Pfeifer announces the promotion of new talents for 2024

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont field hockey program officially announced the addition of six newcomers today. The group includes five freshmen and one transfer, three from the Netherlands and three Americans.

Maya Bilanin joins the Catamounts from Chatham, NJ, and Oak Knoll School, where she was a dual-sport athlete competing in field hockey and track and field. She was a four-time county champion in high school and even won the state title in 2021-2022. She was named second team All-County in 2023-24 after a senior campaign recording eight goals and eight assists. Bilanin says she chose UVM because “it matched the interests and ambitions I was looking for in my college experience. Plus, I get to study a subject I’m passionate about as well as play the sport I’ve always loved “.

Lara Cleophas is the first of three Dutch freshmen to come to Burlington. She is from Amstelveen and has been playing field hockey since she was five years old. She is a versatile player, capable of playing on all pitches and a key part of her club Pinoké’s U-18 team. Cléophas says she chose UVM because it offers “a good academic program, a beautiful setting and a campus. They have the ambition to progress with hockey, which I share.”

Addie DelOrefice joins Vermont from Berwyn, PA and Conestoga High School, where she competed in field hockey and track and field. She was a three-time league champion and two-time district champion, winning both in her senior season. She received honorable mention all-around honors in 2022 and 2023 and finished her high school career by being named first team all-state. She is a three-year member of the National Honor Society. DelOrefice chose UVM “because it offers a great combination of athletics and academics, and I like the school environment.”

Marie Dijkstra is the second Dutch player in the incoming class and comes from Amsterdam. She competed in tennis and field hockey. She has represented the Netherlands at the U14 and U15 levels in regional and national competitions. Her club team finished second at this year’s EHL European U-19 Championships and she was named tournament MVP. She also made one senior appearance for her club team, AHBC, in the National League. Dijkstra said she chose UVM because she felt “a connection with the coaches, Marlee and Kate, and they helped me really well with everything. Plus, Vermont State really appeals to me because I love skiing and winters with its snow.”

Meredith Medvetz is transferring to UVM after four years at Wake Forest. In four seasons for the Demon Deacons, she played in 28 games with 10 starts on defense. She was part of the Wake Forest team that made the 2022 NCAA Tournament and was named to the NFHCA All-Academic team in 2022 and 2023 and the ACC All-Academic team in 2023. She chose UVM because it “offered the perfect blend of academics and field hockey.” The staff and team were very friendly and inviting when she came to visit us.”

Merle Vaandrager rounds out the incoming class from Netherlands and Barlaeus Gymnasium. She is the third Dutch player in the group. Vaandrager was co-captain of her team last year and will bring depth to the goalie position, which she has held since she was 8 years old. She played an important role in the youth development of her club team, Pinoké, and finished third at the Dutch Indoor Championships at the U16 level. She has played an important role in the U18 team over the past two years, appearing for the A and B teams and making appearances for the senior team. Vaandrager said she chose UVM because “it’s a good school academically and it’s located in beautiful nature.”

The Catamounts’ 2024 season will begin in late August and the full schedule will be announced soon.