Women’s soccer is kicking at Central Penn for first time since 2019
Twelve players are on the roster and the new coach
is revved up to expand the soccer program and soccer culture
By Andrew Hunter
Knightly News Sports Reporter
andrew.hunter@mymail.centralpenn.edu
SUMMERDALE – For the first time since 2019, Central Penn will have a women’s soccer team.
Former Penn State Harrisburg coach Rudy Grubesky will lead the team.
Along with the men’s team, the women will be playing their six home games at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island, in Harrisburg. The season will begin on the road, with the women’s team and the men’s team taking on Patrick Henry College, in Virginia, on Aug. 26.
Grubesky is up for building the new women’s team and the Central Penn soccer program.
“I knew it will be a challenge to rebuild the women’s team,” Grubesky said. “I also think it is a great opportunity to build a program and a soccer culture from the ground up.”
The new program already had its “firsts.” Central Penn held an inaugural identification camp that coincided with the Closer Look in April. The camp brought in many potential recruits, and showcased what the soccer program and what Central Penn can offer.
Grubesky hired two assistants — both of whom have played and coached college sports. One, Caitlin Brownley, was an assistant to a national championship field hockey team at Shippensburg University in 2016. She also assisted in two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships at West Chester University.
The other coach Grubesky hired is goalkeeper coach Amanda Knaub, who played Division I soccer at Monmouth University, in West Long Branch, New Jersey, where she won Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year twice. She has coached many goalkeepers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Twelve players are rostered for this season, which includes first-year, transfer and current students.
Trinity Etzweiler, one of the first rostered players and a Central Penn student, has helped create the program since Grubesky arrived in January.
Molly Peters and Brandi Swinton, both already involved in Central Penn sports, wanted to make sure there would be a season, and joined the team.
Kacie Hoppel and Alison Quinn have transferred from other schools and are expected to play key roles on this year’s team.
Hunter is vice president of The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College and the men’s soccer team’s goalkeeper.
Comment or story idea? Contact KnightlyEditors@CentralPenn.Edu.
Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
