After losing some veteran talent, Penn State welcomes nine talented freshmen to the 2025 roster — players it hopes will help spark a bounce back season after an average 8-9 season finish.
Here’s a closer look at each player’s impressive background and what they bring to the team.
Lara Pyle
Coming from Brisbane, Australia, midfielder Lara Pyle arrives in Happy Valley as a three-time Australian national champion.
In 2023, she represented the Australian All-Stars at the Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia, helping secure a 2-0 grand final win over Japan.
Joji Purdy
Forward Joji Purdy joins the Nittany Lions as a 2024 NEXUS champion.
A notable scorer, Purdy set Norfolk Academy’s single-season goal record as a junior and finished her career with 136 goals.
Olivia Marthins
Forward Olivia Marthins brings her standout New Jersey career to Penn State after four years as a starter.
Marthins finished her high school career with 119 goals and 25 assists, including a state-leading 50 goals as a junior in 2023.
A two-time Colonial Conference Player of the Year, Marthins was recognized as a MAX Field Hockey Top 50 Player for the Class of 2025.
The Penn State field hockey team smiles in a huddle with their coaches as they wait for the review of a Penn State goal during the matchup against Lafayette on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Leopards 5-1.
Esteban Marenco
Maren Brady
A midfielder from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Maren Brady arrives at Penn State as a three-time Michigan High School Division I state champion.
Brady served as a captain her senior year, and was recognized as a 2024 NFHCA Watchlist player. She was also named to the Michigan High School Field Hockey Association Dream Team twice.
Cooper Cutchins
A defensive anchor for Norfolk Academy, Cooper Cutchins heads to Happy Valley.
A four-year starter both in defense and midfield, the Virginia native guided her squad to a combined 82-8 record and won three state titles.
Mia Clarkson
Goalkeeper Mia Clarkson, also from Virginia and Norfolk Academy, aided her and Cutchins’ squad to four state finals appearances and three state championships during her career.
A five-time varsity letter winner — including one earned as an eighth grader — Clarkson collected numerous honors and earned recognition on the MAX Field Hockey Mid-Atlantic Region second team.
Brooke Weaver
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, native Brooke Weaver wraps up her high school career with 64 goals and 46 assists, totaling 174 points. A four-year starter at Manheim Township, she helped her team capture multiple section titles and a District 3 championship.
She guided her team to two state tournament appearances, including one state finals run, and served as a two-time team captain.
Head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love addresses the Penn State field hockey team before their match against Maryland at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Terrapins beat the Nittany Lions 4-2.
Jonah Richmond
Hope Russo
Midfielder Hope Russo, a multi-year starter from New Jersey, was a key contributor at Oak Knoll, helping guide her team to two non-public school state titles, and four non-public sectional championships.
As a junior, she tallied 14 goals and 12 assists. Her numbers declined a bit senior year with one goal and 10 assists, but she brings plenty of potential and experience to Penn State.
Hadley Hoffsmith
From Palmyra, Pennsylvania, midfielder Hadley Hoffsmith ended her high school career with 27 goals and 14 assists while earning multiple All-State and All-Region honors.
A standout at Palmyra High School, she guided her team to identical 22-3-1 finishes in both her sophomore and junior seasons. Hoffsmith departed as the Mid-Penn Conference Keystone Division Player of the Year.
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