Norfolk, Va. - Old Dominion field hockey head coach Andrew Griffiths has announced the eight-member recruiting class for the upcoming 2025 season.
Autumn Busby - Freshman - Midfielder
Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian High School / Richmond Panthers United
An incoming freshman midfielder, Busby was named to the All-Metro second team in 2023 and last season was named an All-Metro honorable mention. She played both at Midlothian High School and for the Richmond Panthers United club team.
“Busby has good vision of the field and understands movement and ball patterns well in the game,” said ODU Head Coach Andrew Griffiths. “Combined with her skillset, she has a quiet competitive drive that I’m excited to see her use at the collegiate level.”
Katie Bates - Freshman - Midfielder
New South Wales, Australia / Australia U-21
Bates comes to Old Dominion as a native from New South Wales in Australia. A midfielder, she has spent time with the Australian U-18 national team representing New South Wales and won the U-18 national state championships. She has also played at club level with the Metro North Wildcats and the Hockey NSW COD.
“Bates is a smart and athletic attacker, who can both score and create goals, she also just recently won the Australian U-21 National State Championships!” said Griffiths. “She is the first Australian player we have had at ODU in many years, so excited to welcome another Aussie to our team!”
Isabella Decesaris - Freshman - Midfielder
Shavertown, Pa. / Lake Lehman High School / Electric Surge FHC
A freshman from Shavertown, Pa., Decesaris is heading to Old Dominion. The 5’5 midfielder was included in the Class of 2025’s Top 100 Players to Watch. She played at Lake Lehman High School and with the Electric Surge Field Hockey Club. She was named PIAA First Team All-State, Academic First Team All-State, All-Pennsylvania Region Second Team, and was selected to the Citizen’s Voice First Team All-Conference. Decesaris played with the USA Field Hockey U-19 team and participated in the Winter Escape Tournament in Florida as well as qualifying for the U-19 Indoor NIT’s.
“She is a natural athlete and has a spark in how she plays the game!” said Griffiths. “She is a determined, dynamic competitor and person, and I am excited to see her bring that spirit to our team and what she can do at the next level.”
Claire Hitchings - Freshman - Midfielder
Virginia Beach, Va. / First Colonial High School / Saints FHC
Hitchings is an incoming freshman from Virginia Beach. She attended First Colonial High School and played at the club level with the Saints Field Hockey Club. In 2023 she was named in the Top 50 for the Class of 2025. During her final season at First Colonial, she finished as a Class 5A Regional Champion and Class 5 State Runner-Up. She was named a Max Field Hockey Third Team All-American, Max Field Hockey Mid-Atlantic First Team All-Region, Max Field Hockey Invitational All-Tournament Team Second Team, All-Tidewater District First Team, Class 5 First Team All-State, and a 5A First Team All-Region selection. With USA Field Hockey, she took part in the U-19 Sunshine Showcase Hook bracket and the U-19 NIT Montreal Pool.
“Hitchings is another in a line of strong local players from Virginia Beach to ODU.” said Griffiths. “She follows in a long line of players from First Colonial High School who have competed here. She is a powerful player with presence, who can crush the ball out of the backfield.”
Alexa Murphy - Freshman - Goalie
Richmond, Va. / Trinity Episcopal High School / Richmond Panthers United
Murphy is heading to Old Dominion for her freshman year. The Richmond, Va. native played at Trinity Episcopal High School and at the club level for Richmond Panthers United. In 2024, Trinity Episcopal finished 18-1-1 ranking sixth in the state, 19 in the country and winning in the U-21 National Championship. With the Richmond Panthers she was selected to the 2023 NFHCA High School watchlist and the 2024 Junior Nexus Championship.
“Murphy is an athletic, agile goalkeeper with an excellent mindset,” said Griffiths. “She is arriving at ODU on the heels of helping her team win the U-21 National Championship in a Shootout, where she made the deciding saves under pressure. I’m excited to see her growth.”
Cosima Perleth - Junior - Midfielder
Schweinfurt, Germany / International School Meinfranken / Central Michigan
Perleth is transferring to ODU, the incoming junior midfielder spent the past two seasons with Central Michigan. In her collegiate career she has started 25-of-31 games for the Chippewas and scored one goal while dishing out five assists. The native of Schweinfurt, Germany, Perleth was selected to the Academic All-MAC. She played club field hockey at the Hockey Club Schweinfurt from 2010-2020 before joining Hockey-und Tennisclub Würzburg in 2020. She is a four-time selection of the Bavarian State team. She competed two separate times in the Bavarian State Selection Team Summer program and was the 2022 Verbandsliga Champion and 2022 North Bavarian Vice-Champion.
“Perleth is a humble, hard-working midfielder who showed tremendous growth in the spring,” said Griffiths. “She is the kind of player who can impact a game significantly by playing smart and simple hockey. I believe she will have an influence on how our team connects on the field.”
Jule Schuurman - Graduate Student - Midfielder
Krefeld, Germany / Gymnasium am Moltkeplatz / Mount Olive
Schuurman is transferring to ODU from Mount Olive (N.C), the incoming graduate student is a native of Krefeld, Germany and spent the past three seasons with the Trojans. In her collegiate career, she has started 48-of-51 games played. Schuurman has scored 11 goals and dished 11 assists for 33 points in that time. This past season, she started all 19 games played and scored two goals while making three assists. She was named to the NFHCA Senior Team, NFHCA National Academic Squad, the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and earned the NFHCA Scholars of Distinction.
“Schuurman is an intelligent midfielder who brings experience from her successful years at Mount Olive,” said Griffiths. “She is mature, and a smart decision-maker on the field. She joins a talented midfield at ODU and will provide impact and depth to our team’s “engine room.”
Laila Zdancewicz - Freshman - Forward
Swoyersville, Pa. / Wyoming West Valley / Electric Surge
A four-year varsity starter for Wyoming West Valley High School, freshman forward Zdancewicz is heading to the Old Dominion Monarchs. The past two seasons she has been the captain of WVW, she played at the club level with the Electric Surge. A native of Swoyersville, Pa., she played in 18 games in 2024 for WVW scoring 28 goals and dishing 16 assists for 72 points which ranked 34 in the nation.
“Laila is a dynamic athlete and her ceiling is high, I believe her toughness and determination will help her adapt to the college game and have an impact here,” said Griffiths. “Her invitation to the USA National U-21 training camp is a reflection of her potential.”