CHARLOTTE, N.C.- When the Queens University of Charlotte field hockey team hits the turf this fall season looking to repeat as South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Regular Season Champions, they will have six fresh faces joining them on their mission. Kirsten Bottom, Nicolina Castronovo, Marlee Geppert, Frances Huffman, Ava Moster, and Taytum Shipman will suit up in Queens jerseys in the fall when the Royals return to Bessant Field for competition.
 
"We are very excited to welcome these gritty, hardworking student-athletes to our program," Queens head field hockey coach Brandi Kist stated. "They are fully invested in our team vision and ready to work on the field and in the classroom and uphold our team values. This is a well-rounded class that will continue to give strong depth to our team which has been a huge asset to our program the past few years. We look forward to getting the fall season started with them on Bessant Field come August!"
 
Bottom, a defender from Liverpool, England, will join the Royals from Carmel College. While there, she served as captain of the Lancashire County Team for four years helping her team become Manchester All-Divisions Cup and Manchester Division I League Champions. They were also Lancashire Winner's Cup champions and made it to the England Hockey Semifinals. Individually, Bottom was named to the England Colleges Squad. She also played club field hockey with the Prescot Hockey Club which was named local and district sports club of the year.
 
Castronovo hails from Verona, New York where she attends Vernon Verona Sherrill. The forward/midfielder has been named first and second team all-state during her time in high school. The team captain has also earned the Most Outstanding Player Award and the Rookie of the Year Award. Castronovo played club for the Syracuse Field Hockey Club.
 
Geppert is a Rehoboth Beach, Delaware native who attends Cape Henlopen High School. The four-year varsity goalkeeper was named all-conference and is a three-time Delaware Division I State Champion. She also earned the 2018 Unsung Hear Award and the 2019 Ike Eisenhour Award, which is given to a senior player who most embodies the spirit of team. Geppert currently holds the school record for the fewest goals allowed in a season after allowing the fewest goals in the state for the last two years. She has a 28-2 record as a starter and recorded 22 straight shoutouts, the most in Henlopen's 50-year field hockey history. Geppert also competed in goal for the Delaware Shore Field Hockey Club where she recorded an 80-percent or higher save rate, and was the Top Recruit Pool winner and the two-time Shooting Star Pool winner.
 
Academically, Geppert is a four-time NFHCA Academic All-American who is also a member of the National Honors Society. She also served as a member of the Leo Club, FCA, and was president of the Health Occupation Students of America.
 
Huffman will join the Royals from Carolina Day School in Asheville, North Carolina where she plays on the defensive end of the field. The Coach's Award recipient also served as team captain in her final season.
 
Moser, a forward, will come to Queens from Palisades High School located in Pipersville, Pennsylvania. The three-year varsity letter winner was named Rookie of the Year following her freshman season going on to earn team captain honors later in her career. Moser also played club for Marojoka Hockey Club.
 
Academically, the newcomer is a member of the National Honors Society and the French Honors Society. She was also a four-year Honor Roll honoree.

Shipman is coming to the Royals from Lusby, Maryland where she will graduate from St. Mary's Ryken High School. After earning WCAC Honorable Mention recognition for two seasons, Shipman earned first-team honors in her junior and senior seasons. She was also named to the Enterprise All-County First Team twice while also earning MVP honors for two seasons. Additionally, Shipman was named an academic All-American in her senior season.