Penn State Harrisburg

Former Division I standout and national champion Cheyenne Sprecher is set to begin her third season as an assistant coach for Penn State Harrisburg's field hockey program in 2026. Sprecher, who starred at the University of Connecticut, works specifically with the team's defense and goalkeepers.


Most recently, Sprecher helped lead the Lions to their most successful season in the program's short existence. Penn State Harrisburg racked up a program-record 13 wins in 2025, culminating with a run to the United East Championship Game. The Lions earned their first regional ranking in program history and suffered just three setbacks on the season, all to regionally-ranked opponents. Ami Mattingly won an NCAA Statistical Championship after leading the nation in goals per game. Mattingly was named the United East Player of the Year and became the first player in program history to earn all-region recognition of any kind when she was named to the NFHCA All-Region IV Second Team. Faith Musser earned United East Rookie of the Year honors, while eight players earned all-conference recognition. Thanks to Sprecher's contributions, head coach AJ Misselhorn was named the United East Coach of the Year by her peers. 


Sprecher helped lead Penn State Harrisburg field hockey into NCAA competition during the program's inaugural season in 2024. The Lions put together an historic fall that saw them win nine games during their debut campaign before making a run to the semifinal round of the United East Championship Tournament. Six players earned United East All-Conference honors, including first-team plaudits for Alexis Nasuta, Kylie Rife, and Natalie Rocuskie, while Sadie Cook, Rachel Lane, and Macenzie Mulholland secured second-team all-conference recognition. Rocuskie and Anna Moyer were named to the Field Hockey Analyst Division III Watchlist and Penn State Harrisburg climbed as high as No. 28 in the Field Hockey Corner RPI Rankings.


While at UConn, Sprecher put together a highly-decorated career and won a national championship in 2017. She earned a pair of National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region First Team accolades and was twice named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year, securing the moniker outright as a redshirt freshman before sharing the honor following her sophomore season. The Palmyra, Pa. native earned five Big East All-Conference honors, including a pair of first-team plaudits to begin her collegiate career. As a sophomore, she led the nation in goals against average (.79) and save percentage (.842) before leading the country in goals against (.52) for a second straight season in 2021. For her career, she recorded 66 victories in goal with 36 shutouts, made 408 total saves, and posted a .782 save percentage to go along with a 1.09 goals against average. 


In high school, Sprecher was a standout at nearby Palmyra, winning the 2014 PIAA 3A Championship and helping lead the Cougars to three consecutive PIAA State Final appearances. She earned All-State First Team recognition as a senior and was named one of the Class of 2021’s Top 100 Players by Max Preps.