PITMAN, NJ - After capturing the 2009 NJAC Championship en route to a 14-5 overall record, Rowan University has been selected as the 2010 preseason field hockey favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs will be seeking their seventh conference crown since 1998.
Led by 13th-year head coach Penny Kempf, the Profs were selected to finish first on five-of-the-seven ballots cast by the league head coaches. Under the 2009 NJAC Coach of the Year, Rowan has accumulated a 187-49 overall record. The 2009 Profs captured the NJAC crown with a perfect 6-0 league mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after receiving a first round bye. Rowan returns four all-conference players from its 2009 NJAC Championship squad including junior back Lauren Conner, sophomore forward Julie Carione, the reigning NJAC Attack Player of the Year in senior forward Lauren Ross, and the 2009 NJAC Goaltender of the Year in junior net-minder Lisa Apt.
The College of New Jersey, which placed second in the 2009 NJAC conference race with a 5-1 league mark, was selected to place second and received one first place vote. Lions’ head coach Sharon Pfluger guided TCNJ to a 9-6 overall record in 2009, improving her record at TCNJ to 373-63-5, while improving her overall career collegiate coaching record to 442-82.9. The Lions return a league-high six all-conference players from their 2009 NJAC runner-up squad including senior forward Jessica Falcone, senior back Mary Waller, junior midfielder Alexandria Okuniewicz, sophomore forward Caitlyn Jenkins, senior midfielder Kellyn Riley, and sophomore back Camille Passucci.
Montclair State University, which captured the 2009 ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament Championship en route to a 15-6 overall record, was selected to place third and received one first place vote. The 2009 Red Hawks placed third in the NJAC regular season with a 4-2 conference record. Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Beth Gottung, MSU has produced a 114-43 overall record. Montclair State returns a trio of all-conference performers from its ECAC Championship squad including senior forward Deana Hagel, senior back Jessica Murphy, and the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore goaltender Megan Bosland.
William Paterson University, which posted a 9-9 overall record in 2009, was selected to place fourth. Under the leadership of seventh-year head coach Lindsay Bard, the Pioneers have produced a 66-42 overall record. William Paterson returns one all-league player from a 2009 squad which finished fifth in the NJAC in senior back Melissa Szeliga.
Kean University, which earned a selection to the 2009 ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament, was selected to place fifth. The Cougars produced an 11-5 overall record in their first season under the direction of head coach Leslie LaFronz, improving her career coaching record to 40-52. Kean returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2009 squad which placed third in the NJAC in junior midfielder Olivia Triano and senior back Joelle Vitale.
Richard Stockton College, which posted a 4-15 overall record under first-year head coach Michelle Andre, was selected to place sixth and was tapped as the coaches’ dark horse selection. Andre’s career collegiate coaching record stands at 57-58. The Ospreys return one all-league player from their 2009 squad in junior midfielder Nancy White.
Ramapo College, which posted a 6-11 overall record in 2009, was selected to place seventh. The Roadrunners have produced a 13-22 overall record under third-year head coach Concetta Valiero. Ramapo returns one all-conference player from its 2009 sixth-place NJAC squad in junior forward Jayne Manigrasso.
The 29th season of NJAC field hockey will get under way on Wednesday, September 1 with all seven teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin three weeks later on Wednesday, September 22 when Montclair State host Kean, and Richard Stockton hosts Rowan in the first NJAC contests of the season. The 2010 season will mark the final year in which the NJAC will not sponsor a conference tournament in field hockey, meaning that the 2010 league championship will be awarded to the team with the best record in regular season conference play. The NJAC field hockey champion receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2010 NJAC Field Hockey
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Rowan (5)
2. The College of New Jersey (1)
3. Montclair State (1)
4. William Paterson
5. Kean
6. Richard Stockton (dark horse)
7. Ramapo
First Place Votes In Parentheses