PITMAN, NJ --- Kean University graduate student forward
Jordan Thompson (Louisville, KY/duPont Manual) and Rowan University junior back
Molly Gorczyca (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Field Hockey Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively for the 2021 season. In total, 23 student-athletes garnered all-conference recognition in NJAC field hockey. All selections were made by a vote of the conference’s head coaches.
Additionally, Rowan senior
Kristiina Castagnola (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) was named NJAC Midfielder of the Year; Kean junior
Jenna Flemings (Tabernacle, NJ/Seneca) is the NJAC Goaltender of the Year; and TCNJ midfielder
Rayhanah Ahmed (Bound Brook, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan/VoTech) has been named NJAC Rookie of the Year.
Thompson, a graduate transfer, made an immediate impact on a Kean squad that is currently 19-1 and headed to the NJAC Championship game. She leads the Cougars with 39 points on 17 goals and five assists, along with four game-winning goals. She led a Kean front line that scored 67 total goals (2nd in the NJAC) and generated a league-high 435 shots.
Gorczyca anchored a Rowan defense that did not surrender a single goal in regular season conference play and limited nonconference opponents to just 18 (1.06 per game). She helped the back line limit opponents’ opportunities as the nationally sixth-ranked Profs have allowed just 94 total shots so far this season (5.5 per game).
Castagnola has led Rowan in the midfield, ranking number one in the NJAC in conference-only points (14) and conference-only goals (5). A two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Week this season, she also ranks third in the conference in overall points (39) and fourth in overall goals (16).
Flemings is a three-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week and two-time NFHCA Division III National Defensive Player of the Week this season. She leads all NJAC goalies in overall goals against average (.823) and overall save percentage (.826) and posted a league-best six shutouts.
Ahmed, a midfielder for TCNJ, tied for the NJAC lead in conference-only assists (4) and ranks tied for sixth in overall assists (8), and started all 16 games in her rookie season. She has been a game-changer in the midfield for the Lions beyond the statistics.
Rowan University’s
Michelle Andre was selected as the NJAC Coach of the Year by her peers for the second time. Her squad is 15-2 overall heading into the NJAC Championship game, and posted a 6-0 regular season record in NJAC play. Andre’s record at Rowan stands at 91-27 since taking over the helm in 2015.
2021 NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
ALL-CONFERENCE FIELD HOCKEY TEAM |
|
| OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Thompson, Kean |
| MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR: Kristiina Castagnola, Rowan |
| DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Molly Gorczyca, Rowan |
| GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR: Jenna Flemings, Kean |
| ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rayhanah Ahmed, TCNJ |
| COACH OF THE YEAR: Michelle Andre, Rowan |
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| FIRST TEAM |
|
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|
|
| Name |
Year |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown/High School |
| Victoria Docherty~ |
JR |
F |
Ramapo |
Newton, NJ/Newton |
| Krystyna Hovell* |
SR |
F |
Rowan |
Gibbsboro, NJ/Eastern Regional |
| Gianna Morganti~ |
SR |
F |
Stockton |
Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph’s |
| Jordan Thompson |
GR |
F |
Kean |
Louisville, KY/duPont Manual |
| Carlie Van Tassel~ |
SO |
F |
Montclair State |
Vernon, NJ/Vernon |
| Rayhanah Ahmed |
FR |
M |
TCNJ |
Bound Brook, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan/VoTech |
| Kristiina Castagnola*# |
SR |
M |
Rowan |
Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional |
| Lia DiPiazza~ |
GR |
M |
Kean |
Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey |
| Bridget Guinan* |
SR |
M |
Rowan |
Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts |
| Megan Hoopes~+ |
SR |
M |
William Paterson |
Westmont, NJ/Haddon Township |
| Alexandra Palumbo |
FR |
M |
Stockton |
Mantua, NJ/Clearview Regional |
| Lauren Cammarata+ |
SR |
B |
TCNJ |
Fairfield, NJ/West Essex |
| Molly Gorczyca^ |
SR |
B |
Rowan |
Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown |
| Jess Hatch |
JR |
B |
TCNJ |
Sewell, NJ/Washington Township |
| Mia Hernandez |
SR |
B |
Kean |
Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch |
| Jenna Flemings |
JR |
G |
Kean |
Tabernacle, NJ/Seneca |
| |
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Name |
Year |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown/High School |
| Maggie Farrell% |
JR |
F |
Ramapo |
Millington, NJ/Watchung Hills |
| Julia Patrone |
FR |
F |
Rowan |
Sewell, NJ/Washington Township |
| Talitha Joustra |
SR |
M |
Ramapo |
Almere, The Netherlands/Willem de Zwijger |
| Rhian Freire |
JR |
B |
Stockton |
Mays Landing, NJ/Cedar Creek |
| Taylor Hutchins+^ |
SR |
B |
Kean |
Dover, DE/Dover |
| Gina Piscitelli |
JR |
B |
William Paterson |
Oaklyn, NJ/Collingswood |
| Lauren Pickul% |
JR |
G |
Montclair State |
Audubon, NJ/Moorestown |
Key:
~ - First Team All-Conference 2020-21
% - Honorable Mention 2020-21
* - First Team All-Conference 2019
+ - Honorable Mention 2019
# - First Team All-Conference 2018
^ - Honorable Mention 2018
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