HTC Field Hockey Club at Johnson Field on May 19th, 2024 (Credit JVF)
New Haven -- After 4 weeks of fun competitive Field Hockey, the inagural Yale Series Championship Tournament delivered incredible competition, plenty of fun, and the tournament's first ever champion.
After running through the Yale Series Championship undefeated, HTC the Madison based Field Hockey club produced a sustained stretch of technical savvy, and timely plays down the stretch on their way to a championship.
After an impressive victory over the highly respected Marq Mellor led New York Hockey Club in the quarterfinals, HTC engaged in the game of the day, a thrilling overtime victory over the ultra talented New Jersey Intensity.
Leading the charge yet again, was the generational Nia Voss (Hotchkiss), the Frankfurt based German international was nothing short of electrifying throughout the tournament, and saved her best for last. Over the course of three games, Nia Voss showed the entire country that she will be a force to reckoned with for years to come. If she wasn't already one of the best field hockey players in the world, the Yale Series Championship demontrated she belongs in that conversation in terms of her age, and class.
For her athletic exploits, humility, performance, and support of her teammates, Nia Voss is the Yale Series Championship MVP.
A very well deserved honor for a burgeoning superstar. Glückwunsch zur Meisterschaft!
Rachel Turer (Taft) was marvelous in the middle of the field the entire day, brilliant, focused, one of the best players at the tournament.
Eleanor Helm meanwhile scored the goal of the tournament, slicing through the defense for a sudden death overtime game winner over the New Jersey Intensity.
Ava Bussolari at Johnson Field on May 19th, 2024 (Credit JVF)
HTC should be celebrated for a complete team performance, well coached, and determined to win at all times.
The New Jersey Intensity at Johnson Field on May 19th, 2024 (Credit JVF)
Jersey Intensity dazzles the Yale Series
As one of the two exempt teams in the tournament, the New Jersey Intensity were clearly not only one of the best teams at the Yale Series, Championship but a threat to win a national title this summer.
Camryn Johnson (Rutgers), Teagen Harmon (American University), Sylvie Notine (UNC-Chapel Hill), the list goes on and on, among the more star studded ball clubs the sport has to offer at the moment, an apex predator type of a team that elevated the entire event.
After a long car ride, the Intensity advanced all the way from the exempt round, to the Final Four. The Mommouth County based ball club demonstrated, and showcased the sport of Field Hockey at the highest level. Despite not reaching the championship game, the ball club left no doubt how talented, overwhelming, and in tune with the sport they are. An unbelievable performance from an extremely dangerous team.
The JVF Dragons at Johnson Field on May 19th, 2024 (Credit JVF)
The JVF Dragons make a Final Four Apperance!
In a tournament with some of the best players in the country, competing against clubs with national track records, the surprising JVF Dragons reached the Final Four of their first national tournament!
Led by Captains Kayla Wilonski (Wallingford), Gina Madonick (Amity), Bianca Ciaburro (North Haven), Jillian Lydon (Amity), and Thalia Zweeres (East Haven), the upstart team in blue won a thrilling 2-1 quarterfinal battle against the classy Cheer Field Hockey Team (Madison).
Lucy Dickenson (Cheshire) got the JVF on the board in the first half, and then Lexy Patel (Hamden) scored one of the biggest goals in the history of the program, outracing the defense down the sidelines, and registering the gamer winner, sending the Dragons to the Final Four.
Camryn Bernier (Suffield) continued her goal scoring tear over the last two weeks, scoring her 2nd goal in 3 games during the semfinal matchup with Competitive Edge.
Coming within inches of a championship game appearance at the Final Four, the Dragons now look to the future. At only 4 years old as a program, the JVF Dragons elevated the New Haven community and spread their mission with a spectacular performance.
JVF Panthers at Johnson Field on May 19th, 2024 (Credit JVF)
Notables
Suffolk County United, led by Championship level Coaches Gina Walling, and Libby Courtemanche, as well as Grace Peyman (Northport), proved to be a wonderful addition to the Yale Series. Traveling to the event by boat, then making the drive up I-95, the team gave an awesome account of themselves on a big stage. The girls from Northport, and beyond, represented the community of Suffolk County, and Long Island as whole, with complete class, grace, and kindness. The organizers of the tournament are hopeful the team can return in 2025
The JVF Panthers, led by Gabby Day (Hamden), Mia Hardt (Amity), Alexis Maher and Jetta Bozzi (Branford) fought, clawed, and worked their way to a fair result in both games. The youngest team in the tournament through the proceedings did not back down, or wilt in the face of top flight competition, and a massive stage. Daytona Kamienski (North Branford) and Kaitlyn Coughlin also turned in big performances.
CT Elite, led by All Tournament Team Selectees Caroline White (Darien), and Ali Meyer (Darien), turned in a gallant performance in the quarterfinal, losing a tough decision to Competitive Edge (Trumbull). Finishing the Yale Series at 3-2, the club from Stamford turned in an impressive tournament, and a couragous championship playoff despite being short on numbers. The team now looks ahead to RCCS, and a summer of fun.
Competitive Edge turned in a fine performance Sunday afternoon at Johnson Field, led by Fairfield University commit Kelley Monahan, and perhaps the best forward in the tournament Kaelyn Folgeson (Fairfield University), the warriors from Trumbull marched all the way to the championship game, showing a grit and toughness that has come to define their ball club
AIM Athletes, led by the legendary Amy Krompinger, advanced in the playin round, and nearly made the semifinals before runningto Jersey Intensity. Led by the relentless Grace Kociszewski (St Joseph University, Hartford), as well as the impressive Lily Bialack (Shepaug), the younger AIM team played at a very high level amid a tough draw of teams, and athletes. Collecting two wins at the Yale Series, the second youngest team in the tournament has much to be proud of, and will be a welcome addition to the next Yale Series.
2024 Yale Series Championship All Tournament Team
We are so proud to present the All Tournament Team for the 2024 Yale Series Championship.
These athletes provided the fans with memorable performances, and big time plays.
We want to thank everyone, the athletes, JVF families, the participating clubs, the club directors, Yale, Liberty Bank, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, First Place USA, PBK Unlimited, Shamrock Sports, the Burger Way Food Truck, Archie Moores of New Haven, Yale University, and everyone that made this impossible idea a reality.
We are super proud to announce that the Yale Series 2025 will be staged next spring, we hope to see everyone there!
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