From All-American to Coach: Annabel Skubisz’s Next Chapter

By Cassidy Strittmatter, NFHCA Digital Communications Team

Shippensburg, PA – Staying in the game takes many forms. But after joining the U.S Women’s National Field Hockey Team, this goalkeeper continues to make an impact in collegiate coaching-even from afar.

While training with the National Team in North Carolina, Annabel Skubisz also joined Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania as an assistant coach for the 2025 season. Skubisz conducts her duties in a hybrid role, executing film analysis and communication with goalkeepers remotely, and traveling to Shippensburg to coach in person a few times throughout the season.

When asked about acquiring her coaching role, Skubisz shared she didn’t initially expect to coach collegiate field hockey, despite having always loved coaching. But this past summer, Shippensburg Head Coach, Rayell Wallace, reached out about the job, and Skubisz reasoned “I had the bandwidth to do the role well and help the team be successful, so I signed on!”

Built by Championships

A two-time NCAA Division I National Champion with the Northwestern Wildcats, Skubisz’s decorated five-year collegiate career includes:

• 2x NFHCA First Team All-American (2023, 2024)
• 2x Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year (2023, 2024)
• 5x NFHCA All-Region West Team: First Team (2023, 2024) Second Team (2020, 2021, 2022)
• 2x First Team All-Big Ten (2023, 2024)
• 2x NCAA All-Tournament Team (2023, 2024)

Skubisz served as the Wildcats team captain for both the 2023 and 2024 national championship seasons. In her final year, Skubisz anchored Northwestern’s defense with 0.60 goals against average (GAA) and 0.854 save percentage. Off the field, Skubisz was a four-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection and a four-time Academic All-Big Ten award winner from 2021-2024.

Staying in the Game

As both coach, and elite player, Skubisz understands the physical and psychological demands of being a successful goalkeeper. She conducts calls with the goalkeepers at Shippensburg frequently, as she believes this is an extremely important facet of supporting their growth. “Especially with how mentally challenging goalkeeping can be, having the opportunity to talk through challenges they are facing on the field, and pairing it with film, dissects how they can improve their own personal game,” Skubisz shared.

When asked how she balances personal expectations as a national team player and expectations of her athletes, Skubisz said “Similar to my time as a player, I hope to continue to be a part of teams that set lofty goals for themselves and do what it takes to accomplish them.” This pursuit for greatness is what defines Skubisz’s career, and what propels her impact on the Shippensburg field hockey program as an assistant coach.

Annabel Skubisz is a coach of the modern game. Her role is a testament of her love, and commitment, to the sport of field hockey.

Whether you’re already coaching or just finishing your playing career, your connection to the game can keep growing. The Stay in the Game campaign invites you to explore new ways to stay involved — through coaching, umpiring, or playing — and keep shaping the future of field hockey.

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