Field Hockey Adds Nine in Signing Class

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison field hockey has signed eight incoming freshmen and one graduate student to National Letters of Intent as announced by head coach Christy Morgan on Thursday.

Joining the Dukes in the Fall are: Samantha Grimes, Mackenzie Lever, Cassidy Strittmatter, Sarah Perkins, Katie Fricke, Taryn Mayer, Carleigh Conners, Georgie Yullie and Florien Marcussen.

"I'm so excited to announce our 2021 class!" Morgan said. "It's a special group and one that will drive the field hockey program towards our goal of national prominence!"

Samantha Grimes | Poquoson, Va.
Grimes comes to JMU after a stellar high school career as she has been named to the All-State 2A First Team and All-Region 2A First Team all three years that she has been eligible.

Additionally, Grimes has helped the team to back-to-back Bay Rivers District and Region 2A championships (2018-2019). Grimes was also a star in track as she has earned First Team All-Region 2A honors her freshman through junior years.

Grimes puts in work in the classroom as she has been on the Honor Roll all years of high school while also being a member of the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society.

Coach Morgan on Grimes
"Samantha is a crafty, smart committed player who has a quiet demeanor as a person but is a Tiger on the field!"

FH NSD - Samantha Grimes

Mackenzie Lever | Doylestown, Pa.
Lever makes her way to Harrisonburg from Central Bucks High School East after playing four years of varsity field hockey where she has helped the team make it to the district championship her senior campaign. Additionally, in her final season she led the team in goals as she was coming off being named the Offensive Player of the Year for her high school her junior season.

Coach Morgan on Lever
"Mackenzie has great game sense, skill and desire. She's a finisher and a playmaker! She is an exciting player to watch!"

FH NSD - Mackenzie Lever

Cassidy Strittmatter | Tabernacle, N.J.
Strittmatter has had a decorated high school career as she is a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, two-time First Team All-Burlington County member and a two-time First Team All-Region Max Field Hockey honoree. Additionally, in her junior campaign she was named to the NFHCA All-Region First Team. She also was a part of the varsity swimming, track and basketball teams.

In the classroom, Strittmatter is a member of the National Honor Society and was been named an Academic All-American in 2019.

Coach Morgan on Strittmatter
"Cassidy is a competitor; she is a high-performance player who will be a game changer!"

FH NSD - Cassidy Strittmatter

Sarah Perkins | Cary, N.C.
Perkins is a four-year varsity starter who served as captain her senior season. She has helped the team reach the state quarterfinals three times including making it to the state semifinal game her junior season. After her senior season, she earned NCISAA All-State honors. Additionally, Perkins has been on the Honor Roll and she served as the Student Government Vice President.

Coach Morgan on Perkins
"Sarah is a coachable, eager player who will fight to the finish. Sarah is smart, speedy and sassy on the field!"

FH NSD - Sarah Perkins

Katie Fricke | Medford, N.J.
Fricke has been on the Max Field Hockey Class of 2021 Watch List all four years of high school and has been a NFHCA High School National Academic Squad member her junior and senior seasons. In her final season, she earned a spot on the NJ All-Group 4 Third Team. For her academics, she has been on the Honor Roll and is a part of the National Honor Society and Italian Honor Society.

Coach Morgan on Fricke
"Katie caught our eye because of her aggressive assertive play in the cage. She's a competitor and has a desire to be the best every time she steps on the field!"

FH NSD - Katie Fricke

Taryn Mayer | Huntingdon, Pa.
Mayer is following her sister's, Corey Mayer ('18), footsteps to become a Duke. Mayer was destined for greatness from the start as she broke the freshman scoring record and has been named the team captain and MVP the following three seasons. She is a two-time First Team Bicentennial Athletic League selection who has set the school scoring record with 118 career goals.

In addition to grinding hard on the field, she also puts in hard dedication towards her academics as Mayer was listed on the Honor Roll all four years and was listed to the Distinguished Honor Roll.

Coach Morgan on Mayer
"Taryn is the definition of grit. She has an amazing work rate, fight and desire! She can play almost anywhere on the field and she can put the ball in the cage!"

FH NSD - Taryn Mayer

Carleigh Conners | Havertown, Pa.
Conners is a four-year starter who has earned All-Catholic honors for all three seasons prior to CoVID-19 pausing her senior campaign. In her sophomore season, she helped her team win the Philadelphia Catholic League and District 3A championships. Additionally, Conners played a crucial part in the team repeating as District 3A champions her junior season.

Coach Morgan on Conners
"Carleigh is a confident competitor who influences whatever team she plays on. She's strong, fit and has a sincere desire to win!"

FH NSD - Carleigh Conners

Georgie Yullie | Linlithgow, Scotland
Yullie makes her way to Harrisonburg from Scotland as she has played on multiple Scottish National Squads from 2018-2021 while also being the captain at her school her final season. As a member of the U18 East District Squad, she led the team to back-to-back Interdistrict Tournament titles.

Coach Morgan on Yullie
"Georgie combines fight and finesse. She's a team player who you want on your side because she's a difference maker!"

FH NSD - Georgie Yullie

Florien Marcussen | Soest, the Netherlands | Northwestern
Marcussen will join the Dukes as a graduate transfer from Northwestern where she earned her bachelor's in environmental science with a minor in business institutions. While at Northwestern in her junior campaign she led the Big Ten in shutouts and was third in the league in saves. She has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and has also earned a spot on the Academic All-Big Ten team.

Coach Morgan on Marcussen
"Flo is an elite, experienced dynamic keeper who will be a leader due to her many years in the cage and her depth of experience!"

FH NSD - Flo Marcussen

The JMU field hockey team returns to action on Saturday as the Dukes will make the trip north to face Hofstra at 1 p.m. JMU opened its season going 1-1 with a dominant 4-0 season-opening win over William & Mary (3/19) before a tough 5-2 setback at #14 Virginia (3/21).

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Field Hockey Adds Nine in Signing Class

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