Pitch Session

The 2025 Pitchies are here! Andrew and Kirstin are joined by an all-star cast to announce the winners of our 2025 year-end awards. Rachel from The Maxi Pod joins the show to help hand out the hardware. This year’s Pitchies welcomed Pitchie Winners Elizabeth Edmonston of Cal and Iñako Puzo onto the show. Other Pitchie winners to make special appearances include Syracuse D Bo van Kempen, Northwestern D Ilse Tromp, and Ohio coach Ali Johnstone.   Brett Snyder of The Air Show hands out the inaugural MPSF MVP, Rachel and Kirstin give their Destiny’s Challenge for the season, Rachel gives her twist on the DIII short corner and they all put a bow -- not a Bo -- on the 2025 season.   2025 Pitchies handed out in today’s episode: 1.) Best Defending Attacker (3:15) 2.) Best Attacking Defender (4:45) 3.) Best Drag Flicker (8:30) 4.) Coach of the Year (11:49) 5.) Goal of the Year (28:30) 6.) Story of the Year (34:36) 7.) MPSF MVP (58:20) 8.) Upset of the Year (73:35) 9.) Game of the Year (82:40) 10.) Player of the Year (83:45)

Northwestern is the national champion again, and Andrew and Kirstin are back to wrap up the season and the NCAA Tournament in style. They’re joined first by three-time national champion Northwestern assistant coaches Georgia Holland and Will Byrne (7:10) to break down this year’s Wildcats, their run to a second straight title, and to give Georgia the floor for what can only be described as the observation of the year (31:24).  Next, the crew welcomes the 2025 Bracket Spectacular presented by Wrappit Wrappit champion, Wellesley (MA) freshman goalkeeper Bridget Young (36:50), to talk through her winning bracket, her field hockey season, how she got her unique nickname, and what it’s like to take home the crown. Andrew and Kirstin then put a bow on the Division II and III tournaments (48:15) and Andrew takes a look at a very curious Daily Tar Heel recap of Friday’s national semifinal. Finally, they close the show with three-time national champion, 2025 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and U.S. national team midfielder Maddie Zimmer, (63:10) who walks through her unforgettable championship weekend, including back-to-back overtime wins and her jaw-dropping play to set up the game winner against UNC.

Andrew and Kirstin are on location in Durham, NC for the 2025 Final Four and report back on the day's two games live from Pitch Session's Research Triangle Headquarters. They look back at the less-than-enthralling opener between Harvard and Princeton in which the Tigers emerged with a 2-0 win, and then breakdown the thriller in the nightcap that saw Northwestern come back from a two goal deficit to upset North Carolina 4-3 in overtime. They also provide an update in the Bracket Spectacular presented by Wrappit Wrappit -- spoiler: we're down to two possible winners. Andrew comes with a hot take on counting penalty corners and checks in on the D2 tournament while Kirstin's D3 Short Corner recaps the semifinal action in that tournament.

It's Final Four time and Andrew and Kirstin are joined by the head coaches of all four teams competing in this weekend's Final Four. First, they look back on the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, provide an update on the Bracket Challenge Spectacular presented by Wrappit Wrappit, and lament the amount of video reviews that seemed to dominate the first and second rounds of the tournament. They're then joined by Tracey Fuchs of Northwestern (26:30), Carla Tagliente of Princeton (36:44), Tjerk van Herwaarden of Harvard (55:35), and Erin Matson (68:17) of North Carolina. All four head coaches reflect back on the road that led them to this weekend's national semifinals, look ahead to their respective matchups and what it means to be back on NCAA field hockey's biggest stage. Following the four chats, Andrew breaks down the D2 bracket with overwhelming expertise, Kirstin gives us an update on the final four in her D3 short corner and they make their picks for Friday's two games.    

Andrew and Kirstin are joined by two-time All-American, two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and two-time Patriot League tournament MVP Christine Fingerhuth to look back at last weekend's conference tournaments and breakdown the NCAA Tournament bracket. They look at all 10 conferences with AQs to the field of 18 and the 11th -- the inaugural championship of the MPSF. A D3 corner includes a breakdown of the D3 bracket, there's a bonus D2 corner, and every game this weekend is a Game to Watch (tm) as the tournament gets underway. There's still time to join the bracket spectacular presented by Wrappit Wrappit! officepoolstop.com League ID: 86450 Password: 'pitch25" 

The postseason has arrived and Andrew and Kirstin are ready to take a look at each of the 10 conference tournaments taking place this week along with the MPSF Championship Game that we've been waiting all year for. Kirstin picks a winner for each conference and makes an early guess at what eight teams will earn at-large selections to the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced this Sunday night.   The 2025 Bracket Spectacular is open for signups!  Thank you to this year's sponsor of the bracket spectacular, Wrappit Wrappit custom chamois grips for field hockey. The winner of this year's bracket spectacular, in addition to joining the pod, will be able to donate an entire team's worth of grips from Wrappit Wrappit to the high school or college team of their choice.   To join the league password-free, please follow this link. Also signup by going to officepoolstop.com and entering our league ID: 86450 and our password: pitch25.  

Andrew and Kirstin are joined by US Women's National Team athlete and Northwestern Wildcat Ashley Sessa to chat about her big weekend last week that helped propel the Wildcats to the Big Ten Regular Season title.   They also preview where each conference stands going into the final weekend of the regular season, look at Kirstin's DIII Corner, her Games to Watch (tm), and have a vital update for our pollsters for next week.

Andrew and Kirstin do double duty this week, welcoming the Pitch Session National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week to the pod. First, Kirstin speaks with Indiana Sophomore Goalkeeper Sadie Canelli, and then they're both joined by UNC Junior Forward Charly Bruder.  With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, they break down both polls, Kirstin presents her DIII Short Corner and Games to Watch (TM).

It's a super packed Pitch Session as Andrew and Kirstin welcome UC Davis Head Coach Austin Pile to the show. They explore all things MPSF including how the powerhouse conference came to be, plans for future members, and a preview of the inaugural championship game taking place next month. They also look at the NFHCA Coaches Poll and its inner-workings, while also chatting about UC Davis' 2025 season, what life is like as an almost-independent being a whole country away from most of your opponents, challenges from their time in the America East, and just what Austin does with all those frequent flier points he earns. Andrew and Kirstin also take a look at this week's polls, both from the coaches and the people. They discuss a couple of big upsets from last weekend (on both coasts!),  look to clear the good name of Salisbury University Field Hockey, put teams on chutes and ladders, and Kirstin gives her DIII corner and Games to Watch (tm) for this weekend,

The 2025 season has reached the second half and Andrew and Kirstin are joined by USA Women's National Team members, podcast hosts, and roommates, Jenny Rizzo and Jillian Wolgemuth. The pair are the hosts of their podcast, No Advice Possible, and come on this pod to discuss what's happening with the national team as it begins to ramp up for next summer's World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.  Kirstin, Jenny, and Jillian discuss the chutes and ladders in NCAA action, share their red cards including Kirstin being stranded in the middle of nowhere for days at end, and learn Jenny's brilliant new variation of field hockey.   Kirstin does her DIII short corner, they break down the People's Poll for week seven and look at this weekend's Games to Watch (tm).

Andrew and Kirstin look back at the first loss for the season for North Carolina and other upsets during a topsy-turvy weekend across the country. They breakdown both polls, including Northwestern being #1 in both, and look at inconsistency in how some voted in the coaches poll.    Kirstin gives her DIII Corner, put teams on the chute and the ladder, provides a wrap up to Fat Bear Week, and lastly gives her Games to Watch (TM) for the week.

Andrew and Kirstin roll into another week discussing who's up and who's down in Chutes and Ladders, breaking down the first round of voting in Fat Bear Week, and discuss the chances of a bear roaming around in suburban Atlanta. Then they're joined by JMU Dukes head coach Christie Morgan. The three discuss Christie's lengthy run as head coach in Harrisonburg, which dates back to 1991, why she took a break from coaching in the 2000s, the biggest changes in coaching today compared to the 90s, and the 2025 Dukes. Afterwards, Kirstin runs through her DIII short corner and her Games to Watch (TM) for the season's fifth weekend.

Andrew and Kirstin take a look back at the third full weekend of play before breaking down both the NFHCA Coaches Poll and the Pitch Session People's Poll. They then welcome head coach of the undefeated, 5th ranked (in both polls) Harvard Crimson, Tjerk van Herwaarden.  In chatting with Tjerk, we learn how he came to give up a banking career in the Netherlands to coach collegiate field hockey in the United States, why his Crimson are off to such a strong start this season and the challenges -- and benefits of coaching both at Harvard and in the Ivy League.  The show wraps up with a look at this weeks' chutes and ladders, Kirstin's DIII short corner (which was interrupted), and this weekend's Games to Watch (TM) Central Michigan vs. LIU Box Score Division I Sporcle  Division III Sporcle

Andrew and Kirstin look back at the second weekend of the season, the return of the Coaches Poll and another edition of the Pitch Session People's Poll. They're then joined by Syracuse Director of Operations and former 3-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and 2-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Bryn Underwood. They discuss life as a Director of Operations Bryn's budding broadcasting career, and a look around the country and who's off to a good start this season and who's not. They finish up by discussing Stick to It, Bryn's FH musical coming to a theatre near you soon and have their mind blown by her rule change suggestion. The pod wraps up with a look at Chutes and Ladders for the week, Kirstin's DIII short corner and this weekend's Games to Watch (TM).

Andrew and Kirstin kick things off by recapping the opening weekend of play across the country (Ivy League, still fashionably late) and unveiling Week Two of the Pitch Session People’s Poll. Then they welcome Louisville head coach Justine Sowry to the pod to discuss so many things.The trio revisit Kirstin’s days as an assistant on Justine’s staff, reflect on how Justine has grown in nearly two decades as a head coach, and dig into the unique scheduling challenges being located a long distance from many other teams. The conversation then turns to the 2025 Cardinals -- their start to the season and expectations for the months ahead. Afterward, Andrew and Kirstin break down who’s climbing the ladder (and who’s heading for the chute), run through a lightning round update on Division III, and spotlight the top matchups of Week Two. Poll Results: Week Two MPSF Announcement

Andrew and Kirstin discuss the NFHCA preseason poll and the results of the inaugural Pitch Session People's Poll, taking time to compare and contrast the results from both. Then they're joined by Ohio State graduate student Makenna Webster, a two-sport star for the Buckeyes. The 3rd round pick of the New York Sirens in the PWHL Draft discusses the challenges of playing field and ice hockey at such a high level, how the two sports overlap -- and how they don't.  They look ahead to Ohio State's opening weekend matchups with Ball State and Kent State and explore what other Olympic sports Makenna could excel in. The show then wraps up with an update on Long Island's coaching search, this week's Games to Watch (tm), a DIII short corner, and a rapid fire round of chutes and ladders.

Andrew and Kirstin look ahead to the start of the season as Kirstin makes her pick for each DI conference, and who she sees in the final four.

Andrew and Kirstin move one week closer to the start of the season and are joined by first-year head coach Kristi Gannon Fisher of the Michigan Wolverines.  They discuss her transition from player and longtime assistant at Michigan to becoming the head coach of the program, and how preseason is going as her team prepares another run through the always rigorous Big Ten. Remember if you want to vote in this year's weekly Pitch Session Poll where we rank the top Division I teams, send a note to pitchsessionpodcast@gmail.com to get on the list.

Andrew and Kirstin begin Season Three of Pitch Session as preseason gets underway this week. Then they're joined by Laura Gebhart, first-year head coach of the Fairfield Stags. Laura shares how she's approaching her first preseason at the helm, what it's like collaborating with Lucas the Stag, and her many hats within the NFHCA -- including her push to reform the often-debated coaches poll. We also learn one skill the Gebhart children don't possess terribly well, and discuss a shakeup in Andrew's Gebhart family power rankings.

Andrew and Kirstin are back with an offseason edition of Pitch Session where they discuss what's been going on since December both on and off the field. They discuss Saint Francis' move to DIII and what it means for both field hockey and college sports in general. They're then joined by Tara Zollinger, three-time national champion as a head coach (and many more as a player and assistant) and brand new leader of the Delaware Blue Hens and chat about her transition from DII to DI as a head coach and get a first-hand account of life with Shippensburg mascot Shippo the Hippo.