Field Hockey Announces 9 Signees in 2025 Class
3/24/2025 11:37:00 AM | Field Hockey
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty field hockey team and head coach Nikki Parsley-Blocker have announced the addition of nine student-athletes to their 2025 class.
The nine signees include Liz Bustillo, Zoé Gaillard, Morena Giacosa, Pia Iapichino, Isa Pardo, Luna Prieri, Caroline Richard, Diane Saint Martin and Mia Santana. Giacosa, Prieri, Richard and Santana are joining the squad starting this semester, while Bustillo, Gaillard, Iapichino, Pardo and Saint Martin will be on campus for the fall 2025 semester.
Stay tuned to LibertyFlames.com for potential future additions to this signing class.
Liz Bustillo (M/F – Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor HS)
Bustillo is a midfielder/forward from Millersville, Pa. who has played at Penn Manor High School for the past four years and also competed at the 2024 USA Field Hockey Junior Nexus Championship.
Bustillo was a first team all-league honoree as a senior and helped her team to a 16-6-1 overall record. As a junior, she garnered second team all-league distinction and helped a 16-6 Penn Manor squad reach the state quarterfinals. During her sophomore campaign, she tallied 13 goals, 11 assists and 37 points while helping the Comets win their league and reach the first round of the state tournament. During Bustillo's freshman season, Penn Manor won the league and finished with a 12-4 mark.
"Liberty University is filled with the most genuinely nice people. I'm so excited to be part of the great culture built at this university," Bustillo said.
Bustillo competed at the club level for Nook (2020-22) and currently plays for Powerhouse Field Hockey (2022-present). She has played in the Regional Club Championship (2021-24) and the National Indoor Tournament (NIT, 2021-24) for four years each.
Zoé Gaillard (M/F – Paris, France/Lycée Marguerite de Flandre)
Gaillard, a midfielder/forward from Paris France, will be joining the Lady Flames alongside her club teammate, Diane Saint Martin. Gaillard is a captain for the French U18 team with Saint Martin and is also on the France U21 team that is preparing for the European Cup in July 2025.
"I'm very excited. I can't wait to join Liberty University and to meet the coaches and the girls and win games," Gaillard said. "It will be an unforgettable experience."
Gaillard played in the European Cup A U21 in summer 2024 as well as the European Cup A U18 in summer of 2023. She has played for her club team, Cambrai Hockey Club, in the CAM92 elite division for the last four years. Gaillard and Cambrai finished first in the France U16 outdoor tournament, second in the France U19 indoor event and fourth in the France outdoor and indoor tournament. Gaillard says her most memorable experience was playing in the European Cup U21 last summer.
Morena Giacosa (D – Rosario, Argentina/Colegio San Ramon Nonato)
Giacosa is a defender from Rosario, Argentina. She has competed at the prep level for Club Atletico Fisherton (2021-24) and Club Bancario (2011-20). With Club Athletico Fisherton, Giacosa guided the squad to Regional Tournament E (2023) and Regional Tournament A (2024) titles. She was named the Best Player of the Champions in Regional Tournament A
"What I mainly like about this community at Liberty is the way they perceive things," Giacosa said. "It's not only about us. Playing for something bigger fulfills us and brings a solid, emotional mindset that encourages you to overcome any situation with the support of those who can stand by your side."
Giacosa has been a part of the Rosario selected team five different times, including at the National Tournament s19 (2024), National Tournament s19 (2023), National Tournament s16 (2022), National Tournament s14 (2019) and Regional Tournament s14 (2019).
Pia Iapichino (F – Buenos Aires, Argentina/Instituto Universitario River Plate)
Iapichino is a forward who hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She competes at the club level in Argentina for Club Atlético River Plate.
"I'm confident it is the right place for me to develop as a person, student and player," Iapichino said. "I believe the team values of joy, relentless effort and commitment are something that I will strive for."
Iapichino also gained experience with the Buenos Aires U16 national team. With Club Atlético River Plate, she was voted the best player of her club last year and ranked third in her league in scoring in 2024. Iapichino guided her squad to the postseason semifinals in 2024, the finals in 2023, a championship crown in 2022, a finals appearance in 2021 and a title in 2019. She was the top scorer of the tournament in 2022.
Isa Pardo (GK – Madrid, Spain/Virginia Beach, Va./Frank W. Cox HS)
Pardo is a goalkeeper who hails from Madrid, Spain. She has spent the last three years playing field hockey at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Va.
As a senior, Pardo helped her high school squad post a 13-7 record and reach the state quarterfinals. She was named to the Region 5A first team and to the NFHCA Watchlist. During her junior campaign, Pardo and the Falcons reached the state quarterfinals and finished with a 12-5-1 mark. As a sophomore, Pardo was a first team all-state honoree and Region 5A first team selection while leading her squad to a Region 5 state title and 17-4 overall record.
"I'm so excited to join Liberty and not only play field hockey at a high level but also deepen my relationship with God," Pardo stated.
Pardo was a Madrid selection at the junior national level and placed second in the Spanish national tournament. She competed for Jab Madrid Hockey from 2014-22 and has played for Focus Field Hockey for the last two years (2023-present). Pardo and Focus Field Hockey placed seventh and ninth at the National Club Championship and qualified for the NIT both years while claiming Regional Club Championship crowns twice.
Pardo has also competed in swimming, basketball and lacrosse at Frank W. Cox High School.
Luna Prieri (F – San Luis, Argentina/Escuela Publica Autogestionada N5 Modelo San Luis (Longwood))
Prieri is a forward from San Luis, Argentina who will be transferring to Liberty after spending the last two seasons at Longwood. In two years with the Lancers, she totaled nine goals, five assists and 23 points in 26 appearances (22 starts).
As a sophomore, Prieri scored five goals and had one assist and 11 points in only eight games. She scored three goals in a 3-1 Longwood win over Queens. During her freshman campaign (2023), she tied for the team lead in goals (4), assists (4) and points (12) while appearing in 18 games (17 starts). Prieri was an All-MAC Freshman team honoree and burst onto the scene with two goals in the Lancers' 2-1 season-opening triumph over Richmond.
"Joining Liberty means not just playing field hockey but finding a team of friends who lift each other up, both on and off the field," Prieri stated. "Together, we chase our dreams and push each other to be the best versions of ourselves."
Prior to coming to Longwood, Prieri was a U16 and U19 Regional Champion and was named MVP of the Regional High School Tournament in 2018 and 2019. She was a pre-selection to the National Team selection as well. In 2016, she was the top scorer at the U14 Regional Tournament.
Caroline Richard (M/F – Towson, Md./Towson HS)
Richard is a midfielder/forward from Towson, Md. She participated in the Junior Nexus Championship in three straight years (2022-24) and won the Nexus Championship with team Milan this past summer. During her senior season at Towson High School, Richard earned all-state, all-region and all-county honors while leading her team to a county title, region title and state runner-up finish. For her career, she was a four-time all-county first team selection.
"I feel blessed and honored to be a part of the Liberty field hockey program," Richard said. "I cannot wait to get on campus and start training with such a high caliber team. Also, the combination of faith and athletics makes Liberty the perfect home for me!"
Richard has competed at the club level for Freedom HKY Club since 2020. Richard and Freedom HKY have five first place finishes and a pair of second place finishes at various high-profile club events, including a pair of Regional Club Championship titles (2023-24) and two U16 NIT titles (2022-23).
Richard has also competed in indoor and outdoor track & field at Towson High School (2021-24) as well as cross country (2024).
"Caroline's contagious positive energy and drive empowers her teammates every time she steps on the field. She is one of those players who just pours her heart and soul into your program. Her love for the sport shows in her hard work, selflessness and desire to learn and grow. Everything she does, every decision she makes, is for her teammates. She will run until the wheels fall off, and that mentality is hard to come by. We will miss her so much but know she will do so well at Liberty!"
Kyler Greenwalt, Freedom HKY Club Head Coach
Diane Saint Martin (GK – Paris France/Lycée Marguerite de Flandre)
Saint Martin, a goalkeeper, is from Paris, France, along with fellow signee Zoé Gallard. Saint Martin is a captain of her U18 team alongside Gallard and is also on the France U21 team. She played in the European Cup U18 in 2023 as well.
"Joining Liberty makes me really proud," Saint Martin stated. "I can't wait to discover a new culture in this sport, work with new people and learn new things to progress even more."
Saint Martin's titles and other playing experience with her club, Cambrai Hockey Club, include: French Champion outdoor and indoor elite (2023) , French Champion outdoor elite (2024), Vice French Champion indoor elite (2024), French Champion indoor U16 (2023), European Cup Club indoor Vienna (2023), European Cup Club indoor Cambrai (2023), European Cup Club outdoor Turkey (2024) and European Cup Club indoor Poland (2024).
Her most memorable moments included winning the French championship with her club and when she was selected for the European Cup with the French team.
Mia Santana (M/F – Palermo, Italy/Escuela Normal Rafael Obligado)
Santana is a midfielder/forward from Palermo, Italy. She spent three weeks with the Argentinian junior national team this past May and played for the regional team (LITOTAL, Rosario) for two national tournaments in 2023 and 2024. Santana and her squad finished runner-up at the 2024 event.
"Joining Liberty is an incredible opportunity for me to grow both as a player and as a person," Santana stated. "I'm excited to be part of such a passionate team, and I look forward to the challenges and experiences ahead."
Santana has played for Regatas San Nicolás Club for 10 years and has received three distinctions (2022-24) as the best player on her team. Additionally, she was the top scorer of the 2023 Rosario tournament with 28 goals in 11 matches. As a team, Regatas San Nicolás finished second place in the 2023 league and competed in Division A for five years of the Rosario tournament.
The nine signees include Liz Bustillo, Zoé Gaillard, Morena Giacosa, Pia Iapichino, Isa Pardo, Luna Prieri, Caroline Richard, Diane Saint Martin and Mia Santana. Giacosa, Prieri, Richard and Santana are joining the squad starting this semester, while Bustillo, Gaillard, Iapichino, Pardo and Saint Martin will be on campus for the fall 2025 semester.
Stay tuned to LibertyFlames.com for potential future additions to this signing class.
Liz Bustillo (M/F – Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor HS)
Bustillo is a midfielder/forward from Millersville, Pa. who has played at Penn Manor High School for the past four years and also competed at the 2024 USA Field Hockey Junior Nexus Championship.
Bustillo was a first team all-league honoree as a senior and helped her team to a 16-6-1 overall record. As a junior, she garnered second team all-league distinction and helped a 16-6 Penn Manor squad reach the state quarterfinals. During her sophomore campaign, she tallied 13 goals, 11 assists and 37 points while helping the Comets win their league and reach the first round of the state tournament. During Bustillo's freshman season, Penn Manor won the league and finished with a 12-4 mark.
"Liberty University is filled with the most genuinely nice people. I'm so excited to be part of the great culture built at this university," Bustillo said.
Bustillo competed at the club level for Nook (2020-22) and currently plays for Powerhouse Field Hockey (2022-present). She has played in the Regional Club Championship (2021-24) and the National Indoor Tournament (NIT, 2021-24) for four years each.
Zoé Gaillard (M/F – Paris, France/Lycée Marguerite de Flandre)
Gaillard, a midfielder/forward from Paris France, will be joining the Lady Flames alongside her club teammate, Diane Saint Martin. Gaillard is a captain for the French U18 team with Saint Martin and is also on the France U21 team that is preparing for the European Cup in July 2025.
"I'm very excited. I can't wait to join Liberty University and to meet the coaches and the girls and win games," Gaillard said. "It will be an unforgettable experience."
Gaillard played in the European Cup A U21 in summer 2024 as well as the European Cup A U18 in summer of 2023. She has played for her club team, Cambrai Hockey Club, in the CAM92 elite division for the last four years. Gaillard and Cambrai finished first in the France U16 outdoor tournament, second in the France U19 indoor event and fourth in the France outdoor and indoor tournament. Gaillard says her most memorable experience was playing in the European Cup U21 last summer.
Morena Giacosa (D – Rosario, Argentina/Colegio San Ramon Nonato)
Giacosa is a defender from Rosario, Argentina. She has competed at the prep level for Club Atletico Fisherton (2021-24) and Club Bancario (2011-20). With Club Athletico Fisherton, Giacosa guided the squad to Regional Tournament E (2023) and Regional Tournament A (2024) titles. She was named the Best Player of the Champions in Regional Tournament A
"What I mainly like about this community at Liberty is the way they perceive things," Giacosa said. "It's not only about us. Playing for something bigger fulfills us and brings a solid, emotional mindset that encourages you to overcome any situation with the support of those who can stand by your side."
Giacosa has been a part of the Rosario selected team five different times, including at the National Tournament s19 (2024), National Tournament s19 (2023), National Tournament s16 (2022), National Tournament s14 (2019) and Regional Tournament s14 (2019).
Pia Iapichino (F – Buenos Aires, Argentina/Instituto Universitario River Plate)
Iapichino is a forward who hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She competes at the club level in Argentina for Club Atlético River Plate.
"I'm confident it is the right place for me to develop as a person, student and player," Iapichino said. "I believe the team values of joy, relentless effort and commitment are something that I will strive for."
Iapichino also gained experience with the Buenos Aires U16 national team. With Club Atlético River Plate, she was voted the best player of her club last year and ranked third in her league in scoring in 2024. Iapichino guided her squad to the postseason semifinals in 2024, the finals in 2023, a championship crown in 2022, a finals appearance in 2021 and a title in 2019. She was the top scorer of the tournament in 2022.
Isa Pardo (GK – Madrid, Spain/Virginia Beach, Va./Frank W. Cox HS)
Pardo is a goalkeeper who hails from Madrid, Spain. She has spent the last three years playing field hockey at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Va.
As a senior, Pardo helped her high school squad post a 13-7 record and reach the state quarterfinals. She was named to the Region 5A first team and to the NFHCA Watchlist. During her junior campaign, Pardo and the Falcons reached the state quarterfinals and finished with a 12-5-1 mark. As a sophomore, Pardo was a first team all-state honoree and Region 5A first team selection while leading her squad to a Region 5 state title and 17-4 overall record.
"I'm so excited to join Liberty and not only play field hockey at a high level but also deepen my relationship with God," Pardo stated.
Pardo was a Madrid selection at the junior national level and placed second in the Spanish national tournament. She competed for Jab Madrid Hockey from 2014-22 and has played for Focus Field Hockey for the last two years (2023-present). Pardo and Focus Field Hockey placed seventh and ninth at the National Club Championship and qualified for the NIT both years while claiming Regional Club Championship crowns twice.
Pardo has also competed in swimming, basketball and lacrosse at Frank W. Cox High School.
Luna Prieri (F – San Luis, Argentina/Escuela Publica Autogestionada N5 Modelo San Luis (Longwood))
Prieri is a forward from San Luis, Argentina who will be transferring to Liberty after spending the last two seasons at Longwood. In two years with the Lancers, she totaled nine goals, five assists and 23 points in 26 appearances (22 starts).
As a sophomore, Prieri scored five goals and had one assist and 11 points in only eight games. She scored three goals in a 3-1 Longwood win over Queens. During her freshman campaign (2023), she tied for the team lead in goals (4), assists (4) and points (12) while appearing in 18 games (17 starts). Prieri was an All-MAC Freshman team honoree and burst onto the scene with two goals in the Lancers' 2-1 season-opening triumph over Richmond.
"Joining Liberty means not just playing field hockey but finding a team of friends who lift each other up, both on and off the field," Prieri stated. "Together, we chase our dreams and push each other to be the best versions of ourselves."
Prior to coming to Longwood, Prieri was a U16 and U19 Regional Champion and was named MVP of the Regional High School Tournament in 2018 and 2019. She was a pre-selection to the National Team selection as well. In 2016, she was the top scorer at the U14 Regional Tournament.
Caroline Richard (M/F – Towson, Md./Towson HS)
Richard is a midfielder/forward from Towson, Md. She participated in the Junior Nexus Championship in three straight years (2022-24) and won the Nexus Championship with team Milan this past summer. During her senior season at Towson High School, Richard earned all-state, all-region and all-county honors while leading her team to a county title, region title and state runner-up finish. For her career, she was a four-time all-county first team selection.
"I feel blessed and honored to be a part of the Liberty field hockey program," Richard said. "I cannot wait to get on campus and start training with such a high caliber team. Also, the combination of faith and athletics makes Liberty the perfect home for me!"
Richard has competed at the club level for Freedom HKY Club since 2020. Richard and Freedom HKY have five first place finishes and a pair of second place finishes at various high-profile club events, including a pair of Regional Club Championship titles (2023-24) and two U16 NIT titles (2022-23).
Richard has also competed in indoor and outdoor track & field at Towson High School (2021-24) as well as cross country (2024).
"Caroline's contagious positive energy and drive empowers her teammates every time she steps on the field. She is one of those players who just pours her heart and soul into your program. Her love for the sport shows in her hard work, selflessness and desire to learn and grow. Everything she does, every decision she makes, is for her teammates. She will run until the wheels fall off, and that mentality is hard to come by. We will miss her so much but know she will do so well at Liberty!"
Kyler Greenwalt, Freedom HKY Club Head Coach
Diane Saint Martin (GK – Paris France/Lycée Marguerite de Flandre)
Saint Martin, a goalkeeper, is from Paris, France, along with fellow signee Zoé Gallard. Saint Martin is a captain of her U18 team alongside Gallard and is also on the France U21 team. She played in the European Cup U18 in 2023 as well.
"Joining Liberty makes me really proud," Saint Martin stated. "I can't wait to discover a new culture in this sport, work with new people and learn new things to progress even more."
Saint Martin's titles and other playing experience with her club, Cambrai Hockey Club, include: French Champion outdoor and indoor elite (2023) , French Champion outdoor elite (2024), Vice French Champion indoor elite (2024), French Champion indoor U16 (2023), European Cup Club indoor Vienna (2023), European Cup Club indoor Cambrai (2023), European Cup Club outdoor Turkey (2024) and European Cup Club indoor Poland (2024).
Her most memorable moments included winning the French championship with her club and when she was selected for the European Cup with the French team.
Mia Santana (M/F – Palermo, Italy/Escuela Normal Rafael Obligado)
Santana is a midfielder/forward from Palermo, Italy. She spent three weeks with the Argentinian junior national team this past May and played for the regional team (LITOTAL, Rosario) for two national tournaments in 2023 and 2024. Santana and her squad finished runner-up at the 2024 event.
"Joining Liberty is an incredible opportunity for me to grow both as a player and as a person," Santana stated. "I'm excited to be part of such a passionate team, and I look forward to the challenges and experiences ahead."
Santana has played for Regatas San Nicolás Club for 10 years and has received three distinctions (2022-24) as the best player on her team. Additionally, she was the top scorer of the 2023 Rosario tournament with 28 goals in 11 matches. As a team, Regatas San Nicolás finished second place in the 2023 league and competed in Division A for five years of the Rosario tournament.
Welcoming our 9 newest members of the LUFH Family! ???? pic.twitter.com/0BKCab4Uik
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) March 21, 2025
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) March 21, 2025
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) March 21, 2025
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