Philippine Ligthart

Philippine is a smart and athletic midfielder playing for HDM U18-1. She has won four national championships during her career and is hoping to continue winning championships, this time while making an impact for a U.S. collegiate field hockey program.

Level
Philippine competes at the Landelijk level for powerhouse youth club HDM, one of the top field hockey clubs in the Netherlands. She has been playing in the first selection teams at the highest level of Dutch youth hockey ever since leaving her local club Craeyenhout for HDM in 2022.

Playing style
Philippine is a highly versatile and complete hockey player who can play anywhere on the field, though her strongest position is in the midfield. Philippine is known for her great technique, precise and powerful passing, and outstanding game vision. She has the ability to change the pace of the game with quick movements on and off the ball. She thrives in both offensive and defensive duels, making her a dependable presence in midfield transitions. With her hockey IQ and adaptability, Philippine consistently reads the game well and positions herself to make smart, decisive plays. Philippine is a solid stick stopper on APCs and has the technical ability to play corner variations as an L or R tip.

Accomplishments
Philippine’s time at HDM has been marked by remarkable team success, winning multiple national championships across both indoor and outdoor hockey:

• Dutch Indoor Champion U16 (2024)
• Dutch Outdoor Champion U16 (2024)
• Dutch Indoor Champion U18 (2025)
• Dutch Outdoor Champion U18 (2025)

High performance
Philippine has been selected for regional high-performance squads, including Midden Holland U14 2021/2022 and Steunpunt West U15 2022/2023, allowing her to practice and play with the best players of her age group from her region.

Academics
Philippine is currently pursuing the highest level of Dutch secondary education (VWO) and is on track to graduate in 2027.

Philippine is looking forward to joining an ambitious college field hockey program and play for championships starting in the Fall of 2027. Please reach out to Marle at marle@slamstox.com for more information.