ANNVILLE, Pa. – Patrick Ratke, Director of Athletics, announced Sophie Popp as the Head Coach of the Lebanon Valley College Field Hockey Program.

Popp becomes the 11th Head Coach of the Dutchmen as the program enters its 94th season this fall. She comes to The Valley after two seasons as a Graduate Assistant at Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom rival DeSales University (DSU). The Bulldogs were 18-20 overall, with a 10-4 record, in conference games during her time in Center Valley. The Bulldogs saw their season end in the MAC Freedom Semifinals each season after earning the third seed in the conference tournament. She earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing at DSU in 2026.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sophie Popp as Lebanon Valley College's next Head Field Hockey Coach," said Ratke. "Sophie emerged as a dynamic leader during the search process, demonstrating a clear vision for building a championship-caliber program while prioritizing the holistic development of our student-athletes. Her experience and success at The College of New Jersey, combined with her passion for mentorship, competitiveness, and culture-building, make her an outstanding fit for LVC Field Hockey. We are excited for the future of the program under her leadership and look forward to watching her positively impact our student-athletes, campus community, and alumni."

Popp is a 2022 graduate of The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Marketing. She was a three-year starter and five-year member for the Lions as a forward, midfielder, and defender. The Haddonfield, New Jersey, native totaled 27 points on 11 goals and five assists with two game-winning goals. The Lions won one New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship, advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight once, and the Sweet 16 three times during Popp's time in Ewing.

"I am truly honored and excited to be named the Head Field Hockey Coach at Lebanon Valley College. I want to sincerely thank Pat Ratke, Director of Athletics, Stacey Hollinger, Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Women's Administrator, and the search committee for providing me with this opportunity to guide these student-athletes toward success on and off the field", said Popp. "I am eager to begin this journey to foster a competitive, supportive, and growth-oriented program. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation of this program and elevating our team to its full potential." 

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