In December, head coach Joanie Milhous and her staff announced the signing of five athletes who will make up the Villanova Field Hockey Class of 2024. 

Get to know the five future Wildcats better beyond just their accomplishments on the field:

JAMIE PENNINGTON

Hometown: Langhorne, Pennsylvania 

High School: Neshaminy High School

Club Team: Mystx Field Hockey Club

Position: Midfield/Defense

Pennington was a four-year varsity starter for the field hockey team under head coach Jamie Pinto. In 2019, she served as her team's senior co-captain and scored 11 goals and 17 assists for 39 points. She was No. 9 in the Philadelphia area in assists. She finished her high school career with 24 goals and 48 assists for a total of 96 points. Pennington also earned one varsity letter in track and field. 

She played for Mystex Field Hockey Club from 2008-2020. The team was the 2014 and 2016 USA Field Hockey Festival Champions, were the National Futures Championship selection and USA Field Hockey Futures Level 1.

Her parents are Michael and Lisa Pennington. Her older sister Christen played field hockey at Villanova, serving as senior team captain in 2019. Her mother Lisa played field hockey at Temple (Class of 1989). Pennington chose to attend Villanova for its tremendous academics, athletics, and the great atmosphere. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, shopping and going to the beach. She plans on majoring in finance. 

AMANDA MIDDLETON

Hometown: Berlin, New Jersey

High School: Eastern Regional High School

Position: Forward

Club Team: Uprise Club 

Middleman played four years of varsity field hockey under head coach Danyle Hielig at Eastern Regional High School. Her senior season, she was All-State Second Team, Group 4 First Team,  All South Jersey First Team and scored 18 goals and dished out 15 assists. 

She also played for Uprise Club for three years and the team won the National Indoor Championship in 2019. She was teammates in high school with current Villanova Field Hockey midfielder Ashley Thomas.

Her parents are Roseanne and Richard Middleman and she has a sister named Marisa. She chose Villanova due to the academic reputation as well as the amazing field hockey program. She said she enjoys the culture Villanova has to offer and cannot wait to be a part of it. In her free time, she like to go down to the Jersey Shore and spend time with her friends and family. She plans to major in liberal arts.

MIA COVAL

Hometown: Allentown, Pennsylvania 

High School: Parkland High School

Club Team: Main Line Field Hockey

Position: Midfield/Defense

Coval was a four-year starter on the field hockey team at Parkland High School under head coach Elizabeth Millen. Coval helped her team make the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 playoffs four straight years. She served as team captain from 2018-2019.

She played club field hockey for the Main Line Field Hockey Club for three years and the team was the Festival and Shooting Star Champions. She also played four years of varsity basketball for Parkland as a guard under head coach Ed Ohlsen and was a team captain from 2019-2020.

Her parents are Scott and Kaye Coval and she has an older sister, Keeley, and a younger brother, Nick. Her dad Scott played basketball at the College of William & Mary (1982-1986). Her sister Keeley currently plays basketball for the Stevens Institute of Technology (2018-2022) in Hoboken, New Jersey. In her free time, Coval enjoys hiking, working out, spending time with friends and volunteering with youth field hockey players. She chose Villanova for its academic excellence, the beautiful campus and the athletic reputation.

MEGHAN MITCHELL

Hometown: Villanova, Pennsylvania

High School: Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

Position: Forward

Club Team: Main Line Mayhem Field Hockey Club

Mitchell played varsity field hockey under head coach Adele Williams and served as senior team captain in 2019 at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. She scored a career total of 32 goals and 20 assists. She also ran track and field under head coach Maggie Brill and Coach Nick Vechik, earning three varsity letters. 

She played for the Main Line Mayhem Field Hockey Club for three years. The team was the USAFH Festival Champions (2017), came in second place at the USAFH NIT Pool B and USAFH Futures (2016-18).

Her parents are Bob and Nancy Mitchell. She has three siblings, two older brothers, Bobby and Tim, and a younger sister Erin. Her mom Nancy played soccer at St. Francis University. She chose Villanova because of the unique opportunity to receive an excellent education and compete with a strong field hockey program. Additionally, she loved the family atmosphere within the team. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family and friends. She plans on majoring in business. 

Athletic Accomplishments:

Field Hockey:

• 1st Team All-InterAc (2019)
• InterAc League Champions (2017)
• PAISAA State Champions (2017)
• PhilaFH Senior All-Star (2019)

Track and Field:

• InterAc Champions (2017)

Academic Honors:

• Distinguished Honor Roll (Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior)
• National Honor Society (Junior and Senior)
• NFHCA High School Academic Squad (Junior)
• STEM Scholar of Excellence (Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior)

MOLLY CHRISTOPHER

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

High School: Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS)

Position: Midfield

Christopher played four years of varsity field hockey at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS) under coaches Kate Graft and Lynn Mittler and served as a senior team captain. The team was State Champions in 2017 and 2019. She also played one year of varsity lacrosse under coach Kate Graft. 

Her are parents Larry and Alicia Christopher. She has three siblings, an older sister, Allie, an older brother Henry, and a younger brother, Daniel. Her sister Allie played midfield for Bucknell's Field Hockey team from 2016-2019. Her mom Alicia played defense for William & Mary's Field Hockey team.

In her free time, she loves to hike, play tennis and spend time with her family. She is looking forward to meeting new people and continuing her academic and athletic career at Villanova. She is undecided on her major.