Coaching Staff
Emily Arnot: Emily was named the Conestoga Field Hockey Head Coach in 2026 after four years of experience as an Assistant Coach. Emily is a 2016 graduate of the University of Delaware where she was a defensive player for the Blue Hens field hockey team. Emily helped the Hens win the first CAA championship for Coach Van de Kerkhof in 2013 which began the 5-year streak of both regular season and tournament CAA championship titles. Before playing for the University of Delaware, Emily was a 4-year varsity starter at Shawnee High School (Medford, NJ.) Along with field hockey, she was a 2-year varsity track athlete at SHS. Emily began her coaching experience under UD Head Coach Rolf Van de Kerkhof for the Hockey Fun Academy from 2013-2020. Since then, she has coached the club team NJ XPlosive (2018-2021) and currently is a part of the coaching staff for XCalibur Field Hockey club. She now competes in running events, including 4 half marathons and her upcoming 1st full marathon. Emily is a 2nd grade teacher at New Eagle Elementary School and lives in King of Prussia.
Karen Gately: Karen began teaching English at Conestoga in 2001, and is a graduate of Downingtown High School and Shippensburg University. At Shippensburg, Karen played field hockey and lacrosse for four years and was named the captain of both. She finished ranking sixth in all-time career goals for field hockey and was chosen to represent Shippensburg at the 1997 All-Star Game. In lacrosse, Karen was named All-PSAC and All-American. Karen taught at James Buchanan High School in Mercersburg PA, and was the head field hockey coach at Mercersburg Academy and the head lacrosse coach at St. James School in Hagerstown Maryland. Karen was the head varsity field hockey coach at Conestoga 2004-2011 and is thrilled to return to the program she loves so much. Karen is married to New Eagle Elementary's principal, Dr. Patrick Gately and has a daughter, Tess, and a son, Paul.
Taylor DeBernardi: Coach DeBernardi is a Health and PE teacher at TE Middle School where she also coached field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. This is her fourth year with Stoga field hockey and eighth year working and coaching at TE. She played lacrosse at Ursinus college and graduated with a degree in Health and Exercise Physiology in 2018. Coach DeBernardi was a 4-year starter at Ursinus. Her senior year she was named captain and was nominated to the Centennial Conference all academic and all sportsmanship teams. She is a 2014 graduate of Springfield High School where she played both field hockey and lacrosse. She was a four-year varsity starter on the field hockey team, was the captain her senior year and received all Central League and Delco honors. Coach DeBernardi is also a member of the Conestoga girl's lacrosse team's coaching staff.
Jess Taraborrelli: Jess attended Cardinal O’Hara High School, where she was a four-year varsity starter and All-Catholic honoree in field hockey. During her time at O’Hara, she helped the team win a Philadelphia Catholic League Championship and was named PCL MVP her senior year, along with earning All-Philadelphia and All-Delco honors. Jess was also a four-year varsity lacrosse player, earning All-Catholic honors. Jess went on to play Division I field hockey at Rider University, where she was a four-year starter at center midfield. During her collegiate career, she earned Second Team All-MAAC honors three times and was a three-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection. After finishing her playing career, Jess stayed at Rider as a coach for the 2019 season. She also coached with Horizon Field Hockey Club for five years.
Jess is a school psychologist at Conestoga High School and recently earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration from West Chester University. Outside of school and field hockey, she is a wife to Mike and mom to Tripp (3) and Mackenzie (1).
Megan DuVernois: Megan is a 2020 graduate of the University of North Carolina, where she helped the Tarheels take part in four trips to the NCAA final four, three ACC Championships, and two NCAA Championships. Megan majored in exercise and sport science with a minor in biology and was named to the ACC honor roll two times during her tenure at UNC. Megan has also played as a member of the US Women’s National Indoor team and has been a member of the US Under-19 National Team. Megan is originally from Collegeville, PA and attended Gwynedd Mercy Academy, where she was a four-year starter, and a three-time all-state selection.