PHILADELPHIA – Head coach Colleen Fink and the University of Pennsylvania field hockey program are happy to announce six new Quakers joining the team in the fall, introducing the Class of 2027.
 
"We are excited to announce this incoming class," said Fink. "Their energy, talent and personality will be a great addition to the continued success of the program. They are a well-rounded group with strong hockey IQs that will put them in prime position for transitioning to the collegiate level and for helping us reach our goals."
 

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EMILY STAFFORD

Yorktown High School | Arlington, Va.
High School: Lettered four years in field hockey … Two-year captain …  2021 District, Region, and State Champions … 2022 District and Region Champions, State Runner Up … 2021 The Washington Post All-Metropolitan Player of the Year … 2021 Third Team All-American … 2021 District, Region, and State Player of the Year … 2021 Max Field Hockey All-Region … 2022 The Washington Post First Team All-Metropolitan … 2022 First Team All-District, Region, and State … 2022 District Player of the Year … Lettered three years in lacrosse, lettered three years in track, and lettered two years in basketball … National Honor Society … Patriot Athletic Council … Fintech … Patriots Against Cancer … 2021 & 2022 NFHCA High School National Academic Squad (Scholar of Distinction) … NFHCA 2022 Scholastic watch list.
 
Personal: Daughter of Christina and Steve Stafford … Cousin, Ryan Borden, competes in cross country at Columbia … Enrolled in Wharton School of Business.
 
Coach Fink: "Emily is an elite player whose pure athleticism truly sets her apart. Her versatility, speed, and drive for excellence will allow for her to not only compete but excel at the collegiate level. The quickness of her hands and her overall physicality and presence on the field will be hard to stop. We are excited to see the impact and energy she will bring throughout her career here at Penn."
 
Meet Emily… 
Favorite Quote? "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you."
Pump-Up Song? Thunderstruck - AC/DC
Most embarrassing sports moment? Playing high school field hockey, I was inserting the ball on a corner, flicking the ball 25ft in the air backwards, behind the goal.
Why Did You Choose Penn? Combination of academics and athletics.
 

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HONOR ROBERTS

New Trier Township High School | Winnetka, Ill.
High School: Team captain … Three-time Illinois State Champion … 2022 West/Midwest All-Region First Team (MAX and NFHCA) … 2022 All-State First Team … 2022 All-Conference … 2021 All-American Third Team (MAX and NFHCA) … 2021 West/Midwest All-Region First Team (MAX and NFHCA) … 2021 IHSFHA Player of the Year … 2021 All-State First Team … 2021 All-Conference … 2021 All-Tournament Second Team for Max Field Hockey … 2021 High School Regional Players to Watch (MAX) … 2022 MVP voted by teammates … 2022 second highest goal scorer (29) and highest in assists (24) … 2021 top goal scorer (36) and second highest in assists … 2021 Most Impactful Player voted by teammates … 2021 top scorer and second highest in assists … 2021 Illinois High School Outstanding Player Award … Honor Roll … Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish … Outstanding Achievement in Junior English Award … 2023-24 Illinois State Scholar … English and Writing Student Tutor … Student Athlete Leadership Training … National Charity League … 2022 All-Academic Team.
 
Personal: Daughter of Rachel and Toby Roberts … Brother, George, participates in rowing at University of Michigan … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences for economics.
 
Coach Fink: "Honor has seen great success in her high school career capturing All-State and All-American honors while leading her team to three Illinois State Championships. She is creative in using her technical skills at lightning speed and is a natural in finding the back of the cage. She is consistently pushing herself to reach new heights and has a drive for success in all areas. She will be a great addition to the attacking line."
 
Meet Honor…
Favorite Quote? "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Pump-Up Song? Pump It Up - Endor
Most embarrassing sports moment? Halfway through a five-hour car ride to St. Louis for a tournament, my dad realized that he had left my bag with all my uniform and gear at home. He had picked me up from school and forgot to bring my bag. We then proceeded to call and text everyone on the team to see if anyone could pick it up, but everyone had already left. Somehow, the whole club found out and luckily, a younger player on another team hadn't left yet. They broke into our house and rescued the bag! This person is now one of our closest family friends!
Why Did You Choose Penn? I chose Penn because of the perfect balance between academics and athletics. The coaches and players were so welcoming, and I knew that it would be a great environment for me to be challenged and grow as a player and person for the next four years. 
 

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SYDNEY MANDATO

Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School | Gwynedd Valley, Pa.
High School: Lettered four years in field hockey … Team captain … 2021 PIAA District 2A Champions … Two-time Offensive Player of the Year … Two-time First Team All-State … Two-time First Team All-Area … 2020 Second Team All-Area … Two-time Catholic League All-Star … PHSFHCA Field Hockey All-State 2A Team GPA Award Selection 2019-2022 … PHSFHCA Individual All-State 2A Scholar-Athlete Award Selection 2019-2022 … 100 goal achievement … Also lettered three years in lacrosse … McAuley Scholar at Gwynedd Mercy Academy … National Honors Society … National Merit Commended Student … First Honors … National Latin Honor Society … Leadership Council Social Media Chair … Student Council representative … LEAD4Change.
 
Personal: Daughter of Jennifer and Philip Mandato … Sister, Alana, plays lacrosse at West Chester University … Enrolled in Wharton School of Business for finance. 
 
Coach Fink: "Sydney comes from a winning culture at both the high school and club level. She brings skill, experience, and passion to the program.  Her work ethic and ability to push herself outside her comfort zone will allow her game to reach that next level. She has high reaching goals for herself and her drive to compete just recently landed her on the USA Women's 2023 FIH Indoor World Cup team headed to South Africa. We are so proud of her accomplishments thus far and know there are more to come."
 
Meet Sydney…
Favorite Quote? "Be so good they can't ignore you."
Pump-Up Song? Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Most embarrassing sports moment? Getting hit in the face with a volleyball in front of my whole school during the teacher/student volleyball game!
Why Did You Choose Penn? I chose Penn because of its amazing academics and strong athletics, the team and coaches are so welcoming, and the history and distinction are unparalleled.  
 

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EMMA NAHON

Staples High School | Westport, Conn.
High School: Lettered four years in field hockey … 2019 FCIAC (Fairfield County) Co-Champion … 2019 Connecticut state champion … 2021 All-West FCIAC Team … Ginny Parker Award … Two-time Northeast Regional Player to Watch … 2022 All-FCIAC First Team … First Team All-State … Team MVP … MAX Field Hockey Preseason Player to Watch … Also participated in ski racing, lettering three years … First Honors all four years of high school.
 
Personal: Daughter of Susan and Michel Nahon … Isabelle Nahon, twin sister, will play field hockey at Hamilton College … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Coach Fink: "Emma is sure to bring a level of energy and competitiveness to help elevate our teams play. We love Emma's will to win and competitive fire. Her defensive tenacity and sound fundamentals will allow for some versatility as she looks to make her mark here at Penn. She carries high expectations of herself and has natural leadership qualities in helping those around her hit their potential as well."
 
Meet Emma…
Favorite Quote? "Opportunities don't happen, you create them."
Pump-Up Song? Feels So Close - Calvin Harris
Most embarrassing sports moment? At a tournament on my birthday, I got hit in the face with a ball that left a massive bump on my head for more than 2 weeks.
Why Did You Choose Penn? I chose Penn because of the combination between amazing academics and competitive field hockey program! The minute I stepped on campus I knew I could fit right in, and I would love it there! 
 

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ELLIE ALMEIDA

Unionville High School | Kennett Square, Pa.
High School: Two-time team captain … Unionville High School ESPYs award nominee … 2022 HS Player of the Year nominee … USA Today National HSSA Field Hockey Watchlist … MAX Field Hockey Top 50 Players to Watch in the Class of 2023 … 2022 PA Region High School Players to Watch … Honorable Mention All-State …  Three-time First Team All-League (Chestmont) … 2022 Daily Local News Second Team All-Area … 2021 PIAA District 1 3A in lacrosse … USAAC - Elected Unionville Student Athletic Advisory Council … National Merit Scholarship Program … Letter of Commendation … AP Scholar with Honor … National Honor Society … Spanish National Honor Society … Distinguished Honors … Student Council Class Secretary … Outreach Committee Leader, UTHON for Pediatric Cancer … Elected to Principals Advisory Council … STEM Outreach Member … Peer Tutoring at Middle School.
 
Personal: Daughter of Amy and Jeff Almeida … Jeff, father, played basketball at Trinity College (Hartford, Conn.) … Club teammate Sydney Mandato is part of Class of 2027 … Enrolled in Wharton School of Business.
 
Coach Fink: "Ellie plays with a quiet confidence and level of composure well beyond her years. She has great game knowledge, plays with tremendous discipline and can get herself out of pressure situations with ease. We will continue to develop and foster her outletting and deception skills to optimize her play in the backfield. We can't wat to see to see her out there in the Red and Blue!"
 
Meet Ellie…
Favorite Quote? "Work in silence, let success be your noise."
Pump-Up Song? Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
Most embarrassing sports moment? 30 seconds after getting into my first Varsity lacrosse game, falling flat on my face with virtually no one around me. The post-game film review was startling to many.  
Why Did You Choose Penn? Penn's outstanding academic reputation and the opportunity to study at the Wharton School of Business were significant factors that led me to choose Penn. This paired with the supportive coaching staff, strong team culture, and close proximity to my family solidified my decision.
 

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RUBY de FREES

Archbishop Spalding High School | Severn, Md.
High School: Lettered four years in field hockey … Team captain … Two-time First Team All-County … 2021 Baltimore Sun Athlete of the Week … 2021 IAAM "A" Conference Champions … 2022 U19 NIT Pool M - 1st … U19 Region 7 JPOL - 1st … 2021 U19 Shooting Star Easter Pool D - 1st … U19 Shooting Star Thanksgiving Pool E - 1st … 2020 Keystone Open IFH Championship … U16 NIT Pool L - 1st … U19 NIT Pool F - 1^st … 2019 Keystone Open IFH Championship … Academic First Honors all high school career … NFHCA National Academic Squad.
 
Personal: Daughter of Jennifer and Michael de Frees … Cousin, Noah Evans, played four years of football at Gettysburg … Cousin, Piper Evans, plays lacrosse at Salisbury … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences for neuroscience.
 
Coach Fink: "Ruby comes from a highly competitive and successful high school and club team all while also receiving her own individual recognition. We believe she is a strong goalkeeper with a ton of potential to continue to grow and improve here at the collegiate level. Her hard-working attitude, positivity, and joy she exudes while playing make her enjoyable to work and be with."
 
Meet Ruby…
Favorite Quote? "Luck favors the prepared."
Pump-Up Song? New Magic Wand - Tyler, the Creator
Most embarrassing sports moment? My most embarrassing sports moment is when I was flying on a defensive corner for an indoor tournament, and I tripped. I couldn't get up fast enough and my teammate got hit in the foot, which caused a stroke. I was close to saving the stroke but failed.
Why Did You Choose Penn? I chose Penn for its inviting team culture and high-ranking academics with unique research opportunities. I was drawn to the program because of the tight bonds developed among the team and with the coaches.