The Saint Joseph's field hockey program will welcome a new class of student-athletes for the 2020 season, and we'll introduce Hawk fans to the new additions, one by one.  Today: Manuela "Manu" Ghigliotti.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, native Manu Ghigliotti has signed to join the Saint Joseph's field hockey program in advance of the 2020 season.

A graduate of The Global School, Ghigliotti was named the top athlete in her class on multiple occasions and was awarded a Certificate of Distinction for her community service work in 2018.

On the field, she played forward for the Saint Catherine's Moorlands club program, helping lead the club to the playoffs in both 2016 and 2017.  She was named Saint Catherine's best player in 2018 and led the club in goals scored.

"For me to become a Hawk will be a huge challenge and will require a lot of effort, but as time goes by, I believe that I will start flying like one on my own," Ghigliotti said.  "I am really happy and hoping to be able to give the best of myself for the team."

"Manu brings a contagious fire of passion with the desire to go forward and take risks," head coach Lynn Farquhar said.

Ghigliotti has experience with the Argentine national team setup as well, having recently been invited to train with Argentina's Women's Under-21 National Team.  The program has seen a great deal of international success, having won a pair of Junior World Cups – including the most recent event in 2016 – and seven of the eight Pan American Junior Championships to be contested.

"I chose Saint Joseph's because they gave me the chance to be part of their institution," Ghigliotti said.  "They [put their] trust in me, so I also trust in the University."

Ghigliotti and the rest of the new Hawks will join the squad in time for the 2020 fall season.