FirstPoint USA is delighted to announce the appointment of Ireland international athlete Ayeisha McFerran as our new Head of Field Hockey.
Ireland’s all-time record cap holder, Ayeisha has made more than 130 appearances for her country and starred in the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Having earned her first senior cap at the age of 17, she secured a field hockey scholarship at the University of Louisville in 2015 and enjoyed four successful years with the Cardinals, achieving All-American honours in each of her four seasons in Kentucky.
As one of the best goalkeepers in college field hockey from 2015 - 2018, she helped Louisville to the NCAA National Tournament and success in the ACC, a Power Four conference. A highlight of her international career was competing in the 2018 World Cup with Ireland, helping her team to a silver medal, and being named Best Goalkeeper of the World Cup. She now plays professionally with Tilburg in the Netherlands and is a Red Bull ambassador.
Founder and CEO Andrew Kean welcomed the exciting new appointment: “
“Ayeisha is a great addition to our team, and she brings an elite level of experience and insight to aspiring student-athletes. As one of Ireland's leading players, Ayeisha has excelled on both the international and collegiate stages and will be an invaluable resource for the next generation of talent. Having played at a top level D1 program in the US, she also brings a unique insight into what it takes to succeed as a student-athlete and will be a great sounding board for students and their families.”
The strength of FirstPoint USA's placement record is evidenced by its current roster of field hockey athletes, which features the trio of Ava Dempsey, Anna Faulstich, and Caitlin Thompson, who were instrumental in leading Princeton University to the 2025 Ivy League Conference Championship and a National Tournament final appearance. With an established network spanning 300 NCAA programs across DI, DII, and DIII levels, FirstPoint USA has consistently demonstrated its ability to connect aspiring athletes with some of the nation's most prestigious institutions, including Yale and Michigan State, securing pathways to both athletic and academic success.
Ayeisha added: “Having gone through my own journey with the help of FirstPoint, I’m looking forward to supporting the next generation of talent who aspire to play and study in the US. There are always lots of questions to ask and I know what a big step it is to make, so hopefully my experience, insights and knowledge can be of value to families during the recruitment process.
“I loved my time at the University of Louisville, and it was an incredible opportunity which really benefited my career. I would certainly encourage talented players to give it their full consideration and have US college sport as one of their options.”
Athletes interested in exploring field hockey opportunities in the States can register with FirstPoint USA here.
