ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany field hockey program and head coach Phil Sykes have announced a class of seven recruits ahead of the 2026 season.

“We as a coaching staff are excited to see what the 2026 group can do,” said Coach Sykes. “We have a lot of skill, speed, athleticism, and competitiveness. There is a lot of excitement and optimism going into this coming season and we think the future looks very bright.”

With a combination of domestic and international student-athletes, the seven newcomers will provide plenty of power to their skilled returning teammates. Traveling to Albany from all over, the incoming class is made up of five domestic (California, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania) and two international (Netherlands) freshmen. 

Victoria Derdoy

F | 5-6 | St. Louis, Miss. | Gateway Field Hockey | Ladue Horton Watkins High School

Quick Facts: One of Missouri's most accomplished high school players, Derdoy joins the Great Danes after a dominant three-year varsity career in St. Louis. A two-time conference player of the year and three-time first team all-conference selection, she led the state in goals (33) and points (87) as a senior while finishing with 76 goals and 43 assists in her career. She also starred in lacrosse, earning All-America honors, three All-State selections, and four first team all-conference accolades.

Sykes on Derdoy: “Victoria is our third player from the St. Louis area, having played for Gateway Field Hockey and a legendary coach in Kelly Yates. She is a very athletic, fast, and clever player. She will be joining a very good attacking unit that should produce a lot of goals. Victoria is also an experienced lacrosse player and will be playing for the Argentinian National Team at the upcoming World Cup in Japan.”

Tatum Hickey

F | 5-6 | Hoosick Falls, N.Y. | ADK Field Hockey | Hoosick Falls High School

Quick Facts: Hickey brings a decorated résumé that includes four sectional championships, three regional titles, and three league MVP honors. Ranked among the Top 150 players in the Class of 2026, she was also a four-time first team selection. A three-sport high school athlete in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse, she follows in the footsteps of her older sister, Lillian Hickey, who played for the Great Danes from 2019-23.

Sykes on Hickey: “This is the second Hickey to join the Great Dane family, as her sister Lillian played for us a few years back. We have known Tatum since she was a little kid following her sister around the hockey field. She is a product of ADK Field Hockey and legendary coach Jen Sykes. She is a strong attacking midfield player with a lot of confidence going forward and a knack for scoring goals.”

Aurora Hogan

D | 5-7 | Davis, Calif. | Catalònia Hoquei & NorCal Impact FHC | Davis Senior High School

Quick Facts: Traveling across the country, Hogan comes to UAlbany after competing at Davis Senior High School in California. A standout midfielder, she earned EAL Midfield MVP honors in 2023-24 after previously being named EAL All-League in 2021-22. She also competed at the club level for both Catalònia Hoquei and NorCal Impact, including an appearance at Nexus Nationals.

Sykes on Hogan: “Rori is the first player from California to join the Great Dane family. She has a good sense of the game and plays with great composure. This past year, she was in Spain, playing for the Catalonia Club team. This experience will help her at the college level. Her mom was a top player for Michigan State and has coached her since she started. We are very glad she is joining the Great Danes.”

Finleigh McClain

M | 5-3 | Bethlehem, N.Y. | ADK Field Hockey | Bethlehem Central High School

Quick Facts: A two-time New York All-State selection, McClain arrives following a standout career at Bethlehem High School. The 2025 Times Union Player of the Year helped lead her team to two Section II championships while earning three-straight Section II First Team All-Star honors and back-to-back MVP awards. A two-year varsity captain and the school's Most Outstanding Senior Athlete, she also played ice hockey for Bethlehem.

Sykes on McClain: “Finleigh has been part of our local ADK club and has been coached by Jen Sykes since she was little. We got to watch her grow as a player and a person throughout the years. As well as being a very good field hockey player, she is also a high-level ice hockey player, too, having played for the boys’ team at Bethlehem. We look forward to utilizing her attacking and defending skills and she will add a great deal to our team in a dynamic way.”

Sarah Palazzo

M/F | 5-4 | Macungie, Pa. | WC Eagles | Emmaus High School

Quick Facts: Coming to UAlbany from Macungie, Pa., Palazzo was part of one of Pennsylvania's premier high school programs, helping her team capture four EPC conference championships, four district titles, and two PIAA state championships. She also competed for WC Eagles, one of the nation's top club programs, and was a multi-sport athlete who played lacrosse.

Sykes on Palazzo: “Sarah is the first player from Emmaus High School in Pennsylvania to come to UAlbany. This is one of the strongest programs in the country, having been coached by the legendary Sue Butz-Stavin, who has won over 1,100 games in her career. Sarah is a very solid all-around player. Her basic skills are very good, and her field awareness and knowledge of the game will be valuable assets for the Great Danes.”

Quinty Reumer

M | 5-9 | Hoofddorp, Netherlands | MHC de Reigers | Katholieke Scholengemeenschap Hoofddorp

Quick Facts: From Hoofddorp, Netherlands, Reumer arrives at UAlbany after playing for MHC de Reigers for her whole life. Throughout her school career, she balanced competitive field hockey with coaching and training responsibilities. She served as a team captain and was known for her leadership, discipline, and strong work ethic on and off the field while helping develop younger players through coaching sessions.

Sykes on Reumer: “Quinty comes to us from the Netherlands. She is a very clever player who sees the field very well. What I really like about her is how much she loves our sport. She will be part of our midfield - her vision of the field and passing skills will help us immensely. We are very happy to have her joining the Great Dane family.”

Pleun van Rosmalen

D | 5-7 | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Oranje Rood | Paramount Aloysius

Quick Facts: Hailing from the Netherlands, Pleun van Rosmalen brings experience from one the country’s top club systems, progressing through every age group at Oranje Rood from U8 to the senior level. Along the way, she helped her teams capture a national championship at the U12 level while also earning second- and third-place finishes at the U16 and U18 national championships, respectively.

Sykes on van Rosmalen: “Pleun is a very strong defender. She has a presence on the field that is hard to miss. Her distribution skills and awareness will help us in a big way. She is coming from a high-level club team in her home country. We are very happy to have her joining the Great Danes!”

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