The three-time reigning OUA champion University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team welcomes five new recruits as Anna Costanzo, Shannon Snediker, Katherine Obst, Isabella Watson, and Marisa Rostek get set to begin studies at U of T this fall.

"It's going to be a good year for all of our recruits, who each bring a different style and character to our team," said Cassius Mendonça, who enters his first year as Blues head coach this fall. "I look forward to our preseason travels to play NCAA Division 1 teams like Syracuse, Colgate, Bryant and Columbia as it should help bring our team together and prepare us for the regular season in September."

Younger sister of current Varsity Blues field hockey member Julia Costanzo, Anna Costanzo brings a strong field hockey pedigree to the team having competed at the U18 national championships last summer and at the Indoor Hockey Series in the United States with Ontario's U19 team this past winter.

"I've been watching the team over the past few seasons since my sister started playing and it has only made me even more excited to join the team this year," said Anna. "U of T is also a world renowned university and I'm delighted to begin my studies in Kinesiology and see where my academic opportunities take me."

Joining Anna in the Kinesiology program will be Snediker, who comes to U of T from Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, Colorado. Snediker delivered an impressive campaign in her final season with Palmer Ridge accumulating 42 points on 15 goals and 12 assists, while also picking up 33 steals in 16 games played. Her strong play led to all-conference, all-State, and all-area honours.

"Playing collegiate field hockey has always been the goal and I'm always striving to improve my play," said Snediker. "That's why I'm so excited to play for the University of Toronto, because I know I will grow immensely as a player and a teammate."

A strong player in the midfield, Obst will also be travelling north of the border as she comes to the Varsity Blues from Brookfield Academy in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Obst helped lead the Brookfield Knights to a state title in 2016, the first Wisconsin High School field hockey championship for Brookfield since 1996.

"I have been playing field hockey for eight years and this sport has become a part of who I am," said Obst. "The University of Toronto has everything I want in a school and I'm looking forward to all of the hard work and excitement that I know will accompany the upcoming season and the next four years."

Meanwhile, Watson, who will be studying Life Sciences, comes to the Varsity Blues from Lord Byng Secondary and the Rob Short Field Hockey Academy in Vancouver. Watson cites her coach and a visit during the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto as factors that helped her in her decision.

"My coach (Rob Short) for many years spoke very highly of the U of T program and coaching staff, bringing up the idea of potentially playing for the Varsity Blues upon my graduation," said Watson. "After visiting the facilities during the Pan Am games and touring the city I fell in love with everything U of T had to offer and I can't wait to play for the Blues."

Lastly, Rostek comes to the Blue and White as a transfer from Dalhousie University where she helped lead the Tigers to  the Maritime Field Hockey League championship last season, picking up three goals in four games, including a marker in the finals against UPEI. Rostek was named a 2016 all-star and will be studying Occupational Therapy starting in September.

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