PITMAN, NJ --- Kean has been voted as the preseason favorite to win the NJAC title in the upcoming field hockey season. The Cougars, who won the modified spring regular season this past year, garnered four first-place votes in voting that was conducted among the league's seven head coaches.

Rowan and TCNJ tied for second in the preseason vote. The Profs garnered two first-place votes and the Lions picked up one.

Montclair State was picked fourth, followed by Stockton in fifth, and a tie between Ramapo and William Paterson for sixth.

William Paterson was also picked as this year's dark horse selection.

Kean returns the core of players from the spring who led the team to a 5-0 record and the regular season title. Spring 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Ja'Carra Jackson, Midfielder of the Year Lia DiPiazza, and Goaltender of the Year Belly Reynoso look to lead a well-balanced team up and down the field. In five spring games, Jackson and DiPiazza combined for 13 points on five goals and three assists between the two to power the Cougar offense. Reynoso registered two shutouts in the cage and led the NJAC with a .833 save percentage. The Cougars also add Division I transfer Megan Keeney, who arrives in Union from Bucknell University. Keeney, a senior, brings a wealth of experience as she started 22 games between her third and fourth seasons in Lewisburg, and has 18 career points on seven goals and four assists.

Rowan and TCNJ both return to the field for the first time since 2019, as both programs did not compete in the modified spring season. 

The Profs eagerly return with a core senior leadership and experience. 2019 NJAC First Team honorees Kristiina Castagnola and Bridget Guinan look to lead the offense, and senior back Dayna DeVincentz will anchor the Profs' back line. Castagnola and Guinan are a formidable offensive duo, combining for a whopping 79 points. Guinan's 42 points came on 17 goals and eight assists, and Castagnola registered 37 points on 14 goals and nine assists. DeVincentz returns as the leading defender, having started all 20 games in her last season on the field. Head Coach Michelle Andre will look to a handful of newcomers expected to make an immediate impact, and is excited for the strong leadership and depth. The leadership will be key in helping the Profs overcome the fact that two classes are essentially newcomers.

The Lions are a very young team in 2021, as this year's seniors were only sophomores the last time the team played a season together. However, Head Coach Sharon Pfluger is excited for the leadership brought by this year's senior class that has been through the trying times and is also excited for the potential of a team in which any player can come out and make an impact on the field. The Lions have a handful of midfielders and forwards entering this season, and return the defensive prowess of 2019 All-Conference selection Lauren Cammarata as well as five-time Rookie of the Week winner Jess Hatch. Hatch recorded 27 points on nine goals and nine assists in her rookie season in 2019, and Cammarata started all 19 games in the back field and registered a defensive save.

Montclair State, picked fourth, returns experience on both ends of the field but will also look to develop its young team. Head Coach Eileen O'Reilly is pleased with the consistency of her team especially on the defensive side of the ball as well as the team's overall fitness. Spring 2021 Rookie of the Year Carlie Van Tassel looks to lead the offense after getting her first taste of collegiate experience in the modified season. In three games, Van Tassel led the Red Hawks with two goals and an assist for five points. Junior goaltender Lauren Pickul also gained experience in the spring as she took over starting duties in the cage, and recorded a save percentage north of .800.

Stockton is another young team that looks to gel in the 2021 season. The Ospreys return some experience on the offensive side of the ball, including Spring 2021 NJAC First Team selection Gianna Morganti and Honorable Mention pick Madison Dancisin. Morganti, a junior forward, has started all 23 games of her career and has registered 28 career points on 12 goals and four assists. Dancisin also brings two seasons of starting experience, having started all 22 games she appeared in over the past two seasons. The midfielder has 14 career points on six goals and two assists. Sophomore Kylie Mitchell returns in goal after getting a taste of collegiate playing experience in the spring. She started all five spring games in the cage with a 1.73 goals against average.

William Paterson, this year's dark horse pick among the coaches, returns a trio of NJAC First Team honorees from the spring including fifth-year player Kristin Freas-Papa and seniors Megan Hoopes and Abigail Viola. The trio helped lead the Pioneers through a rocky covid-affected season in the spring that ultimately culminated in an NJAC Tournament title on their home field. Freas-Papa will lead the Pioneer back line, but has also been known to contribute offensively with 17 career points on five goals and seven assists. Viola, a senior forward who scored the game-winning goal in the spring title game, is up to 38 career points on 16 goals and six assists. Hoopes, a senior midfielder, has 19 career points on eight goals and three assists. 

Ramapo is also in the hunt to make a splash this year, as Head Coach Jenny Tafro's team returns with junior and senior classes with significant experience. The Roadrunners will look to all-conference forwards Victoria Docherty and Mariah Tovar along with senior midfielder Angela Oskierko to provide offensive experience. Tovar is up to 27 career points on 11 goals and five assists in three seasons on the field, and Docherty is up to 14 career points on five goals and four assists over two seasons. Oskierko has anchored the mids with 35 starts in 36 career games, and has contributed 17 points on seven goals and three assists.

The top four finishers in conference standings will qualify for the 2021 NJAC Field Hockey Championship tournament. The semifinals are slated for Wednesday, Nov. 3, and the final is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6.

2021 Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses)
1. Kean (4)
2. (tie) Rowan (2) & TCNJ (1)
4. Montclair State
5. Stockton
6. (tie) Ramapo & William Paterson (dark horse)