Field Hockey Welcomes Five Newcomers

Jan. 16, 2015

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville head field hockey coach Justine Sowry has announced that five prospective student-athletes: Annie Himsworth, Abby Julius, Madison Land, Taylor Stone and Katie Walsh will join the Cardinals in the fall of 2015.

"I am delighted to announce the early signing of our newest class," said Sowry. "Each of these young women will contribute to the Louisville Field Hockey program in different ways. This class is full of talent and all of the athletes are extremely well-rounded individuals. They are competitive, athletic, hard-working, versatile and want to be part of a winning culture. Each comes from strong club and high school programs and is accustomed to success."

2015 Louisville Field Hockey Recruiting Class

Player	Position	Hometown (Previous School)
Annie Himsworth	Midfielder	Trappe Pa. Perkiomen Valley HS
Abby Julius	Forward	Hummelstown, Pa. Lower Dauphin HS
Madison Land	Forward	Virginia Beach, Va. Cape Henry Collegiate
Taylor Stone	Midfield	Verndon, Va. Verndon HS
Katie Walsh	Midfielder	Louisville, Ky. Ballard HS

2015 Field Hockey Recruiting Class Profiles


2015 Field Hockey Recruiting Class Profiles

		Annie Himsworth Trappe, Pa./Perkiomen Valley HS (X-Calibur) Midfielder Annie Himsworth joins the Cardinals from Trappe, Pa., where she played for Perkiomen Valley High School and X-Calibur Field Hockey Club. In 2014 she was the team captain and helped lead Perkiomen Valley go undefeated in conference play, win the Pioneer Athletic Conference-10 Conference Championship and advance to the district finals. Also during her senior season, Himsworth led the team with 37 points and tied for the team lead with 12 goals while leading the league with 13 assists. Himsworth is a two-time all-state selection and earned all-PAC-10 conference, Times Herald all-area and Pottstown Mercury all-area honors from 2011 through 2013. Himsworth participated in USA Field Hockey's Futures Elite from 2013 through 2015 and helped her team to a first place finish in the 2014 Futures Elite Championship. She competed in the Junior Olympics in 2012 and 2013 and was a Junior National Camp participant in 2013. Himsworth participated in the Nationals Futures Championship from 2008 through 2013. She helped her team to runner-up finishes at the National Club Championships (2012 and 2014) and the Canadian Women's Indoor Classic (2013 and 2014). Himsworth participated in the National Festival from 2010 through 2013, leading her team to first place finishes in 2012 and 2013. She also competed in the Nationals Indoor Tournament from 2008 through 2014 and helped her team to a first place showing at the 2013 and 2014 Junior Premier Indoor League and the 2014 Junior Premier Outdoor League. Himsworth was the MVP of the 2011 Big Apple International Indoor Premier Championship and led her team to the 2012 and 2013 titles. Himsworth also lettered in lacrosse and was a member of the Student Council for three years. Justine Sowry on Annie Himsworth "Annie is a versatile player who has a strong, athletic and confident presence on the hockey field. She has an optimistic personality and truly enjoys the game. She also possesses competitiveness and a work ethic that will make her a formidable force. We can see Annie playing a strong role in the midfield in her freshman campaign. She has high hockey intelligence, reads play well and has an excellent overall skill set." Annie Himsworth on Louisville "I chose to go to Louisville because it just felt right athletically and academically. I was impressed by fantastic coaches sincerely interested in my growth not only as an athlete but as a person with confidence. And I was really taken by the team, the facilities, the academic support system, and by the vibrant city nearby. For me, the chance to do amazing things and to be a part of something so special is within reach, and I can't wait to take it."

		Abby Julius Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin HS (X-Calibur) Forward Abby Julius joins the Cardinals from Hummelstown, Pa., where she played for two-time state champion Lower Dauphin High School and the X-Calibur Field Hockey Club team. She helped lead Lower Dauphin to two Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletic Association (PIAA) state titles (2012 and 2013), back-to-back district championships (2013 and 2014) and four straight Mid-Penn division crowns (2011 through 2014). Julius is a Penn-Live District 3, Keystone Division and Mid-Penn all-star first team selection. She earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association all-region and all-state honors in 2013. Julius has also been successful in the USA Field Hockey system as a member of the Under 17 national team and the Under 19 National Indoor team. She participated in the National Futures championship and the elite academy as well as the Junior Olympics and competed in the Junior Premier Indoor League. While playing for X-Calibur, Julius helped her team to the National Festival Championship in 2013, a gold medal in the U19 Canadian Women's Indoor Classic, the Junior Premier League title and a silver medal finish in the 2014 National Club Championship. Justine Sowry on Abby Julius "Abby has a strong resume that includes successful high school and club involvement and has both indoor and outdoor experience at the Junior USA level. We expect Abby to have an immediate impact on the forward line in her freshman year. She is dynamic and has the speed, flare and skill set to be creative and be an attacking threat for our team. Her mentality and presence is sure to be felt." Abby Julius on Louisville "I chose UofL because I fell in love with the campus, the awesome girls on the team, and the amazing coaches. When I attended the elite field hockey clinic, I felt an immediate connection with both coach Sowry and Lucas and could sense their belief in me. I learned so much from them in such a short time. When I had my one-on-one talk with Coach Sowry, I could tell that her passion for the game and her team was real. She asked me what one of my college field hockey goals was and I said to win the national championship. After our talk was over, I knew she was the coach that would strive to make that happen and I wanted to be a part of it. I am so proud to officially be a Louisville Cardinal!"

		Madison Land Virginia Beach, Va./Cape Henry Collegiate (TCOYO) Forward Madison Land joins the Cardinals from Virginia Beach, Va., where was a five-year varsity letter winner at Cape Henry Collegiate School and played for the TCOYO club team. While playing for Cape Henry Collegiate, she helped her team to two state championships and two Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) titles. The three-time TCIS selection earned all-state first team honors in 2012 after setting Top 3 Tidewater scoring record. She was an all-state honorable mention in 2013. While she playing for TCOYO, her team was ranked among the top 10 indoor clubs in the nation was a top 25 club team. She has qualified for the National Indoor Tournament the past five years and was a Futures Elite participant. She was also four-year letter winner in soccer and helped Cape Henry Collegiate to two regular season championships. Justine Sowry on Madison Land "Madison is an up-and-coming forward and will be sure to complement our team. She is tenacious, competitive, quick off the mark and has an ability to put the ball in the back of the goal. Her passion, enthusiasm and spirit for Louisville were immediately evident and she will be an amazing teammate anchored by her strength of character." Madison Land on Louisville "I chose UofL because of the family atmosphere within the team and the passion the coaches show for the sport."

		Taylor Stone Herndon, Va./Herndon HS (Rampage) Midfielder Taylor Stone joins the Cardinals from Herndon, Va., where she played for Herndon High School and the Rampage Club team. While playing for Herndon, Stone helped her team to the 2014 Concord District Championship. She is a three-time all-region selection (2012, 2013 and 2014) and earned all-Metropolitan area and all-region tournament team honors in 2013. The two-time all-district tournament team member (2011 and 2012) was a first team all-district selection in 2012. She was also selected to the USA Field Hockey U17 national training team (2013-14). Additionally, Stone was a member of the USA's Open women's field hockey team in the 19th World Maccabiah Games and helped her team to a bronze medal. She also brings an impressive resume off the field as a member of the National Honor Society, and a three-time the Northern Region Athletic Honor Roll and the Herndon High School Athletic Honor Roll selection. Justine Sowry on Taylor Stone "Taylor has strong ties to UofL and we were fortunate to have her on campus at a young age. She has the ability to play across all lines, but most likely will see time in either the backfield or midfield. Her technical skills and tactical IQ are already at an exceptional level and we look for her to make an immediate impact. Taylor is a great athlete with good endurance, a relentless mentality, and the ability to read the game." Taylor Stone on Louisville "I chose to become a Cardinal for many reasons. I love the atmosphere of a big sports school, and I saw the dedication to women's sports especially when I visited. I have been a life-long Louisville fan, with my dad growing up there and my grandparents still there. Lastly, I felt a commitment from this program more than I did anywhere else. I seek to grow as an athlete and to compete with a team that shares the same deep passion I have for the game, and I have great confidence that joining the Cardinal family will provide me with just that.

		Katie Walsh Louisville, Ky./Ballard HS (IFHCK) Midfielder Katie Walsh joins the Cardinals from Louisville, Ky., where she was a four-year starter and senior captain for Ballard High School and played for IFHCK Club team. While playing for Ballard, Walsh helped the Bruins to back-to-back state semifinal appearances and district titles in 2012 and 2013 and district runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2014. The two-time all-state tournament team selection (2013 and 2014) also earned district all-tournament team honors in 2011 and 2014. She was named to the Kentucky Select first team from 2012 through 2014 and was a Miss Kentucky Field Hockey nominee in 2014. She was Ballard's Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013. While playing for IFHCK, Walsh helped her team to a gold medal in the U19 National Festival. Walsh is a two-time Futures Elite selection (2014 and 2015) and competed in the National Futures Championship from 2010 through 2014. Justine Sowry on Katie Walsh "Katie is a Louisville native and we developed a strong relationship with her from an early stage. We want the best to stay in Louisville and the best decided to be a Cardinal. Katie is a midfielder, has natural athleticism and talent on the hockey field, but her maturity and growth over the past few years is what truly impressed us. She reads the game well, has great hand speed, and possesses a fluidness you don't often see." Katie Walsh on Louisville "Playing field hockey for UofL has been a dream/goal of mine ever since I started playing. The team, coaches, and facilities cannot be matched by those of any other school. I want to contribute to a successful program, and I can't think of a better place to do that then here at UofL."

University of Louisville Athletics

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