UNC transfer forward Ashley Sessa talks Iowa visit

The Iowa Field Hockey team is off to an 8-0 start this season and is currently ranked atop the NFHCA Coaches Poll. That is due in large part to their offense that is ranked number one in the country in goals scored (39) and goals per game (4.88). 35 of those 39 goals scored have come by players that can return in 2024. Despite that, Lisa Cellucci and her coaching staff are looking to add to what will already be a dangerous attack. Transfer portal forward Ashley Sessa out of Schwenksville, PA was in Iowa City this past weekend for a visit. Sessa is in the portal after spending her freshman season last year at North Carolina.

“My visit to Iowa City was great! It was nothing like I would have expected,” said Sessa. “It is genuinely a little city. I got to hang out with the team, and they are very supportive and fun. We went to the football game, which was a very cool experience.”

Sessa attended Episcopal Academy in the Philadelphia and played her club field hockey with current Iowa midfielder Gia Whalen for the WC Eagles. As a senior for Episcopal, she scored 34 goals and helped lead her team to a 20-1 record. Ashley was named Pennsylvania All-State Player of the Year and was rated as a top three recruit by Max Field Hockey for the class of 2022. Sessa chose North Carolina over Maryland.

Last year, as a true freshman for the Tar Heels, Ashley started all 21 games, scored nine goals and dished five assists for a UNC team that won the national title. She was a Second Team All-ACC selection, as well as an All-South Region selection. Sessa scored a hat trick in her first career game against Michigan and scored two goals in the NCAA Tournament.

Heels up 1-0 after Q1 at Louisville, outshooting the hosts 4-0

Check out Ashley Sessa's goal then watch the rest of this top-five matchup on ACCNX here: https://t.co/4yNmE0PRFo#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/vPUaYKF3C1

— UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) September 16, 2022

“My freshman year at UNC helped me learn about making new friends outside of field hockey and mix within different sports,” said Sessa. “Growing as a player and person to time manage with all of the school work, playing in college, and playing internationally, (which means) leaving school for three-week periods for the pro league.”

Prior to her sophomore year, Ashley opted to enter the transfer portal and use her Olympic redshirt to compete with Team USA in the FIH Pro League. She will return to college next season and will have three years of eligibility remaining. Sessa recently scored a goal in a 3-0 win over Canada back on September 8th in Charlotte. Team USA will compete to earn a berth to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the upcoming Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Sessa was recently named to the Pan Am Team USA roster.

“My experience with Team USA so far has been nothing but amazing as it is challenging you every single day to be the best version of yourself, not only on the field, but off the field as well,” said Sessa. “It is demanding, but you feel yourself improving with every practice. Growing with teammates and traveling across the world is such an amazing experience.”

As for where she will play her college field hockey next season? Ashley says that more than 25 schools have reached out to her. She has taken several visits, including Iowa, and has a few more, before she will make a final decision. The Hawkeyes figure to be a big player because of their standing as a power in college field hockey. Sessa attended the Hawkeyes 8-0 victory on Sunday against Merrimack.

“The atmosphere at the game on Sunday was amazing with the parents tailgating and cheering on every second of the game to getting to see other athletes coming to support and cheer on their friends. It was a super cool experience.”

“My relationship is relatively new with Iowa’s coaching staff and Lisa. I would have never thought to even look at Iowa until I talked to her for the first time on the phone and wanted to go out and see it for myself. (The relationship) is growing every chance we talk and it was super easy to talk to them.”

If the Hawkeyes were to land Ashley Sessa, what would she bring to the team? A threat on the offensive half of the field is the obvious answer. She scored nine goals and took 52 shots as a freshman for a UNC team that also had Erin Matson and Ryleigh Heck. Ashley described for herself, what Iowa would be getting if she decided to join the team next season.

“I would describe myself as a play maker on the field and a very competitive person. Always going 110%, seeing other people on the field and creating opportunities for others, whether it’s opening space for someone to come in or taking a defender out of the space.”

As for when fans can expect a decision from Sessa? The Pan American Games in Chile are set to go from October 24-November 4. Once that is completed, Iowa fans can keep an eye out for a potential commitment.

“I plan to make my final decision towards the end of the fall season as my primary focus is on Team USA and the upcoming Pan Am games in Chile.”