NFHCA High School Preseason Watchlist. MAX Field Hockey Pennsylvania High School Preseason Player to Watch. Team Captain. Expectations were high for Hill field hockey forward Riley Savage ’25 as she entered her final season at Hill. Savage only exceeded those expectations, helping to lead the Blues to a perfect 22-0 record and capturing their second state title in just 3 years, ending what was a really special career. 

Hailing from Charlotte, NC, the 5-foot-6 forward began her career in 2021 with big dreams.  

“I’d describe myself as a really driven human,” Savage said. “From a field hockey aspect, hardworking, but I think that goes hand in hand with how I live my life. Working toward my goals.” 

It is clear that this hard work has paid off in big ways for Savage. Savage received multiple MAX field hockey awards including MAX Field Hockey All American 1st Team, MAX Field Hockey All-Region Pennsylvania 1st team along with many other NFHCA and State awards. When she graduates in May, Savage will have garnered four MAPL and two state championships to her name. 

Savage’s success on the field is driven by her ability to make plays. “She’s just a really fast player,” says Team USA and high school teammate, Opal Sparling ’26. “She’s really good in one-on-one situations.” 

In particular, the one-on-one abilities that Sparling related to was clearly evident when spectating her on the field and looking over the stat sheet. Savage has been one of Hill’s top goal scorers in all four seasons, specifically leading the team in goals in 2022.  

 Though her goal scoring is just one of the many different elements she brings onto the field for the Blues, her playmaking is another. 

“She’s a solid player,” assistant field hockey coach Liz Tamburro said. “She’s going to receive the ball. She’s going to make something happen, whether she gets a corner or a goal.” 

These playmaking abilities have been observed by Tamburro on the field alongside her and off the field coaching her. Tamburro has had a unique, yet special relationship with Savage — they played on Team USA.   

“I think it gives me a unique access to her and there’s a level of trust to begin with because we have the same foundation,” Tamburro said. “We were on the same team, so we have the same mentality, we know what to expect from each other.”