Spotlight Knight: Gianna Glatz
The Rutgers field hockey team had a win that made history. The No. 18 Scarlet Knights (4-3) faced off, and came out with a win against New Jersey rival: then-No. 6 Princeton. This game tied last year’s record of the highest-ranked win in Rutgers field hockey history, when the Tigers (3-4) were ranked No. 6.
One of the main contributors to this Knights win was junior goalkeeper Gianna Glatz.
Glatz was able to shut down Princeton in the most recent game for the final 57 minutes, so Rutgers was scoreless after that. Even last year, Glatz was able to hold on tight with eight saves in the game, while the Tigers only had one shot to save and didn't stop it.
Back in 2018, she had her career-high for saves with a total of 12. But Glatz is more than one of the top goalkeepers in the Big Ten, she has a focus in school that will eventually lead her into teaching.
“I want to be a teacher,” Glatz said. “I’m majoring in psychology, and I’m applying to the Graduate School of Education. I’m getting my masters in education, and I’m likely going to get my Math K- 8 for special ed.”
Since Glatz is only a junior, she still has her senior year to play as a Knight, and if she continues on her path to the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, she may be on the field for another year after that.
Glatz is a fairly short player at 5 feet and 3 inches, but from our first handshake to her speech, she exuded confidence and power. Glatz is definitely someone that knows what she wants, and she will do anything to go after that goal.
“In high school, I was really involved with Make-A-Wish and even Give Kids the World, which is in Florida, so the girls and boys that wished to go to Disney World would go to Give Kids the World and stay there. I would volunteer there, so special ed is in my heart and I’m super passionate about it, so it’s what I wanted to do," Glatz said.
Glatz is well-rounded when it comes to her passions and academics, and she clearly shines on the field, too. She recently received her fourth Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor. This was the first one of this year, and in her sophomore year, she earned three.
“It was exciting,” Glatz said. “Honestly, coming off of a big win, that’s just still in the air, but at this point we’re just trying to move forward.”
When she averted her honor to the successes of the team, it was certain that she really is a team player. Glatz didn’t win that for herself. She wanted the win because the team helped her get there.
After conference player of the week honors, there must be some kind of growth in her gameplay as the team starts to play more challenging teams.
“Throughout the season, there’s higher competition as you move forward, and that just makes me have to reach up to another standard, and it’s a new level every week. They keep getting bigger and bigger, and they are more impactful. You can tell with the team from every game moving forward," Glatz said.
Glatz has always been a leader, especially since she started on the team as a freshman. Coming into Rutgers with a 2016 First Team All-South Jersey selection, a US U-17 National Indoor Team selection and 465 saves in high school, it was clear that Glatz was a powerhouse on the field.
Against No. 4 Maryland on Saturday, Glatz compiled eight saves: her second most during this season. In that game she faced 17 shots, with 10 of them on goal.
Glatz and the Knights' defense will have their work cut out for them this Friday as they visit Iowa City for a matchup against the No. 8 Hawkeyes.
For updates on the Rutgers field hockey team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
