A couple of days ago, The Field Hockey Analyst posted an interesting list. It stands in stark contrast to the profligate scoring that has been occurring in U.S. high schools the last decade and a half.
The list shows the 2024 NCAA Division I top freshman-year goal scorers.
Here they are:
1. Liz Klompmaker, Cal-Berkeley — 15 goals
1. Olivia Machiavelli, Rider — 15 goals
3. Sophie Perschk, Connecticut — 13 goals
3. Juul Sauer, Connecticut — 13 goals
5. Marie Dijkstra, Vermont — 11 goals
6. Francisca Eschoyez, Quinnipiac — 10 goals
What do all six have on common? Well, like a growing number of field hockey players in Division I and elsewhere, they are foreign recruits — from Italy, Spain, Holland, and Germany.
Now, to be fair to the American players who were amongst the leaders competing with this cohort of incoming first-year players last fall, there was a lot going on. A couple of players were injured. Several were underclasswomen. One opted to transfer to a prep school for an extra year.
Still, I was amazed that not one American scored in the double-digits for goals amongst the Division I freshman class. And I think it’s not going to be the last time, given the dependence on foreign talent by Division I teams.