PITMAN, NJ  - Rowan's Sydney Kowalczyk was named the 2026 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year,  Aurelia McManis was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year, and Michelle Andre and staff were named the Coaching Staff of the Year, as the conference announced its annual awards. The Profs placed five on the 2026 All-Conference Field Hockey Team as Kowalczyk and McManis, Sophia Weisler and Ella Toll were named to the First Team and Gracie Merrick received Honorable Mention.

Kowalczyk is Rowan's first Offensive Player of the Year since 2018 while McManis' Defensive Player of the Year award marks the fourth consecutive season that a Prof has earned the honor.

Andre and staff - Kristiina Castagnola, Erin Small, Danielle Altersitz, Garnell Peters and Brooke Benson - receive the award for the sixth year in a row. They guided the Profs to their sixth straight NJAC regular-season title and a 6-0 mark in conference play. Overall, #10 Rowan went 15-4 in the regular season, winning 14 of its last 15 games.

Kowalczyk earns All-Conference First Team honors for the second time as she was the 2025 Rookie of the Year. Rowan's leading scorer, she ranked second in the NJAC in goals (20), assists (10) and third in points (50) during the regular season. The sophomore has a team-high four game-winning goals this season with five multiple-goal games.

McManis is also a repeat selection to the All-NJAC First Team and picks up her first major conference award. She is the anchor of the Rowan defense that has held the opponents to just 22 goals in 19 games and recorded eight shutouts. The senior also contributed offensively and is the team's second leading scorer with 22 points, tallying a career-high eight goals to go along with six assists in the regular season.

Weisler earns All-Conference honors for the first time in her career. The sophomore is a key member of Rowan's stingy defense that posted eight shutouts. She also ranks third on the team in scoring with a career-high 19 points, posting seven goals and five assists.

Toll is selected to the All-NJAC Team for the first time in her career as she started all 20 games. The junior played an important role for the defense as Rowan outscored its opponents by a 68-22 margin and outshot its foes, 200-95. Toll also tallied one goal and added a career-high three assists.

Merrick receives All-Conference honors for the third time, as she was a First-Team selection in 2025 and earned Honorable Mention in 2024. The senior captain is Rowan's fourth leading scorer with 14 points with five goals and four assists. Merrick had two game-winning goals, which both gave Rowan victories in overtime.

The 10th-ranked Profs (16-4) will be playing for their sixth consecutive NJAC title on Saturday, when they host TCNJ at 1 p.m. This marks the fifth year in a row that Rowan and TCNJ are meeting for the conference championship. The NJAC's winner receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, with the bracket being announced on Sunday night at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.

NJAC FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPOINSHIP TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased online at www.njacsports.com/tickets and will go on sale on at NOON on Thursday, November 5th.
Prices are $11 for all adults; $6 for current students (with ID); and $6 for children (ages 2-12). The first 100 Rowan students are free with the Student Prof Hall Pass
All ticket sales are ONLINE ONLY. NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED