Riley Welsch

Liberty University Field Hockey Media Day on August 6th, 2025. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton)

Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Position:
F
Height:
5-6
Hometown:
Hummelstown, Pa.

2024 (Fr.)

Redshirted
Honored as NFHCA Scholar of Distinction
Earned spot on NFHCA National Academic Squad
Garnered inclusion on BIG EAST All-Academic team

Prep

Graduate of Hershey High School
Earned several awards as a senior, including: Pennsylvania All-State first team, Mid-Penn Conference first team, Keystone Division first team, MAX Field Hockey Pennsylvania All-Region second team and Pennsylvania All-State Academic Team & GPA Award
Finished with 23 goals, four assists and 50 points during her senior season while leading her squad to the state semifinals
Served as varsity captain for two years
Was a Mid Penn all-star selection during junior season, along with several other accolades: all-state honorable mention, all-state academic team, PennLive second team, FAN second team, NFHCA National Academic Squad, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and 2024 MAXFH Top 100 player
Finished with seven goals, 15 assists and 29 points while helping her team finish with a 15-4-1 record and a Keystone Division title during junior campaign
Helped the Hershey Trojans finish as the District 3 2A runners-up and reach the state quarterfinals while being ranked third in the state and ninth in the nation by MAX Field Hockey
Tallied 10 goals, seven assists and 27 points for a 12-win Hersey team during sophomore season while earning Mid Penn second team and Mid Penn Postseason Player to Watch honors
Ended the year with six goals, six assists and 18 points as a freshman while starting on the varsity squad for an 11-5 Trojans squad
Competed for three different clubs during her prep career: PA Revolution FHC (2022-present), Central Penn FH (2019-22) and Field Hockey Life Club – Ohio (2017-19).
Competed in the NIT and RCC for numerous year with her clubs, with team accomplishments including: JPOL regular season champions, JPOL and JPIL Championship finalist, numerous Shooting Star titles, 2020 Club of the Year and numerous local tournament titles
Competed for one year on her high school’s track & field team as well

Personal

Daughter of Christopher Welsch and Abbey Amar
Intends on majoring in business administration & data analysis – finance
Birthday is Aug. 10

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
Liberty is the perfect place for me to excel academically, athletically, and spiritually. Liberty University Field Hockey is such a special program that is Christ-driven, passionate, and plays such highly competitive field hockey. You can’t find another team like Liberty in the NCAA, they are truly one of a kind!

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I wear a black armband every game with the initials L.A. on it to honor of my Stepfather, Larry Amar, who passed away in 2020 and who was a field hockey player and coach for the USA National Field Hockey Team.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My Mom inspires me the most because she is such a strong, faithful, driven woman. She is a single mother who can make all things possible for my younger brother and me. She never fails to amaze me and make me feel so loved. I’m so proud to be her daughter.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
My most memorable field hockey moment so far was: Scoring the game tying goal with 2 minutes left in the game and then went to score the game winner in double overtime to send my team to the State Semi-Finals for the first time in my high school career.

If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
I picked #18 because my mom wore #18 when she played college field hockey.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My mother, Abbey Amar, played Kent State Field Hockey. My father, Chris Welsch, played Kent State Baseball. My late stepfather, Larry Amar played for the USA Men’s National Field Hockey Team (1987-1999, Including 1996 Summer Olympics).

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
My favorite meal is a double cheeseburger from Swenson’s Drive-In in Stow, Ohio.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
Snapchat is the first app I check.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
I like to go hiking.

Do you have any current pets (name and type of animal)?
I have two dogs, Bo and Bean.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Alex Morgan