An All-American at Penn State and Kingston, Pa. native, Zinkavich begins her first season with the Lancers after coaching stints at Bucknell, Penn State, Virginia and VCU as well as co-director of the Panthers United Field Hockey Club.
During her playing career at Penn State, Zinkavich was a three-time NFHCA All-Midwest regional selection as a goalkeeper and helped lead the Nittany Lions to the national title game in 2002. She was also selected to the senior All-Star Game in 2003.
Zinkavich began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Bucknell for two seasons working with the goalkeepers. Under her guidance, senior Liz Jordan was named the Patriot League’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
After her two seasons at Bucknell, Zinkavich returned to her alma mater where she spent six seasons as an assistant coach working primarily with the goalkeepers and assisting with day-to-day operations. During her time in Happy Valley, Pa., Zinkavich helped coach the Nittany Lions to five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 2007 national title game. Her goalkeepers earned three first-team All-Big Ten and four All-America honors and the team won the Big Ten regular season title in 2009 and the tournament championship in 2011.
Zinkavich also spent four seasons in Charlottesville, Va. as an assistant coach mentoring goalkeeper Jenny Johnstone, who was named All-ACC and All-Region first team before moving to VCU for the previous two seasons.
