Tar Heels Welcome Newcomers, Kick Off 2019

The Tar Heel newcomers (L to R): Kit Olmsted, Liz Pelligreen, Karlijn Goes, Mimi Leonard, Steph Weber, Galen Gray, Madison Orobono and Brooke Behan

August 12, 2019 | Field Hockey

2019 Schedule

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – With a nod to past success, the UNC field hockey team looked to the future Monday evening, kicking off the 2019 season with the program's annual Welcome Back Dinner. The Tar Heels will hit the turf for the first time on Tuesday.

Monday in the Loudermilk Center Blue Zone, the Tar Heels made mention of an outstanding 2018-19, when they finished undefeated and won NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference championships, and also had the program's best-ever academic semester, with a team GPA of 3.3 and 10 players on the Dean's List last spring. But the focus stayed squarely on this year's team and the upcoming season, which Carolina opens on Aug. 30 at Michigan.

Welcome Back Dinner ✅ Up next: Fitness testing tomorrow morning, then we hit the field for our first practice tomorrow afternoon. A big welcome to our 8⃣new Tar Heels and their families ... we're so happy you're here! 💙🏑#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/ZUBWd079JL — UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) August 13, 2019

UNC lost six seniors from last year's squad and adds eight newcomers to this year's, making for a slightly larger squad of 30. The new Tar Heels – seven freshmen and one junior transfer – are:

• Brooke Behan, a freshman forward from St. Louis, Mo.
• Karlijn Goes, a freshman defender/midfielder from Amsterdam
• Galen Gray, a freshman forward from Houston
• Mimi Leonard, a junior midfielder from Trumbull, Conn., who spent two years at Saint Louis University
• Kit Olmsted, a goalkeeper from Hershey, Pa.
• Madison Orobono, a defender from Macungie, Pa.
• Liz Pelligreen, a midfielder from St. Louis, Mo.
• Steph Weber, a midfielder/forward from Tadworth, England

The Tar Heels also return 20 letterwinners from last year's team, plus two players who redshirted last year. The incoming group of eight is balanced by a group of eight seniors: Marissa Creatore, Megan DuVernois, Feline Guenther, Alex Halpin, Catherine Hayden, Yentl Leemans, Ellen Payne and Ali Rushton.

For the full 2019 roster, click here.. For the schedule click here.