Year in Review: Field Hockey

STANFORD, Calif. – The Roz Ellis era at Stanford began in 2021, as the Cardinal played a full season with no goalkeeper and just 13 players but still found a way to win games and find success throughout the campaign.

Haley Mossmer led the offense with eight goals and 17 points, while Lynn Vanderstichele scored four times and Lily Croddick and Molly Redgrove had three apiece. Croddick paced the team with three assists. Cara Sambeth had nine defensive saves, which ranked second in the country and led the nation on a per-game basis, and added nine more as an emergency goalkeeper late in the season.

THE 2021 SEASON
Starting the season ranked No. 25 in the preseason NFHCA poll, Stanford picked up early victories over Dartmouth (4-1) and opened America East play in the win column at Vermont (1-0).
 

An absolute ROCKET from Lynn Vanderstichele. She doubles our tally, unassisted #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/kemdIwytrh

— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) September 6, 2021

Here's the goal from Mossmer to end the third quarter, assisted by Redgrove right before time expired in the third #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/riz9Jz82wq

— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) September 24, 2021

The Cardinal won on senior day, besting UC Davis 3-1 to open October, and booked its ticket to the America East Tournament with a win at UMass Lowell to cap the regular season. Mossmer ranked third in goals per game nationally over the first six weeks of the season.
 

Third goal of the season for Croddick, who was picked out in transition from Mossmer. Halfway through the first quarter #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/8Kg9gmLYIm

— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) October 31, 2021

Another assist for Croddick, slipping through Winter for the breakaway goal. Rose's first goal this year #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/2enh9F3MZp

— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) October 31, 2021

Stanford continued its stretch of never missing an America East conference tournament. Traveling to Maine for the final weekend, Stanford fell 1-0 to Albany despite a flurry of late chances.

TRIO COLLECTS AMERICA EAST ACCOLADES
Junior Megan Frost and freshman Cara Sambeth were named to the All-America-East second team, while Sambeth was chosen to the All-Rookie squad. Frost and senior Isabelle Pilson earned nods to the All-Academic team. The honor was the third America East accolade for Frost after a second team selection in 2020 and an All-Rookie choice in 2019, while Sambeth was one of four freshmen in the league to earn both All-Conference and All-Rookie status. Pilson's All-Academic honor was her second in a row.

HEAD COACH ROZ ELLIS
Roz Ellis was named head coach of the Stanford field hockey program on June 25, 2021. She arrived on The Farm after serving as the assistant coach at Iowa since 2018, leading the Hawkeyes to three NCAA appearances and the program's 12th trip to the national semifinals in May, continuing a steady progression for one of the country's most respected programs. Ellis was instrumental in Iowa being one of six schools in the country to produce at least three NFHCA All-Americans.

Prior to a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Louisville (2014-15), Ellis was the lead assistant coach at Massachusetts (2011-14), where she helped build a powerhouse in the Atlantic 10. Ellis guided the Minutewomen to a 34-14 record, two conference crowns and two NCAA appearances.

CARDINAL, WHITE & BLUE
Recognized for their support during adverse circumstances, Stanford field hockey's alumni, family and friends have been given the USA Field Hockey Grow the Game Award. This marks the first time in the award's history that Stanford was the recipient.

The Grow the Game Award is presented to a USA Field Hockey Member that has help lay a foundation, build a lasting program and impacted their community through field hockey. They have provided opportunities to countless field hockey players in their region that would not exist without their efforts.

Elsewhere on the national stage, Stanford field hockey assistant coach Michael Barminski (USA) and alumnae Kelsey Bing '20 (USA) and Maddie Secco '16 (Canada) traveled to Santiago, Chile for the 2022 Pan-American Cup. All three were mainstays over the course of the year for their respective national teams.

Additional Reading: Endowment Created in Honor of Killefer

STANFORD INKS EIGHT IN CLASS OF 2022
The first incoming class under head coach Roz Ellis, Stanford field hockey unveiled a deep and talented group of eight student-athletes that will join the program in the fall. Scout Butler, Kendall Dowd, Chantal Eiwanger, Daisy Ford, Bella Ganocy, Ella Ganocy, Anna Ghuliani and Tottie Taylor have signed national letters of intent to join the Cardinal program.
 

??? Hear what head coach @raellis02 has to say about our incoming class! #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/XtocS1aaUs

— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) April 13, 2022

Awards & Accolades