LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 19, 2013) – Head coach of the Saint Francis U field hockey team Stacey Bean announced the addition of six newcomers to her 2013-14 squad.
 
“We're excited to welcome this class to the Red Flash family,” Bean said. “Each one of these student-athletes comes to SFU having demonstrated a high level of success on the field, in the classroom and in their communities.”
 
Name – Position – Height – Hometown/High School – Club Team
 
Carly Gromel (Harveys Lake, Pa./Lake-Lehman) – B/M – 5-9 – Harveys Lake, Pa./Lake-Lehman – Majestyx
 
Gromel comes to SFU out of Lake-Lehman High School where she was a tri-sport athlete in field hockey, track and field and swimming. She served as a team captain and tallied five goals and five assists between her junior and senior seasons. Gromel earned a selection to the WVC Coaches All-Star first team for her play on the field.
 
Off the field and in the classroom she was named to the Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA High School National Academic squad and was academic all-state in 2012.
 
A member of the National Honor Society, she is the daughter of Vicki and Don Gromel and intends to major in exercise physiology.
 
Kelly Quealy (Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield Area) – M – 5-4 – Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield Area – RAM
 
A tri-sport athlete at Fairfield Area High School in field hockey, basketball and track and field, Quealy served as team captain of the field hockey team for two years. The 5-4 midfielder earned three selections to the all-conference team, including back-to-back selections to the first team. She was Gettysburg All-Times team honoree and all-area selection her junior and senior seasons.
 
Quealy plans to major in nursing, is a member of the National Honor Society and is the daughter of Mary Lee and Mike Quealy.
 
Mackenzie Ruth (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata Senior) – F – 5-6 – Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata Senior – Lanco Premier
 
Ruth joins the Red Flash as a three-time team offensive MVP after she totaled 23 goals and 22 assists for her career at Ephrata Senior High School. She earned an all-conference honorable mention her junior season and second team selections her sophomore and senior years. As a team captain in 2012, the 5-6 forward tallied 10 goals and four assists during her final year at Ephrata.
 
A future elementary education major, she is the daughter of Michelle and Todd Ruth.
 
Nicole Sott (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) – M – 5-7 – Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West – KaPow
 
During her senior year at Wyoming Valley West, Sott tallied two goals, dished out seven assists and recorded four defensive saves and received an all-conference honorable mention. She had a breakout junior campaign by way of scoring 15 goals and eight assists on her way to receiving an all-conference honorable mention. Sott's club team, KaPow, finished in second place at the NIT Qualifier in Virginia Beach, Va.
 
In the classroom in 2012, Sott was named to the Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA High School National Academic squad and academic all-state in 2012.
 
She is the daughter of Janet and Richard Sott, is a member of the National Honor Society and intends to major in secondary education with a minor in Spanish.
 
Erika Stefanides (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) – F – 5-3 – Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West – KaPow
 
A four-year member of the field hockey team at Wyoming Valley West High School, Stefanides led her team in scoring her junior season after she racked up 21 goals and eight assists. Combined between her junior and senior years, the 5-3 forward compiled 31 goals and 14 assists. In both 2011 and 2012 she was a Citizens Voice All-Star and a second team all-star for The Times Leader, as well as a one time Coaches All-Star for The Times Leader.
 
In addition to her athletic achievements, Stefanides is also accomplished in the classroom having been named to the Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA High School National Academic squad and academic all-state in 2012.
 
A future nursing major, she is a member of the National Honor Society and is the daughter of Beth and Rick Stefanides.
 
Mackenzie Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa./Greenwood) – M – 5-7 – Thompsontown, Pa./Greenwood – State College Blue Lions
 
Wirth comes to Saint Francis as a very decorated student-athlete from Greenwood High School. In 2012, while serving as team captain, Wirth earned second team all-state honors, led the Tri-Valley League in assists and was a PHSFHCA second team All-State selection, while scoring five goals and 11 assists. Team wise, the 5-7 midfielder helped lead her high school squad to three consecutive Tri-Valley League championships, two District III AA runner-up finishes and an appearance in the 2012 PIAA State Final Four.
 
Wirth plans to major in nursing, is a member of the National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and is the daughter of Linnea and Greg Wirth.
 
“Each of them brings a tremendous competitive energy that matches up well with that of our current roster,” Bean said. “Their athleticism and versatility adds depth for us at multiple positions on the field, helping us to continue to elevate our level of play in 2013.”