SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University field hockey head coach Rayell Heistand has announced the addition of six student-athletes that will join the program for the 2021 season.
 
New to The Rock this season will be Grace Burker (East Amherst, N.Y.), Baliee Christman (Oley, Pa.). Leslie Colliver (Stafford, Va.), Jillian Ellis (Bapsfontein, South Africa), Nadia Irving (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Haley Metcalf (East Amherst, N.Y.).
 
"We are looking forward to having the SRU class of 2026 on campus," said Heistand. "This group has been through a tough year and a half and we are hoping to give them a great start to their time at SRU. Each student-athlete will add something different to the team in form, personality, fitness, skills and leadership. We are really looking forward to watching them grow in the classroom, on the field and as young women!"
 
The Rock's 2021 recruiting class is comprised of one forward, one midfielder, one goalkeeper and three student-athletes that will begin their collegiate careers playing multiple positions. Geographically, the class is made up of two athletes from New York, two from Virginia, one from Pennsylvania, and one from South Africa.
 
The six newcomers will join six members of last year's freshmen class that will be making their collegiate debuts in The Rock's season-opener Sept. 2 against Lindenwood University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The game will mark SRU field hockey's first official contest since Nov. 1, 2019 (671 days). 12 players that remain from the 2019 season will join the 12 newcomers and Heistand, who will be making her regular season debut as well despite entering her second season leading the program.
 
Below is a brief profile of each of the incoming student-athletes.

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GRACE BURKER
Position: Goalie
Jersey #: 35
Height: 5-6
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown / High School: East Amherst, N.Y. / Williamsville East
 
Quick Facts
- Attended same high school as senior goalie Hannah Nurse and fellow freshman Haley Metcalf.
- Selected to 2019 U-16 USA Field Hockey National Futures Championship.
- A two-time first team all-division and All-Western New York honoree.
- Helped to lead Williamsville East to three regular season championships as well as the program's first Section VI title in 2019.
- Recorded 81 saves, a .910 save percentage and a 1.02 GAA as a senior.
- Ranks second (10 / 2019) and third (9 / 2018) in school history for shutouts in a single-season.
- An honor student.
 
Why Grace Chose Slippery Rock: "I chose Slippery Rock because it is the right size school for me and the right distance from home. SRU is a perfect fit for me both academically and athletically. The team is a family and the school has a great exercise science program!"

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BAILEE CHRISTMAN
Position: Forward
Jersey #: 2
Height: 5-4
Major: Biology
Hometown / High School: Oley, Pa. / Oley Valley
 
Quick Facts
- Was a constant offensive threat over the last three years at Oley Valley as she tallied 87 points on 40 goals and seven assists.
- Led Oley Valley to a 64-7 record over the last three years with one appearance in the state championship game and another in the state semifinals.
- Earned second team all-state and first team All-Berks County Intercollegiate Athletic Association (BCIAA) accolades as a senior.
- Ranked third in the BCIAA as a senior in goals (22) and fourth in total points (48).
- Attended same high school as Slippery Rock field hockey alums Baylee Childress (2011-14) and Allison Shade (2011-14).
- Also earned academic all-state honors following senior campaign.
 
Why Bailee Chose Slippery Rock: "I chose Slippery Rock because the second I stepped foot on campus, it felt exactly where the next chapter of my life would take place. The beautiful campus really made it feel like my home." 

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LESLIE COLLIVER
Position: Midfield/Forward
Jersey #: 15
Height: 5-6
Major: Homeland Security
Hometown / High School: Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point
 
Quick Facts
- Becomes one of four players from the state of Virginia on The Rock's 2021 roster along with classmate Nadia Irving as well as sophomores Gabriella Delcoco and Madison Primo.
- A three-time All-Commonwealth District honoree.
- Named a second team all-area midfielder as a senior.
 
Why Leslie Chose Slippery Rock: "At first, I was attracted to the size of SRU along with the fact that SRU is one of the few schools that carries the Homeland Security major. I also have a current club teammate who committed to SRU and she introduced me to coach Missy, who is so awesome.  Then I was blown away during my visit to SRU. After getting to know coach Rayell and also sitting down with the director of my major, I knew that I would feel like I would be missing out if I didn't choose SRU. I am so excited!"

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JILLIAN ELLIS
Position: Forward/Midfield
Jersey #: 10
Height: 5-3
Major: Psychology
Hometown / High School: Bapsfontein, South Africa / Wykeham Collegiate
 
Quick Facts
- Is the first member of The Rock field hockey program from South Africa.
- The first international field hockey student-athlete at The Rock since Karen Citroen (Netherlands) was a member of the program more than a decade ago (2007-10).
- Was selected for the KZN Inland Hockey U-16 and U-18 teams during prep career.
- A true three-sport athlete that competed in tennis and basketball in addition to field hockey while at Wykeham Collegiate.
- Received a merit certificate for athletics at Wykeham Collegiate.
 
Why Jillian Chose Slippery Rock: "I love the look of Slippery Rock, it gives me a homey, inviting feeling and the sciences that are offered have really grabbed my attention."

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NADIA IRVING
Position: Midfield/Defense
Jersey #: 11
Height: 5-9
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown / High School: Virginia Beach, Va. / Bayside
 
Quick Facts
- Becomes one of four players from the state of Virginia on The Rock's 2021 roster along with classmate Leslie Colliver as well as sophomores Gabriella Delcoco and Madison Primo.
- Ranked as the No. 68 prospect in the class of 2021 by MAXFieldHockey.com.
- Had a great club career, leading Saints Field Hockey to a Region 8 U-19 Club championship in 2021 as well as fifth-place showing in the U-19 National Club championships in addition to helping the U-16 Saints team to a fourth-place finish at the National Club championships in 2019.
 
Why Nadia Chose Slippery Rock: "I chose Slippery Rock because it felt like a place I could immediately call home. The team really made me feel like family and the coaches are really supportive. The exercise science department also got me really excited to learn and dig into my future."

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HALEY METCALF
Position: Midfield
Jersey #: 22
Height: 5-4
Major: Early Childhood / Special Education
Hometown / High School: East Amherst, N.Y. / Williamsville East
 
Quick Facts
- Attended same high school as senior goalie Hannah Nurse and fellow freshman Grace Burker.
- Recorded six points on five goals and one assist as a senior.
- Helped to lead Williamsville East to three regular season championships as well as the program's first Section VI title in 2019.
- Earned first team All-Western New York Honors as a senior.
- A four-year varsity starter.
 
Why Haley Chose Slippery Rock: "I chose Slippery Rock because of the awesome community atmosphere along with the wide range of choices I have for picking a major."

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ALUMNI DAY SET FOR SEPT. 11
Coach Heistand is inviting any interested Rock field hockey alumni to return to Slippery Rock for Alumni Day on Sept. 11. All former players are invited to come to The Rock's home game against Belmont Abbey at 11 a.m. and stay for a team-sponsored tailgate party that evening for SRU's football game against East Stroudsburg.
 
Any interested alumni are asked to RSVP HERE by no later than Sept. 6.  



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