Coaches

Field Hockey Club

Kristiina Castagnola

Becky Petit

Austyn Cuneo

U16 Coach

"I am looking forward to coaching UPRISE and seeing the development of the girls, growing the game of field hockey and promoting the love of the sport, so they will love it as much as I do!"

Playing Experience:

Shawnee High School (1998-2001)
Was an active participant in Futures
Played for the club Spirit of USA
Selected to the U-16 National Team
Villanova University

Coaching Experience:

Futures goalkeeping coach
Seneca High School assistant varsity coach (2008-2009)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Becky says her proudest moments of the game happen when she is coaching and witnesses successful plays from her goalkeepers.

Interests and Hobbies:

When she is not coaching, Becky is usually spending time with her family. They enjoy riding bikes around town, playing in the backyard, and sitting at their fire pit at night. Becky also enjoys reading and creating digital scrapbooks!

U19 Coach

"I am really looking forward to being with UPRISE coaches and players who share my passion for the game of field hockey. It is exciting to be a part of something that is going to establish a culture of success!"

Gloria Byard

U12 Coach

Playing Experience:

Eastern Regional High School (2011-2014, 4x State Champion)
University of North Carolina (2015-2016, ACC Champion)
Rutgers University (2017-2019, 2X All Region, All-Big Ten, 2x Big Ten Player of the Week, 2X NFHCA National Player of the Week, Pre-season Player to Watch, Academic All-Big Ten, NFHCA Senior Game Selection, All ECAC Team, 1st Team All-Region (Mid-Atlantic), 2nd Team All-American)

USA Junior National Team (2010-2013)

Coaching Experience:

USFHA Futures (2017)
Mid-Jersey Knights Club Coach (2017-2018)
College Camps (UNC, Rutgers)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Austyn's greatest high school moment was winning the State Championship and TOC all four years, as well as breaking multiple national scoring records her junior and senior year. Her greatest college moment was making it to the NCAA tournament with Rutgers for the first time in 32 years, going through 4 knee surgeries and multiple facial fractures senior year, but finishing the season with a mask and being selected to play in the NFHCA Senior All Star Game.

Interests and Hobbies:

In her spare time, Austyn loves going to the beach, coaching, hiking trails and spending time with her family and friends!

U14 Coach

“I love coaching for Uprise because I get to be apart of so many players’ lives. I see so many talented players develop their skills and achieve their goals; that is what makes it worthwhile.”

UPRISE Field Hockey Club Coaches

U14 Coach

Playing Experience:

Eastern High School (2014-2017, 4x State Champion, Captain Junior & Senior Year)
Futures Elite Member
Providence College (2017-2018)
LaSalle University (2019-present)

Coaching Experience:

Summer Camps (Little Risers, Badger Summer Camp, Competitive Edge)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Cassie's favorite memory was from her sophomore year at Eastern, when they beat the #2 team in the nation, Episcopal Academy, 8-0 at home surrounded by supportive friends, family, and administrators! It was by far the most fun game she has ever played. It was even more exciting because she was able to do this with the most dedicated teammates, she she still considers good friends, and the coaches that always wanted the best for them!

Interests and Hobbies:

In her free time, Cassie likes going to the beach, working out and handing out with her family, friends and dog! She also enjoys doing volunteer at work at events for special needs children and adults.

Playing Experience:

Glassboro State College (1972-1976)
National Squad Member (1974-1978, toured Trinidad Tobago and Barbados)

Coaching Experience:

Haddon Heights High School Head Coach (2018-present)
Selector and coach at National Level, including Developmental Camps
Garden State Games coordinator
Started the field hockey program at Salem Community College (1980-1985)
New Jersey HS All Star Team coach, toured England in 1985
Byrd's Field Hockey Day Camp
High School Head coach at Highland HS (1987-1989), Glassboro HS (1989-2013), Timber Creek HS (2014-2016)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Gloria's most memorable field hockey moment is from the time when she was selected to the United States National Team, which was set to tour Trinidad Tobago and Barbados. Her next favorite moment comes from coaching at Glassboro High School in 2008 when they earned the rights to play in States!

Interests and Hobbies:

Gloria loves to shop, ride her bike, and work on her yard. She loves supporting her grandkids in the various activities they partaken in. But most importantly, Gloria truly loves to help others in any way she can.

Devon Bell

U14 Coach

Playing Experience:

Shawnee High School (4-year varsity squad, senior year Captain)
Shippensburg University (4-year varsity squad, senior year Captain)

Coaching Experience:

Shawnee High School coach, 1992-2002 (8 years varsity assistant; 2 years head coach)
Seneca High School varsity coach, 2003-2009
Former Futures coach
Stick Stars Program coach, 2000-2015

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Beth Anne has two favorite field hockey moments in her career. The first was winning a New Jersey State Championship with Shawnee High School in 1983, when Liz Tchou and Lori Bruney were her captains. The second was when she was coaching at Shawnee in 1998 and won the State title.

Interests and Hobbies:

Beth Anne is an english teacher at Seneca High School. She says being in the classroom is one of her favorite things. Along with field hockey, Beth Anne has coached youth basketball and softball. When she isn't teaching or coaching, she is spending time with her husband and four incredible daughters.

"I am looking forward to coaching tremendous athletes and helping them achieve their goals. I am also excited to enhance my knowledge of the game through coaching with the UPRISE coaching staff."

Playing Experience:

Eastern Regional High School (2012-2015, 4x State Champion, 3x TOC Champion)
Futures Elite Member
Penn State University (2016-2017, Big Ten Champion)
Rowan University (2018-Present, 2018 NJAC Champion, 2018 Final Four Appearance, 4x NJAC Rookie of the Week, 1x NJAC Offensive Player of the Week, 2x NJAC All-Conference 1st Team, 1x All-Region First Team (South Atlantic), 1x All-Region Second Team (South Atlantic), 2nd Team All-American, 2x NFHCA National Academic Squad, Shirley O’Day Award Recipient, Current Team Captain)

Coaching Experience:

Summer Camps (UPRISE, Rowan Field Hockey)
UPRISE Clinics

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Kristiina's greatest field hockey moment was the entire 2018 season when her team went 22-1. Her team secured a bid into the NCAA tournament and to host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games after defeating TCNJ 2-0 in the NJAC Conference Championship. They then went on to the Final Four where they lost to the eventual National Championship team Middlebury. It was such an exciting time for the program!

Interests and Hobbies:

Kristiina is currently finishing up her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and then will be starting her Masters in Higher Education Administration! In her free time Kristiina loves to go to the beach, going on long runs, and hanging with her friends and family!

Kelsey Mitchell

Cassie Kincaid

Goalkeeping Coach

“ I love coaching UPRISE because it allows me to guide players along their field hockey journey while sharing my knowledge and passion of field hockey. It’s great to see the girls apply new skills to their game and it is up most rewarding to see them do it with confidence. I am so excited to be working with other great coaches and I can not wait to expand my knowledge because of them!

Alex Pecora (AP)

U19 Coach

"I am so excited for the opportunity to be able to coach and empower these female athletes with UPRISE. I can't wait to learn and develop along with so many talented players, and give every player the confidence to perform at the highest levels."

Playing Experience:

Shawnee High School
Active member in Futures and club programs
University of Maryland

Coaching Experience:

Seneca High School Head Coach (2018-present)
La Salle University (2011- 2018)
Yale University (2010-2011)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Kristina's greatest memories come from being a Terp and experiencing two National Championship teams, being a runner up to a National Championship, and being a sweet sixteen finalist. She says winning is great, but sometimes- with even the greatest talent- you can fall short of what was, at the time, the most important dream of your life. Not qualifying for the Final Four the year after being a National Champion was unforgettable for her and her team. Kristina stated, "the atmosphere, the comradery the hours on and off the field, the willingness to do anything for the teammate next to you... that's what takes you across the finish line. Being declared a National Champion was the most sensational moment of my life, but it doesn't come overnight."

Interest and Hobbies:

Kristina enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.

Playing Experience:

Eastern High School (2006-2009)
The University of Iowa (2010-2013)

Coaching Experience:

Ocean City High School Head Coach (2017-present)
Cedar Creek High School Assistant Coach (2016)
Eastern High School, Assistant Coach (2015)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Kelsey's greatest field hockey memories are from her senior seasons, both at Eastern High School and at Iowa. During her final season at Eastern, Kelsey and teammates enjoyed a lot of success and she remembers play-off victories the most vividly, capped off with another Tournament of Champions title. At Iowa, Kelsey greatest field hockey memory is the Big Ten Tournament at Ohio State, where she and teammates beat Michigan and Penn State for the first (and only) time in her college career before falling short in the Big Ten Title game.

Interests and Hobbies:

Kelsey teaches 8th grade Special Education at Ocean City Intermediate School. She loves her job! When she is not teaching or coaching, Kelsey spends time with her family and enjoys being outside.

"With UPRISE, I can't wait to learn from all the amazing coaches involved, so I can pass on the knowledge to other coaches and players. I'm excited to help make the field hockey in South Jersey the BEST there is and give each player the confidence they need to perform their skills at perfection."

Playing Experience:

Cherokee High School (2005-2009)
Ball State University (2009-2012)

Coaching Experience:

Cherokee High School Head Coach (2016-Present)
Field Hockey Club of South Jersey Rookie Coach of the Year (2016)
Spirit of USA coach (2013-2015)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Devon says her greatest hockey moment was when she was a freshman and her varsity team tied Eastern High School for the first time in many years. It was even more memorable because she was the one who tied it.

Interests and Hobbies:

Devon enjoys sitting on the beach and running her nonprofit organization, Power Forward. Power Forward helps fund underprivileged student-athletes participate in travel sports.

Beth Anne Strittmatter

Playing Experience:

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School (2009-2012, 2X State Champion)
USFHA Futures Elite Participant

Spirit of USA FH Club Member
University of Iowa (2013-2017, Big Ten Champion Runner Up)

Coaching Experience:

Bishop Eustace Preparatory School Assistant Coach (2019)
University of Iowa Summer Camp (2013-2017)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

AP's greatest field hockey moment was receiving the Dr. Christine Grant Leadership Award in my junior and senior years at the University of Iowa. Dr. Christine Grant was a pioneer for gender equality in sports, and it was an absolute honor to accept a leadership award bearing her name.

Interests and Hobbies:

AP enjoys working out and staying competitive by trying to beat her half-marathon times every year. She is also in her third year of law school, so you can catch her in her free time studying for the bar exam!

Playing Experience:

Eastern Regional High School (2009-2012, 4x State Champion)
Futures Elite Member, Junior Olympics Attendee (2011)
Jersey Intensity Club Member
Northeastern University (2013)
Rutgers University (2014-2016)
Field Hockey Club of SJ College Player of the Year (2012)
Played in Australia with USA Athletes International (2017)

Coaching Experience:

USFHA Futures (2018-Current)
College and High School Camps (Competitive Edge, Northeastern, Rider, Rutgers and Penn State)

Greatest Field Hockey Moment:

Kimi's most memorable field hockey moment was her senior year at Rutgers when she received the P.R.I.D.E. award. This award from her teammates and coaches meant a lot to her and showed that she really left an impact on her teammates and the program. She scored the winning goal at Ohio State to secure Rutgers' spot in the Big Ten Tournament her senior year so Rutgers was able to continue their season in the playoffs which was awesome! Kimi also looks back on her four years at Eastern, before college, where they were 4x State Champions and #1 in the nation in both her Junior and Senior seasons.

Interests and Hobbies:

Kimi works in marketing and also runs her own business. She loves exploring new creative DIY crafts, being outdoors, working out, and spending time with friends and family. She is a dog mom to a rescue puppy named Brady and you can always catch Kimi with a coffee and her To-Do list in hand!

Kristina Foster

U14 Coach

"What I look forward to with Uprise is working with the youngest players who want to be part of a new tradition, who want to learn, and who want to win. Starting from the beginning with a new club/new team brings fresh, new traditions that can be a pivotal moment in a young player's life. I look forward to teaching the game, teamwork, and professionalism to future National Team members."

U19 Coach

"I am so excited to be joining UPRISE and being able to help the players develop and improve on their skills. I am also excited to be working with such a talented staff!"

Kimi Jevic

Goalkeeping Coach

"I am so excited to coach with UPRISE. I look forward to seeing the girls blend together as a strong unit. It is going to be so great to see them grow not only as a player, but as a person. I can't wait to see their faces in the many moments of success they will experience. This will be a great year!"