Eskue, Richelieu to play field hockey at Missouri State

Two Fallbrook High School field hockey players have signed letters of intent to play for Missouri State University.

Defender Jackie Eskue and forward Sydney Richelieu signed their collegiate letters of intent February 1 at a San Diego Hall of Champions ceremony.

“I’m really excited about it,” Eskue said.

“I was really excited. Finally I got to pick a school, and I was really glad with my decision,” Richelieu said.

“We’re extremely excited to have them as a part of our squad. They both have a lot to bring to our team,” said Missouri State coach Gabby Gomez.

Four of Missouri State’s seven recruits were from San Diego County high schools. Elizabeth Young of Serra High School and Leah Reitmayer of Vista High School also signed with the Bears during the Hall of Champions ceremony.

“They’re going to be amazing this year,” Richelieu said of the Bears.

“Just really excited to go there,” Eskue said. “I’m hoping to make an impact and play a lot.”

Richelieu has a younger brother who is currently a freshman at Fallbrook High School and plays soccer and baseball. Eskue has an older sister, Lizzy, who played field hockey for Fallbrook High School before graduating in 2009. In February 2009 Lizzy Eskue signed a letter of intent to play college field hockey at the University of the Pacific. “Once she went there it was my goal to go to a Division I school as well,” Jackie Eskue said.

Lizzy Eskue played two collegiate field hockey seasons before knee injuries ended her career. Jackie Eskue’s second choice was Hendrix College, a Division III school in Conway, Arkansas.

“I wanted to go to a school that was bigger,” Eskue said.

Hendrix College has an enrollment of about 1,400. Missouri State, which is located in Springfield, has approximately 22,500 students. Additionally, NCAA Division III schools do not provide athletic scholarships.

University of the Pacific was Richelieu’s second choice.

“I really liked the campus better and the atmosphere of the school,” she said of choosing Missouri State. “I liked the coaches better and how welcome the team was towards me when I visited.”

Eskue attended Maie Ellis Elementary School, La Paloma Elementary School, and Potter Junior High School before her four years at Fallbrook High School. Both Eskue sisters began playing field hockey when in seventh grade; Lizzy Eskue took up the sport at the urging of a friend while Jackie Eskue joined the Potter program because her sister had played there and was on Fallbrook High School’s team at the time. “I loved it when I saw Lizzy play, but I wasn’t actually interested yet,” Jackie Eskue said. “Once I started playing I really liked it.”

Richelieu attended Zion Lutheran School from kindergarten through eighth grade. She tried out for Fallbrook High School’s field hockey team as a freshman at the urging of her father.

“I didn’t really have any idea about it before he said something,” she said of the sport.

The first tryout was at the beginning of summer in 2008.

“I didn’t make the team at first,” Richelieu said.

The Warriors had another tryout at the end of that summer. “I just stuck with it,” Richelieu said.

Richelieu made the junior varsity team as a freshman and returned to the JV as a sophomore before playing two years on Fallbrook’s varsity. She was a second-team Avocado League selection in 2010 as a junior, and as a senior she earned first-team Avocado League, first-team Division I, and first-team all-CIF honors. Richelieu scored 16 goals in 2011 and also contributed three assists.

“She definitely earned first-team honors,” Gomez said.

“Sydney is an amazing player, a great forward,” said Fallbrook coach Kirstin Mueller. “I look forward to seeing her play at Missouri State.”

“Her scoring skills will definitely be a plus, an asset, to our forward line, so we expect her to make an impact right away,” Gomez said of Richelieu. “She’s definitely going to bring a lot to our forward line. We should have a very strong forward line.”

Eskue also spent her first two high school field hockey seasons on the Warriors’ junior varsity team. She joined the varsity as a junior in 2010. In 2011 she was on the all-league, all-division, and all-section first teams. In addition to her defensive play, Eskue scored three goals and had one assist.

“Her leadership skills are definitely something that will help our team,” Gomez said. “She’s definitely going to add some depth to our defense and direct things in the back.”

“It’s really exciting,” Mueller said of Eskue’s scholarship. “She’s a hard worker and she deserves to be playing for a Division I team.”

Fallbrook won the CIF Division I championship in 2011, and the second most memorable moments for both Eskue and Richelieu also took place during the 2011 season. The Warriors also won the 2011 Serra Tournament championship, and Eskue was selected as the tournament’s best defensive player.

“That was probably one of my other favorite memories,” Eskue said.

Eskue broke her finger in 2010 and missed part of her junior season. She was injured during the 2010 Serra Tournament and did not have the opportunity to earn the recognition she received a year later. “I wanted to win that award,” she said.

Fallbrook advanced to the 2011 CIF finals with a semifinal win over Rancho Buena Vista. The game was tied at a goal apiece at the end of regulation. Field hockey overtime is not sudden death but a mandatory ten-minute period, and Richelieu scored both overtime goals to help Fallbrook to a 3-1 victory. “That was an amazing experience,” she said.

Eskue and Richelieu both played club soccer with the Fallbrook Fury from sixth through eighth grades. Eskue spent ninth grade on Fallbrook’s freshman soccer team and tenth grade on the Warriors’ JV soccer team before focusing on field hockey. Richelieu played high school soccer for four years, including three on Fallbrook’s varsity, and was a forward.

Eskue and Richelieu both also played in field hockey’s National Futures Tournament in 2010 and in 2011, and in 2011 they both participated in the Disney Showcase. Eskue participated in the 2011 National Indoor Tournament.

Eskue and Richelieu were also both team captains in 2011 along with Jamie Garcia. “They are both hard workers,” Gomez said. “They definitely have a chance to be starters just like any other freshman.”

Gomez explained that all Missouri State freshmen will be given an opportunity for a starting role. “We do not redshirt players unless it’s for a medical reason,” she said.

“If you can help the team to reach our goals and you’re a freshman, then you will start,” Gomez said. “I think the best way to grow is to be out there.”

“I just want to take it to the next level in college,” Eskue said.

“I think that without playing field hockey at Fallbrook I don’t even know where I would be right now, and I’m so thankful for all the program has done for me. I don’t know where I would be without it,” Richelieu said.

“We just can’t wait for August to come, and we’re very excited to have Jackie, Sydney, and everyone else back and get ready to work,” Gomez said.

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