NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale field hockey team will welcome six newcomers – five first-years and one transfer – to the roster for 2026. The Bulldogs announced the newcomers Monday.
The newcomers come from England, Northern Ireland and the United States. The group includes two backs, two forwards, one goalkeeper and one midfielder/forward.
The newcomers come from successful programs and have demonstrated leadership skills, with all having served as captains or vice captains of teams.
They have found multiple ways to contribute to their communities, including volunteering at a food bank, a hospital and with youth groups; tutoring elementary students; advocating for incarcerated women; helping plant and conserve trees; and teaching English and math to refugees.
The newcomers will join a core group of returnees for
Melissa Gonzalez, who enters her fifth year as Yale's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey. Yale returns seven players who made 17 or more starts in 2025, when the Bulldogs made the Ivy League Tournament and the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Assistant coach
Kerry Kiddoo returns as well, and
Hannah Tepper has joined the staff as an assistant coach.
Here is a look at the new Bulldogs:
Sophie Buchowski
Back
5-6
St. Louis, Mo.
John Burroughs School
USA Field Hockey: Selected to National Nexus Championship 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026.
John Burroughs School: Four-year starter for field hockey team… Team captain as a senior... St. Louis Post Dispatch John Burroughs Scholar Athlete of the Year 2026… NFHCA high school first team all-region 2025…. First team All-Metro League 2022-2025… St. Louis Post Dispatch first team all-state 2025… St. Louis Post-Dispatch second team all-state 2024 … St. Louis Post-Dispatch High School Athlete of the Week 2025… Metro Sport St. Louis first team 2025… Team was Missouri state champions 2023, 2025… Team was Missouri state runners-up 2022, 2024… Team was ranked 15th nationally by Max Field Hockey 2025… Team was ranked fourth in West/Midwest Region by Max Field Hockey 2025… NFHCA Scholar of Distinction 2025… Gateway Tournament All-Star 10 2025.... Played four years of lacrosse (three-year starter)... Second team All-Metro League in lacrosse 2025, 2026… Lacrosse team was Missouri state champions 2023, Missouri third place in state 2024, 2025, 2026…AP Scholar with Distinction… National Merit Finalist… Scholastic Regional Art and Writing Silver Awards… Editor-in-Chief of school's art and literary magazine, The Review.
Aim Field Hockey: U19 team placed sixth at National Club Championship 2025.... U19 Team placed 11th at National Club Championship 2024... U19s ranked 10th nationally by USA Field Hockey.
Notes: Travelled to the Netherlands for the largest global Model UN conference… Volunteer at Barnes-Jewish Hospital… Tutored elementary students in reading and writing at public schools in downtown St. Louis… Involved in service and advocacy for incarcerated women… Loves to hike; went on a three-week backpacking trip in Iceland and Alaska… Hobbies are painting, crafting and reading thriller novels… Father, Jacob Buchowski '96, attended Yale... Sister, Madeline Buchowski, is Yale Class of 2027... Uncle, Asa Piyaka '98, rowed for Yale... Mother, Katherine Buchowski, played squash at Haverford.
Why Yale? "Since I was little, Yale has always been my dream school. More recently though, when visiting campus, I immediately loved the supportive coaching staff and tight-knit team. I cannot imagine a better place to grow and am so excited to be part of the vibrant, creative community that Yale fosters!"
Angelina Che
Midfielder/Forward
5-4
Sudbury, Mass.
Groton School
USA Field Hockey: Made Nexus Championships in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 (placed first in 2022, second in 2023)... Made AAU Junior Olympics in 2022, 2023 (third place in 2023).
Groton School: Field hockey captain junior and senior years… MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Top 100 Player to Watch 2023… MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Player Ranking: Next 50 (March 2024)... MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Top 150 National Player Invitational Participant 2024… MAX Field Hockey High School New England Region Player to Watch 2023, 2024, 2025... MAX Field Hockey High School New England Region first team 2024… MAX Field Hockey High School New England Region second team 2025… NFHCA High School Watchlist 2023, 2024, 2025… NFHCA first team all-region Massachusetts 2023, 2024, 2025… Honorable mention All-ISL 2023… All-ISL 2024, 2025… Honorable mention All-NEPSAC 2023, 2025… All-NEPSAC 2024… Zebra Award 2024… Team MVP award 2025… Ended career with 31 goals and 45 assists… Team made ISL field hockey playoffs for first time in 10+ years 2022; also made ISL playoffs in 2023, 2024… Played four years of ice hockey…Ice hockey team was champions for first time in school history in NEPSAC Girls' Ice Hockey Tournament Dorothy Howard (Small) Bracket 2026; also made NEPSAC Elite 8 in 2025… Peer counselor… Latin tutor… Dorm prefect… Sixth form advisor.
Strikers: Third place at U16 Regional Club Championship 2025… MVP/first place at New England College Classic 2025, 2026.
Notes: 10+ years of community service with Warm Hands in Massachusetts, also an organizer for Warm Hands… Taught reading and writing for elementary students during pandemic… Hobbies include pottery, making jewelry, and playing cards with friends… Mother ran track at Harbin Institute of Technology in China.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of the balance of academic enrichment, a competitive field hockey program, and a collaborative community. Being surrounded by driven and curious people would transform me into a more confident individual, allowing me to thrive in Yale's welcoming environment. I can't wait to be a part of it all and grow intellectually, athletically, and as a person!"
Maddie Leathem
Forward
5-7
Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Strathearn School Belfast
Hockey Ireland: U15 Ulster Hockey squad 2021-2022... U18 Ulster Hockey squad 2023-2024 Interprovincial Winners… U21 Ulster Hockey Squad Winners 2026… UK School Games Ulster Hockey Squad winners 2024.
Strathearn School Belfast: Field Hockey first XI 2023-2026… First XI captain 2025-26 season…Top goal scorer, first 1XI hockey team 2026… Player of the season, first XI hockey team 2024-2026… Team was semi-finalists of Belfast Telegraph School Cup… Captain of netball team 2024... Team won Northern Irish netball school competition 2023… Athletics 2020-2026… In 2025, anchored 4x300 team that placed third in all of Ireland in Senior 4x300; placed fourth in all of Ireland in Senior 4x100, breaking a Northern Irish record… Placed fourth in Northern Ireland in 200m 2024 and 2025… Also played on tennis team… Also ran for cross country team… Cross country team placed third in Northern Ireland as a school team… Deputy head girl 2025-2026…Prize Day top 15 in year academic prize from 2024-2026.
Ards Ladies Hockey: First XI … Winner of Premier League and EY2 in 2026, promoted to EY1 (top league in Ireland)... Winner of Irish Indoor Championship 2026… Winner of Ulster Senior Indoor Championship 2025 and 2026… Winner U18 Ulster Indoor Championship 2024… Winner U15 Ulster Indoor Championship 2022… Played EY1 2025… Winner EY2 League 2024, promoted to EY1.
Notes: Selected to train with U15 and U18 Northern Irish netball team but had to turn offer down to prioritize her field hockey training… Has volunteered at community food bank… Has volunteered to coach hockey at school for U12s.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because it offers the opportunity to pursue world-class academics while competing at a high level in field hockey. The combination of challenge, tradition, and team culture made it feel like the perfect place for me to grow as both a student and an athlete."
Lucy Pigg
Goalkeeper
5-4
Charlotte, N.C.
Providence High School
USA Field Hockey: Nexus Championship 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026… Selected for U21 USA JWNT December Junior National Camp 2025… Selected for U18 USA JWNT December Junior National Camp 2024.
Providence High School: Field hockey captain 2025 … Team rookie of the year 2022… Team defensive player of the year 2023… Team MVP 2024, 2025… Conference defensive player of the year 2025… NFHCA All-Region 2025… All-State 2024, 2025… All-conference 2023, 2024, 2025… MAX Field Hockey Top 150 Players Class of 2026 in 2025… 171 saves, No. 28 National Ranking for saves, seventh in state… Helped achieve highest winning record in the team's history 2025... Also played one year of lacrosse… Student Council Chair 2024-2026… Student Body Vice President 2026… National Honor Society 2026… National French Honor Society 2025…Honors Chorus 2024-2026.
Ambush: USAFH National Club ranked 7th for U19… Qualified for National Club Championship 2025.
Notes: Loves to ski, hike, camp, read, and bake… Volunteered as TreeMaster for TreesCharlotte, helping plant and conserve trees around Charlotte… Volunteer coach for U10-U12 girls club teams… Gave private lessons to younger goalies… Worked as summer camp counselor for kids aged 5-12 for three years… Worked at Local Scoop ice cream shop for one year.
Why Yale? "I knew Yale was the place for me because of the incredible opportunities it offered for growth in both my academic and athletic abilities. The various communities that make Yale so welcoming are what fortified my decision and I knew I would have the support and resources to achieve my dreams at Yale."
Emilia Puddicombe
Back
5-6
Bristol, England
Clifton College
England Hockey: England U21 squad 2025-2026, England U18 squad 2024-2025 (played vs Netherlands, Germany and France in Utrecht; 6 Nations Tournament vs. Scotland, Spain, USA)... England U17 development squad 2023-2024. Team Bath Talent Academy 2022-2023.
Clifton College: Clifton Girls Hockey first XI vice captain… Also played Netball, Tennis, Cricket and Rackets… Clifton College Sports Scholar, Coaches Player 2025… Hockey Colours 2025, Most valuable player 2023 for hockey and netball… England Hockey Tier 1 Schools National Champions 2026… England Hockey Tier 1 Schools National Finalists 2024… ISHC runners-up 2024… Head of school… School prefect.
Clifton Robinsons Hockey Club: Ladies 1s premier division team; started all matches as right half in 2025-2026; scored vs Surbiton.
Notes: Takes part in music, such as school orchestra.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of the energy and enthusiasm of the people, as well as the incredible opportunities available. The academic programme is unmatched, and the support for athletic development is outstanding. I'm excited to grow both on and off the field."
Liza Semenenko
Forward
5-9
Ascot, England
Swarthmore College/St. Mary's School
2025-26 (First-Year, at Swarthmore): Honorable mention All-Centennial Conference… Led team in assists with six… Second on team in points with 16…. Started all 19 games.
St. Mary's School: Field hockey captain… Led team in goals three years in a row… Won Player's Player award 2025… Team was silver medalists at England Hockey Tier 3 Championships 2024 and bronze medalists in 2023… Soccer captain… Also competed for track and field, tennis teams… Awarded hockey colours four times, track and field three times and soccer twice… Won Cup for Outstanding Service to Junior Sport 2022.
Maidenhead HC: Voted first XI's player of the season 2024.
Guildford Talent Academy: TA Festival winners 2024.
Notes: Has taught English and math to refugees… Hobbies include diving, student piloting and golf.
Why Yale? "I wanted to challenge myself both academically and athletically, and be part of a community that felt genuinely supportive – Yale fit that criteria perfectly. From the moment I visited, I could see myself growing as a student, an athlete, and a person. I am incredibly excited to join YFH!"
