After the MAX Field Hockey/Longstreth National High School Invitational, Longstreth Field Hockey is excited to announce Sophia Stazi of Camden Catholic the Player of the Week!
Sophia is a sophomore midfielder/forward who has been named a Third Team All-American last year by MAX Field Hockey, just one of a few freshmen to ever earn the honors, and a Top 100 Player for her Class of 2027.
Over the weekend at the invitational, Stazi and the #7 nationally ranked Camden Catholic field hockey team had two Top 25 wins. Going into the weekend, coach Mark Vitesse had prompted them to think of the two games of high-level play as practice for tougher games in their conference and state playoffs. On Saturday, they beat #8 Lower Dauphin from Pennsylvania in overtime, thanks to Stazi’s game-winner off of a breakaway. Camden Catholic returned to the Villanova AstroTurf on Sunday to face #18 Staples out of Connecticut, which proved to be a high-level, back and forth competition. Camden Catholic came out on top with a final score of 3-2, and Sophia scored one of the goals in this matchup, as well. Thus far in the season, Camden Catholic has dominated four games against local opponents, including Cherry Hill East, Rancocas Valley, Moorestown, and Shawnee. Through the six games, Sophia has totaled 34 points, 14 goals and 6 assists, which leads the team. She is an incredible goal scorer. Sophia is 100% certain that “every person wearing the Camden Catholic uniform,” truly sets her up for success and is beyond happy to be part of a field hockey team where everyone’s value is recognized. As a team, they are hoping to win as many games as possible, taking it game by game, quarter by quarter, and “put everything into each minute.”
After her 2023 season, Sophia was named the NJ.com Breakout Athlete of the Year. She also has continued to develop as a field hockey player through playing for the U.S. U16 National Team and Junior Indoor National Team. Stazi truly believes that her play for the U.S. has been nothing but beneficial and is thankful for the opportunity to have learned from world-class coaches. It has given her the foundation to continue learning and growing as a field hockey player for years to come.
