SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Field hockey player Rachel Galante was honored as Rowan University's Woman of the Year at the 2019 National Girls and Women in Sports Day event on Sunday, Feb. 3.  The student-athletes were recognized at a luncheon that was held at Seton Hall University.
 
This year's theme for the celebration was "Lead Her Forward", to honor the many ways that sports push girls and women to achieve excellence and realize their boundless potential.  The event was coordinated by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics For Women.  The Woman of the Year awards are presented to an outstanding athlete from each college and university in the state and the honorees are selected based on athletic excellence, academic success and community service.
 
In the fall, Galante (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Collingswood) was named to the Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America first team and was chosen the South Atlantic Region Player of the Year. She was honored as the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Offensive Player of the Year and was a member of the All-Conference first team.  Galante also received her third straight South Atlantic All-Region first team honor.     
 
Galante led the Profs in scoring with 30 goals and eight assists for 68 points.  She hit the cage in 20 of 23 games.  Galante was ranked fourth in the NCAA statistics in goals per game (1.30) and seventh in points per game (2.96).  
 
During the season, Galante was chosen the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week five times and the NFHCA National Offensive Player of the twice.  She broke the school records for most goals in a season with 30 and most points in a season with 68.  A four-year starter, Galante ended her career with 141 points, 58 goals and 25 assists.  
 
The field hockey team finished the year with a 22-1 record.  Rowan won the NJAC Championship and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.