Field Hockey Rounds Out 2025 Staff

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Ahead of the team's first exhibition of the fall season, Syracuse University head field hockey coach Lynn Farquhar has announced Julie Rodijk and Bryn Underwood to the staff for 2025.

Rodijk will join the coaching staff as an assistant coach working with the backline. Underwood will work in a director of operations role. Additionally, Sam Brown was elevated to associate head coach over the summer while Sally Rutherford returns as an assistant coach, working closely with the goalkeepers.

"Our Syracuse hockey program values evolution and finding a way," said Farquhar. "Julie exhibits that drive and is well connected in the hockey world. She has an entrepreneurial spirit that navigates towards excellence. Her journey as a player in the Dutch and NCAA system is an asset for our squad. Julie's genuine leadership style is full of tenacity and complimented by relationships."

Rodijk joins the Orange with several years of coaching experience, most recently with FDU Florham in New Jersey. She also coached youth club teams 5 year olds through high schoolers, since August 2019.

Rodijk brings international recruiting experience to the coaching staff as well, working with Plus31 Sports as a recruiting specialist, making connections with potential student-athletes abroad wanting to play college field hockey in the United States.

Over the course of her collegiate career, Rodijk played in 86 career games, including 66 contests with UAlbany before concluding her career as a graduate student at Ohio State. Rodijk logged 47 points in her career with 22 goals and three assists.

During her season in Columbus, Ohio, Rodijk scored 10 goals with two assists, including a goal in the Big Ten Tournament against Penn State. In four years with UAlbany, Rodijk scored 12 career goals and three assists.

Rodijk was a three-time NFHCA All-Region pick, earning All-Northeast Region honors with UAlbany twice and an All-West Region selection with Ohio State. In 2023, Rodijk was a Second Team All-Big Ten honor and Academic All-Big Ten.

While playing at UAlbany, Rodijk was an All-Region back for the Great Danes, earning a spot at the NFHCA Division I Senior Game in 2022 and was an America East Second Team All-Conference selection. She was also the America East Defensive Player of the Week twice in October 2022. During her junior season (2021), Rodijk was an All-Region Second Teamer and America East All-Conference Second Team while earning a spot on the NFHCA National Academic Team.

During a unique 2020-21 season, Rodijk was an America East All-Conference First Team pick and earned America East Defensive Player of the Week honors. The previous season, Rodijk was an America East All-Conference East Division Second Team honoree and was named to the America East All-Rookie team.

Rodijk earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University at Albany, State University of New York with a concentration in marketing and entrepreneurship, and a minor in communications. She earned her Master of Kinesiology degree at The Ohio State University with a focus in sport management.

"Bryn's passion and love for hockey is evident; whether it's in pads, watching games or commentating matches," noted Faruqhar. "We're excited to welcome her enthusiasm and go-getter mentality. Bryn brings admirable characteristics, a contagious energy and desire to serve the team."

A five-year starter and three-year captain at American University, Underwood played in 75 games for the Eagles, logging 4,673 minutes in goal. Underwood finished her collegiate career with a 1.18 goals against average, a program and Patriot League record, and a 44-27 record in goal.

During the 2024 season, Underwood was selected as the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and named the League's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for a second-straight season, in addition to First Team All-Patriot League and Academic All-Patriot League honors. Underwood finished that season with the seventh-best save percentage in Division I and the eighth-most shutouts with eight, both top marks in the Patriot League. She had the second-best goals against average (1.11) in the League and the fifth-most saves per game (4.42).

Underwood left a mark on the American University field hockey record books. Her eight shutouts in 2024 are tied for the second-most in program history and the most in a decade for the Eagles. Underwood reset the program's career goals against average, while accumulating the third-most career saves (363), and the second-most shutouts (22). Underwood is one of two players in American's program history with at least 20 shutouts while career save percentage of .802 is also the third-best at American.

The Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania native was the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year three times (2021, 2022, 2024), a two-timeFirst Team NFHCA All-Region selection (2022, 2024), a two-time Second Team NFHCA All-Region pick (2021, 2023) and was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2020. In addition to three-time All-Patriot League First Team honors (2021, 2022, 2024), she was named as the Patriot League Tournament MVP in 2021, leading the Eagles to the conference title and NCAA Tournament berth where American pushed No. 3 Iowa to a one-goal result.

Earning several academic honors as well, Underwood was a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) was a member of the Academic All-Patriot League Team (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), and a five-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).

Beyond her accolades with American, Underwood was with USA Field Hockey at several levels, including the 2024-25 US Indoor Development Squad. In both 2024 and 2025, Underwood served as a head coach for teams at USA Field Hockey's Junior Nexus Championships. From 2022-25 Underwood was involved in the Senior NexUS Championship and was in camp for the 2022 U21 Development Squad selection.

Syracuse University Athletics

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