PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's head field hockey coach, Colleen Fink, has announced her program's Class of 2028 recruiting class. Eight women—Maxi Aranowitz, Beau Barrington-Hibbert, Darcey Chapman, Naomi Esterowitz, Megan Frank, Riley Thomson, Alexis Williams, and goaltender Ava Hughes—will join the program next fall as freshmen.
 
"This class brings a high level of play and excellence to the team," said Fink, who embarks on her 15th season overseeing the Quakers in 2024. "They have positive energy, dynamic personalities, and a world-class work rate. They bring great versatility across every area of the field, from goalkeeping to strikers.  They will each contribute to our principles of play—playing at a high tempo and with great ambition. They have already developed strong ties with one another and the team and we are eager to have them out on Ellen Vagelos Field with us in the fall."
Meet the Penn field hockey Class of 2028…
 
MAXI ARANOWITZ
Roseland, N.J. / Oak Knoll
High School: Three-year letter starter in field hockey, captain as a senior under head coach Ali Good … Helped Oak Knoll to the 2021 Non-Public state championship, three Non-Public Sectional A titles, and three Union County crowns … Max FH Class of 2024 Top 100 Players … NFHCA All-Region, first-team all-state, and Max FH All-New Jersey Region First Team as a senior … 2023 All-Star Team member … Two-time first-team All-Union County (2022, 23), first-team All-Union/Essex County (2022, 23), and first-team All Non-Public (2022, 23) … Second-team All-Union County and All-Union/Essex County as a sophomore … Three-time Nexus Championship selection … Team MVP as a senior, Best First Year Varsity Award recipient as a sophomore … Played with New Heights club team 2021-23 … Regional club champions, qualified for National Club Championships all three years … National Hockey Festival champions in 2023 … National Indoor Tournament second place in 2023 and 2024 … Centercourt Indoor League All-Star Team … Also played three years of varsity lacrosse, helping Oak Knoll to three Non-Public state championships, three Non-Public Sectional A titles, and three Union Country crowns … Theology Award 4-year recipient … Honor Roll member … Student Body President 2023-24 … Class President (10th and 11th grades) … National Language Honor Society inductee.
 
Personal: Daughter of Stephanie and Jason Aranowitz … Mother played field hockey and lacrosse at McDaniel College … Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn because of its balance of prestigious academics and competitive athletics. I am excited to be part of a welcoming community surrounded by people who share the same passions and interests as me. I am also thrilled to be part of such a tight-knit team culture at Penn."
 
Favorite Quote? "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice" – John Templeton
 
Pump-Up Song? "Powerglide (feat. Juicy J)" by Rae Sremmurd and Swae Lee
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "Accidentally lifting the ball into packed bleachers."
 
Coach Fink on Aranowitz: "Maxi is a patient yet aggressive defender. She has impeccable timing of her tackles, interceptions and plays strong lines. She plays simple in the back field, utilizing two-touch skills, and values possession."
 
 
BEAU LILLY BARRINGTON-HIBBERT
Suffolk, England / Millfield School
High School: Earned full colours in field hockey, two-year Leadership Team member and captain of U-16 team under head coach Reggie Keates  … Helped Millfield to National final in 2022 (made Finalists First XI) and Indoor National final in 2023 … 2023 Cape Town International winners … England Selection process in 2021, 2022 and 2023 … Team Player of the Season in 2022 … Played club with Clifton Robinson's in 2022-23 and helped them with promotion to the Premier League … Also competed in athletics (track & field), winning the national discus championship three years in a row and setting the county record in the event … Played tennis on the county squad … Head Girl/captain of school as a senior … School Prefect … Duke of Edinburgh recipient … Debate Team member.
 
Personal: Daughter of Zoe and Michael Barrington-Hibbert … Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn because I wanted to immerse myself in the vibrant array of opportunities. I felt that Penn had the perfect balance of high academics alongside playing elite level sports."
 
Favorite Quote? "Don't stress, stay blessed!"
 
Pump-Up Song? "Formation" by Beyonce
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "Went to penalty strokes in a game and we thought we had won so we all celebrated! Ref blew the whistle .Turned out there was still another stroke to go."
 
Coach Fink on Barrington-Hibbert: "Beau is a strong field general. She can command the play in front of her while adjusting under the ball and focusing on counter structure. She has strong outlet skills out of the back and can play the short and long games."
 
 
DARCEY CHAPMAN
Summit, N.J. / Summit
High School: Four-year varsity letter winner in field hockey, captain as a senior under head coach Jen Schwarzenbek … Two-time first-team New Jersey Coaches Association All-State … Max Field Hockey All-NJ Region first team (2024) … First-team All-Union/Essex County as a senior … First-team Union County Conference as a junior and senior, second-team as a freshman and sophomore … First-team Red Division All-County as a junior, first-team White Division All-County as a sophomore … Max Field Hockey All-Group 3 Second Team (2022) … Ended career with 45 goals and 49 assists for 139 points … Program's Nancy Muller Award recipient as a senior … Captains Award and Team MVP Award recipient as a senior … Three-time recipient of Summit's Offensive Player of the Year Award … With New Height club team, selected for Nexus Championship in 2021 (Team Atlanta, 4th Place) and 2023 (Team Amsterdam, 1st Place) … Selected for Stars & Stripes game … Selected for AAU Junior Olympics (Bronze medal) … Selected for U16 National Selection Camp in 2021 and 2022 … Top 50 ranking from Max Field Hockey (2023) … Two-time New Jersey Region High School Players to Watch by Max (2021, 23) … Also played lacrosse and ran track … Helped Summit lacrosse team win the Group 2 NJSIAA state tournament … Three-time Magna Cum Laude.
 
Personal: Daughter of Glyne and Anna Chapman … Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn not only for its high academic and athletic rigor but also for the feeling of a campus community while still being located in a major city, the tight-knit community and family that comes with being on the field."
 
Favorite Quote? " Take the risk or lose the chance."
 
Pump-Up Song? "Where You Are (Zedd Remix)" by John Summit, Hayla & Zedd
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "When I was younger, in indoor I took the shot on a corner and missed so badly that I shot the ball into a window above and to the right of the goal."
 
Coach Fink on Chapman: "Darcey's versatility will be a strong asset to the team. She has solid outletting skills and defensive presence while also having great hands, elimination skills, and the ability to pass and lead with the play. We see her contributing down the spine of the field as well in our defensive unit."
 
 
NAOMI ESTEROWITZ
Rockville, Md. / Thomas S. Wootton
High School: Four-year letter winner, captain as a senior under head coach (and her father) Terry Dalle-Tezze … Helped Wootton to state semifinal round and regional championship as a senior … Second-team all-state as a senior … Second-team All-Met as a senior, honorable mention All-Met as a junior … Three-time first-team all-county (2021, 22, 23) … Played club with Next Level from 2018-24 … Also a four-year letter winner in tennis, winning the Singles 3 County championship in 2021 and Singles 2 County championship in 2022 as well as two doubles state and regional titles (2021, 22) … Wootton Student Government Association member … Wootton SGA Treasurer … National Honor Society member … National Art Honor Society member, President as a senior … Scholar Athlete recipient every athletic season.
 
Personal: Daughter of Terri Esterowitz and Terry Dalle-Tezze … Mother played college tennis at Brown … Aunt, Corin Kunicky, played college tennis at Penn … Older brother, Jakob, plays college tennis at Boston University … Older sister, Ellie, plays college tennis at Haverford … Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn because I felt like it would both challenge and excite me as a student and an athlete."
 
Favorite Quote? "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present." – Master Oogway
 
Pump-Up Song? "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "Forgetting my shin guards at a field hockey tournament, so I had to use cardboard and books in place of them."
 
Coach Fink on Esterowitz: "Naomi is a player with an incredibly high ceiling. She has been utilized in a variety of positions through secondary school and club play, but we feel her full utility could be in the front field. She has a hard and accurate shot and is incredibly creative in the scoring circle."
 
 
MEGAN FRANK
Ellicott City, Md. / St. Paul's School for Girls
High School: Four-year varsity field hockey letter winner, team captain … Helped team win 2021 IAAM Conference championship … IAAM All-Conference … MAX Field Hockey top 100 list … Played club hockey with Freedom HKY … Team won the 2023 Disney Showcase and took third at 2022 and 2033 National Club Championships … 2022 NEXUS U19 Championships … Bronze at 2021 Nexus U16 Championships … National Spanish Honor Society member … Vice-President … Pre-Med Club member.
 
Personal: Daughter of Allison and Kevin Frank … Will enroll in the Wharton School of Business.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn for its world-class academics and athletics and because it felt like home."
 
Favorite Quote? "Everything happens for a reason."
 
Pump-Up Song? "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "I tripped over my field hockey stick during a game, wiped out and sprained my ankle."
 
Coach Fink on Frank: "Megan is tenacious and competitive. She is a great complement to the play around her and has the work ethic to achieve at the next level. She has solid finishing skills and protects the ball utilizing physicality and high ball speed."
 
 
AVA HUGHES
West Chester, Pa. / Archmere Academy
High School: Four-year varsity letter winner in field hockey, captain as a senior … Helped Archmere win the state title as a junior and three Diamond State Conference championships … First-team all-state as a junior … Two-time first-team all-conference … Finished her career with a .934 save percentage for all four years … Holds school record for career saves (350+) … Broke record for saves at a field hockey state championship (47) and saves in a game (47) … Played three years with Powerhouse Field Hockey club program … National Honor Society member … Science NHS and Spanish NHS member.
 
Personal: Daughter of Caroline and Sean Hughes … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn because of the amazing campus and academics as well as the team dynamic and great coaching staff at Penn."
 
Favorite Quote? "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." – Wayne Gretzky
 
Pump-Up Song? "All of the Lights" by Kanye West feat. Rihanna and Kid Cudi
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "During my first varsity game my freshman year, our names were announced and we ran out to the line at midfield—I tripped and fell!"
 
GK coach Sydney James on Hughes: "Ava brings great energy and personality that makes working with her enjoyable and fun. Ava has explosive power, speed, and technical skills. She attended a top high school at Archmere Academy, where she helped her team to compete for a state championship. She will only continue to grow in those areas when she arrives at Penn."
 
 
RILEY THOMSON
Perth, Scotland / Dollar Academy
High School: Field Hockey 1st XI for the past three seasons, vice captain this year under head coach Duncan Riddle … Has played internationally for Scotland's U18 and U19 national teams … U19 European 4 Nations … Played two matches with Scotland's U19 vs. Canada … U18 European 8 Nation squad … Field Hockey 1st XI at Midland Cup (regional) from 2022-24 … Midland League (regional) from 2022-24 … Midland Indoor Cup (regional) 2024 … Bordering Schools Cup (national) 2022 and 2023 … George Watson's National 7s Team winners in 2022 … With Perthshire Hockey Club, won Midland U18 in 2022 and Midland indoor in 2023 … Also played tennis 1st VI for three seasons and captain as a senior … Four-time senior tennis champion … Named her school's senior women's overall best sportsperson in 2022, 2023 and 2024 … Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award recipient … Two-time Pipe Band World Champion.
 
Personal: Daughter of Karen and Kerr Thomson … Both parents played internationally for Scotland, both indoor and outdoor, from 1985-2000 and continues to play international masters … Older brother, Hayden, played internationally from 2019-22 and competes for Great Britain in rifle shooting … Will enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn because it is the ultimate blend of top-tier field hockey and academic expertise, as well as the incredibly competitive and driven players and coaches."
 
Favorite Quote? "It's not the will to win that matters; everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters." – Paul 'Bear' Bryant
 
Pump-Up Song? "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "Diving to save a goal and smashing my head so hard into the back board that I moved it two meters off the goal line and gave myself a concussion."
 
Coach Fink on Thomson: "Riley has great playing pedigree from her experience in various tournaments representing Scotland. She has tremendous speed on the outside lanes and has finished in critical moments. She will be utilized through the midfield and front three."
 
 
ALEXIS WILLIAMS
Arlington, Va. / Yorktown
High School: Four-year varsity letter winner, team captain under head coach Olivia Shipley … Graduated as the program's all-time leader in career goals … Helped Yorktown to three state championship finals, winning two, as well as three regional and district titles … Three-time first-team all-state, all-region and all-district … Second-team all-district as a freshman … Two-time second-team All-Met, one-time honorable mention All-Met by the Washington Post … MAX Field Hockey Mid-Atlantic Region 2nd team as a senior … MAX Field Hockey top 100 Class of 2024 as a sophomore, Mid-Atlantic Player to Watch as a junior and senior … Played her club hockey with Next Level … Honor Roll student … National Honor Society member … Model General Assembly.
 
Personal: Daughter of Margarita Castillo and Scott Williams … Father played college tennis at George Mason … Will enroll in the Wharton School of Business.
 
Why Penn? "I chose Penn because of the team culture and the University's strong business program."
 
Favorite Quote? "Yeah, you win some, you lose some. It ain't always home runs. And
that's just the way life plays." – Morgan Wallen
 
Pump-Up Song? "Temperature" by Sean Paul
 
Most embarrassing sports moment? "Getting hit in the face with the ball and having a swollen black eye for homecoming."
 
Coach Fink on Williams: "Alexis is a feisty and threatening attacker. She has good speed and quickness and is persistent in redefending. She also has a great backhand shot and will contribute to our goal scoring and high risk-taking in the front field."