STANFORD, Calif. — Susan Ewing York Director of Women’s Field Hockey Roz Ellis announced the signing of six student-athletes on Monday, solidifying the Cardinal contingency for the 2026 campaign.
Stanford’s incoming class mixes talent from both home and abroad with the addition of Grace Essalih (Houston, TX), Jackie O’Donnell (Houston, TX), Opal Sparling (Chester Springs, PA), Florian van Tongeren (Zwolle, Netherlands), Hannah Cutler (Northumberland, England) and Luka Proschel (Gruenwald, Germany).
“We are incredibly excited to officially welcome our 2026 class,” said Ellis. “We have six coming in that will immediately elevate the tempo, technical quality, and overall competitiveness of our training environment.”
“Domestically, we’re adding three standout players — two ranked in the national top 50 and one in the top ten — who have consistently competed and excelled at the highest youth and national levels,” Ellis said. “Internationally, we have three incoming athletes who will bring immediate pace and technical quality. Together, this class adds depth and we believe they will add impact from day one.”
From H-Town to The Bay!!🏑🌁
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) November 19, 2025
We are pleased to welcome Jackie O'Donnell to the 2026 squad!
From Roz Ellis: "Jackie brings a wealth of hockey IQ which elevates her decision making with and without the ball."#GoStanford x #LOFU pic.twitter.com/pJzbbAJGxc
Jackie O’Donnell ● Midfield/Defender ● Houston, Texas ● Kinkaid School ● Houston Pride
Quick Profile: USA Field Hockey U18 Junior National Team Selection Camp (2025) … Top 50 Players - Class of 2026 - MAX Field Hockey … NFHCA Second Team All-American (2024) … MAX Field Hockey Third Team All-American (2024) … Two-time MAX Field Hockey West/Midwest All-Region First Team (2023-24) … Two-time NFHCA All-West Region First Team (2023-24) … AAU Junior Olympics silver medalist … Two-time All-SPC … Max Field Hockey Top 20 High School Rankings (2022-24) … U16 and U18 National Nexus Championships selection from 2022-24 … National Club Championship Runner Up with Houston Pride in 2024
Coach Ellis says: “Jackie brings a wealth of hockey IQ which elevates her decision making with and without the ball.”
Space City 🔜 The Farm!🏑🌁
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) November 19, 2025
We are pleased to welcome another player from the Lone Star State, Grace Essalih!
From Roz Ellis: "Grace is a very dynamic midfielder that is exciting to watch in transition and brings a unique scoring ability to our midfield."#GoStanford x #LOFU pic.twitter.com/28QrUzFLLM
Grace Essalih ● Midfield ● Houston, Texas ● Kinkaid School ● Houston Pride
Quick Profile: NFHCA Third Team All-American (2024) … Two-time NFHCA All West Region Team (2023-24) … MAX Field Hockey All Midwest Region Team (2024) … U19 National Club Championship Runner Up (2024) … Four year varsity field hockey team at Kinkaid (2022-25) … Two-time All-Conference (SPC) … National Nexus Championship (2022-25) … Team ranked No. 2 in MAX Field Hockey HS Rankings in 2022 and 2024
Coach Ellis says: “Grace is a very dynamic midfielder that is exciting to watch in transition. She is fierce defensively and brings a scoring ability from the midfield.”
Another big name to The Farm!!🏑🌁
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) November 26, 2025
We are pleased to welcome Florien Van Tongeren to the 2026 squad!!
From Roz Ellis: "Florien is a powerful defender with long range distribution skills. We are looking forward to her leadership out of the back line."#GoStanford x #LOFU pic.twitter.com/kVBuJtnYAo
Florian van Tongeren ● Defender ● Zwolle, Netherlands ● Gymnasium Celeanum ● HC Zwolle U16-1
Quick Profile: Three-time National Championships qualifier (Indoor and Outdoor 2023-24, 2025 Indoor) … 2024 LevelUp Indoor Tournament Winner with HC Zwolle … Semifinalist at 2024 Indoor National Championships … Quarterfinalist at 2024 Outdoor National Championships … Captain of MO-16 First Team in 2024-25
Coach Ellis says: “Florian is a powerful defender with long range distribution skills. We are looking forward to her leadership along the back line.”
Another one from across the pond!!!🏴
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) November 20, 2025
We are so eager to welcome Hannah Cutler to the 2026 squad!
From Roz Ellis: "Hannah is a strong, athletic goalkeeper. Her natural instinct in the cage is explosive and decisive."#GoStanford x #LOFU pic.twitter.com/s4YTX17I13
Hannah Cutler ● Goalkeeper ● Northumberland, England ● Newcastle Royal Grammar School ● Durham University Hockey Club
Quick Profile: Participated alongside Durham University’s Premier Division hockey team for the past two seasons … England Hockey Talent Pathway member as Durham’s representative at the Performance Centre Challenge Cup and Talent Academy Cup from 2022-25 … Member of England U16 National Team in 2023 … 2022 Hockey Writer’s Junior Award Winner … 2022 Nominee for Tyndale Sports Awards Regional Young Sportswomen of the Year Award
Coach Ellis says: “Hannah is a strong, athletic goalkeeper. Her natural instinct in the cage is explosive and decisive.”
Oh look, we got another one!!🏑
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) November 25, 2025
We are pleased to welcome Opal Sparling to the 2026 squad!
From Roz Ellis: "Opal has keen ability to change the channel and read the opposition's defense. Her technical poise out of the midfield will enhance our attack."#GoStanford x #LOFU pic.twitter.com/RIdDRTwA8N
Opal Sparling ● Midfield ● Chester Springs, Pa. ● The Hill School ● WC Eagles
Quick Profile: Number 10 Player - Class of 2026 - MAX Field Hockey … Two-time PAISSA Champion at The Hill School and ranked No. 1 team in the nation in 2024 … WC Eagles Club National Champions at U14, U16 and U19 Levels for 6 seasons … Member of USA U16 and U18 National team … Named to USA Women’s Indoor National Team for Indoor World Cup in 2023 and 2025 tallying two goals (both in 2023) and Women’s Pan Am Cup in 2024 … Recently named to USA U21 National Team (2025) ... Also played basketball and ran cross country while enrolled at Hill School
Coach Ellis says: “Opal has a keen ability to change the channel and read an opposition’s defense. Her technical poise out of the midfield will enhance our attacking principles.”
One final signing to close the year!🎉
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) December 29, 2025
We are pleased to welcome Jula Proschel to the 2026 squad!
From Roz Ellis: "Jula brings a finesse to the game. We are excited to see her punch through on our attack."#GoStanford x #LOFU pic.twitter.com/6N8n4z3MAY
Jula Proschel ● Midfield ● Gruenwald, Germany ● Gymnasium Gruenwald ● Münchner SC
Quick Profile: Seven-time Bavarian Field Hockey Champion (Indoor: 2021, 2022, 2024; Outdoor: 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) … German State Cup participant with Bavarian Hockey Association (2021-2024) … 2023 Southern German Champion … Four-Time German Final Four in German Championships (Outdoor: 2022; Indoor: 2022, 2023, 2025) … 2023 All-Star Team (Indoor) … 2025 German Champion (Indoor) … Current member of Münchner SC in Germany’s highest league (Bundesliga)
Coach Ellis says: "Jula brings a finesse to the game. We are excited to see her punch through on our attack."