LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University Field Hockey Head Coach Lori Hussong has announced the written commitments of eight student-athletes for the 2018-19 academic year. Tess van Ommeren (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Sint Nicolaas Lyeum), Gi Morganti (Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph High School), Brooke Gastin (Ulster Park, NY/Kingston High School), Kat Conroy (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional), Alexa Burns (Galloway, NJ/Absegami High School), Ali Hannah (Hopewell, NJ/Stuart Country Day of the Sacred Heart), Carly Brosious (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Pendergast) and Julia Divorra (Terrassa, Spain/Vedruna Vall) will all join the Broncs for the 2018 campaign.

"This year's recruiting class will truly be impactful on our program," Hussoung said. "We feel that we have worked very hard to find the ingredients that have been missing from our program the last few years and are eager to see what we can accomplish with this outstanding group of student-athletes. We feel each and every newcomer this year has the potential to succeed and give us a chance to compete for a MAAC Championship. Adding  this group of talented players to a very strong returning team will definitely be a positive step in the right direction  and we are excited to see  how the season unfolds."

Tess van Ommeren
Ommeren is 5-7, left-handed forward/midfielder and she comes to Lawrenceville from The Netherlands. Ommeren has been playing since the age of six and most recently starred for the First Ladies team of HC AthenA. For the U14 youth category, she was selected to the All-District team. In the U16 and U18 categories, she played in the National Super A and Super B Youth Leagues.

Hussong on van Ommeren
"A true competitor, Tess is a skilled and gifted forward from the Netherlands.  She has game-breaking speed and skill and a variety of shots that makes it very difficult to defend her. She loves to attack and make something happen and as she acclimates to our style of play,Tess will develop into an offensive force on the field.  She works so hard with and without the ball and will fit in perfectly with our steal and go mentality.  Tess always thinks score and has the ability to get shots off quickly in tight spaces and on goal.  She is going to be a welcome addition to our team and will be counted on to provide that 'it'  factor that has been missing the past few seasons."

Gi Morganti
Morganti is a 5-2 versatile player from Berlin, New Jersey. She earned four varsity letters in field hockey at St. Joseph High School. During his interscholastic career, she netted 107 goals and added 32 assists. She scored a career-high 40 goals as a sophomore. She received First Team All-CAL honors all four years of high school and as a sophomore she earned Second Team All-State distinction. She also played softball in high school.

Hussong on Morganti
"Speed, hunger, desire and determination are just a few words to describe Gianna. We know we can count on her to try and run every ball down and give her best effort. Gianna has a knack for cutting back to balls and making something great happen on the attacking side of the field. She can see the field beautifully and makes herself available for being involved in every play possible. Every time she touches the ball she has the ability to make something really good happen. She is a coachable and always working to improve."

Brooke Gastin
Gastin is a 5-1 forward that comes to Rider from Ulster Park, New York. Gastin played for three years in high school and earned a varsity letter as a senior at Kingston High School. As a senior, she was tabbed as a co-captain of her team and named an All-Star after leading her squad in goals (19) and assists (20). She guided her team to a Section 9 Championship three times. She was also named an All-Star as a junior. Gastin's team captured the MHAL Championships. Also played softball and competed in indoor track and field in high school.

Hussong on Gastin
"Brooke has blazing, breakaway speed coupled with a killer-bee mentality. As she develops tighter ball skills and more shot variety she will be very hard to defend.  Teams should not be deceived by her looks as she is tiny, but stronger than an ox and has a never give up until you get the job done type of thinking.  She is an absolute team-first player who is easy to coach and adapts well to learning and implementing what's learned into her game.  The sky is the limit for Brooke as she is full of potential."

Kat Conroy
Conroy is a 5-6 midfielder from Manahawkin, New Jersey. She earned four varsity letters in field hockey from Southern Regional. Conroy was tabbed as a First Team All-Shore Conference and First Team Coaches Choice. She scored 26 goals and dished out 20 assists in high school. She plays her club hockey for Jersey Intensity.

Hussong on Conroy
"Katlin is a true competitor with strong skills set and work ethic. She is dedicated, committed and passionate about the game. I'm excited to see her develop, as she has a high ceiling for growth. She sets high expectations for herself and gives her best at every turn.  We know we can count on her to always be positive and upbeat as she always thinks of her team first in every that she does."

Ali Hannah
Hannah is a 5-9 defender that comes to Rider from Hopewell, New Jersey. She was a four-year varsity letterwinner in field hockey at the Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. In 2017, she earned Central Jersey Field Hockey Association (CJFHA) Second Team honors. She was her team's most improved player last season. As a junior she earned CJFHA Honorable Mention distinction. She also was a four-year letterwinner in lacrosse in high school.

Hussong on Hannah
"Ally is an athletic, tall and strong defender who is fast to learn and works like a demon in all that she does.  Positive, helpful and coachable are all part of the type of player Ali is.  She is physically strong and  eager to learn and improve.  Ali is extremely competitive and loves hockey and wants to continue growing her game.  She always comes to the field with a smile and an upbeat attitude but always plays fierce and aggressive."

Alexa Burns
Burns is a 5-6 midfielder/defender that hails from Galloway, New Jersey. She was a four-year varsity letterwinner in both field hockey and lacrosse at Absegami High School. As a senior, her team went 10-8-1 and made it to the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 3 Playoffs. She scored three goals and had four assists last fall as a senior. As a freshman she was named the team's most improved player. As a sophomore, she was received Second Team All-Cape Atlantic League honors. As a junior, she also earned Second Team All-Cape Atlantic League distinction and was also tabbed as the team's MVP. During her senior campaign, she was named First Team Press of Atlantic City, First Team All-Cape Atlantic League, the team's defensive MVP, team captain and selected to the Cape Atlantic Senior All-Star game.

Hussong on Burns
"Alexa is a diamond in the rough and has the potential to a top-notch defender. She is athletic, has quick feet and has a true ability to read, intercept passes and transition down the field. She is extremely coachable and willing to learn. Alexa is hard working and determined in all that she does and as she acclimates to the speed of the college game she will be a positive force on or back line."

Carly Brosious
Brosious is a 5-0 forward that comes to Rider from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. She starred in field hockey at Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Penergast High School, earning three varsity letters. She scored 41 goals and added 27 assists during her high school career. Last fall she earned First Team All-Delco honors and First Team All-Catholic distinction. She was named the Catholic League MVP and her team's MVP. She was also honorable mention All-State in 2017. As a junior she received Second Team All-Catholic honors and second team All-Delco.

Hussong on Brosious
"Carly is an exciting, dynamic and gifted field hockey player who has the potential to step on our field and be a true impact player. She comes from a field hockey family as her three sisters all played at the collegiate level. Small but mighty she is a smooth operator who is knowledgeable and hockey smart.  She sees the field, has a great feel for the game and can assist or score.  We are anxious to see what Carly can accomplish the next four years. Her communication skills and her ability to lead by example will definitely set her up for a very successful career here at Rider."

Julia Divorra
Divorra is a 5-3 versatile left-hander that can play both forward and midfield. The native of Spain attended Vedruna Vall High School.

Hussong on Divorra
"Julia is a gifted midfielder, who has the ability to both set up scoring opportunities and score. Her easy going, positive attitude pours onto the field and helps make her stay calm under pressure and  at the same time play  intense and fearless. We've had so much success with our players from Spain and we expect the same from Julia.  Her skills package and knowledge of the game should help raise the level of our teams play.  Julia is a hard worker and determined to succeed and we can't wait to see what she can accomplish when she gets a chance to pour her heart and soul into our program."