final four after a two-year absence. She is committed to play at Boston College.
Ansley McGowan, senior, Westminster
A first-team Metro League performer as a junior, McGowan scored 10 goals and added 12 assists, including six goals in the Wildcats’ final six games. She will serve as a captain for the Wildcats.
Emily Williams, sophomore, Lafayette
A dynamic playmaker with exceptional speed and tenacity, Williams looks to build off an outstanding freshman season in which she placed second on the Lancers in assists, third in points and was named second-team all conference.
Lauren Pelikan, junior, Villa Duchesne
An excellent all-around player, Pelikan scored six goals, added 20 assists and was a stalwart defender in helping the Saints win a state title last season. She is committed to play at Michigan State.
Ashley Strauss, senior, Ursuline
A first-team All-GISL performer, Strauss led the Bears with 15 goals and seven assists, including two goals in a 3-1 playoff victory over Marquette. She is committed to play at Belmont Abbey.
Grace Inserra, junior, Visitation
Chosen as a team captain, Inserra showed her team-centered nature by leading the Vivettes in assists last season. She scored a pair of goals during the Gateway Classic and notched the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Nerinx Hall in the regular season finale.
Mary Kate Bryan, senior, Nerinx Hall
A first-team GISL performer last season, Bryan exhibited exceptional vision and sharp stick skills in helping the Markers rebound from an 0-7-1 start to win five of their next seven games.
Defenders
KK Dooley, senior, St. Joseph’s
A four-year varsity starter, Dooley earned a reputation as a brick wall in the center of the Angels’ defense. She quarterbacked St. Joseph’s to 11 shutouts and tallied three assists in a playoff win over Lafayette. She is committed to play at Fairfield University.
Sarah Wright, junior, Parkway West
An aggressive defender who reads the play well and makes timely tackles, Wright served as a team captain last season and helped the Longhorns earn nine shutouts while claiming Suburban Red second-team all-conference honors.
Georgia Slinkard, senior, Cor Jesu
A key contributor in seven shutout victories, Slinkard also provided a burst of offense with five goals and three assists, including a two-goal performance against Lindbergh and the game-winner in a playoff victory over Parkway South.
Caroline Campbell, junior, Westminster
Named a Top-100 player in the Class of 2027 by Max Field Hockey, Campbell participated in the College Connection Showcase this summer and earned a spot in the Under Armour Select game. She scored nine goals and added 12 assists in showcasing her all-around game for the Wildcats last season.
Goalies
Bri Raak, senior, Kirkwood
In her first year playing field hockey, Raak racked up 176 saves to place fifth in the STL area. She stopped 20 shots against Ladue, 24 against John Burroughs and 26 against St. Joseph’s and helped the Pioneers win six in a row to end the regular season. She is committed to Maryville University.
Sam Liszewski, senior, St. Dominic
A tremendous shot-stopper, Liszewski placed third in the area with 184 saves and fifth in save percentage during her first season playing field hockey. She made 12 saves, many of the spectacular variety, to help St. Dominic advance to its first-ever Sweet 16 with a 3-2 playoff win over Pembroke Hill.
Colby Durbin, senior, Eureka
No stranger to the sprawling, acrobatic save, Durbin was instrumental in seven shutout victories as the backbone of the Eureka defense. She ranked 10th in the area in save percentage and seventh in goals against average.
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