Quartet of WPIAL players selected to all-state field hockey teams

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 | 11:35 AM

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The Pennsylvania High School Field Hockey Coaches Association recently released its 2023 all-state teams, and while a majority of the players recognized are from the eastern side of the state, four from the WPIAL were honored with spots on the lists for both Class 2A and Class 3A.

Penn-Trafford senior Ava Hershberger, who will play in college at Ohio State and scored more than 110 career goals, earned a spot on the Class 2A first-team after she helped the Warriors claim their eighth straight WPIAL title with a 4-0 triumph over No. 2 Fox Chapel on Nov. 4 at Washington & Jefferson College.

P-T took an 18-2 record into the PIAA playoffs, where it was upended by District 3 No. 4 Manheim Central, 4-0, in the first round at Penn-Trafford High School.

Pine-Richland junior midfielder Georgia Rottinghaus was voted a first-team all-star in Class 3A, while teammates Jessica Albertson, a senior forward, and Madeline Mill, a junior midfielder, were selected to the second team.

Pine-Richland secured the No. 1 seed for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs and defeated No. 4 North Allegheny, 3-0, in the semifinals before topping No. 2 Peters Township, 1-0, in overtime in the championship game at W&J.

Rottinghaus netted the game-winner just 50 seconds into OT.

The title was the program’s fifth in a row.

The Rams entered the PIAA playoffs and fell short against District 3 third-place Penn Manor, 3-1, in the first round at home.

Pine-Richland finished its season 19-1.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland