PITMAN --- Coming off two straight NCAA Final Four appearances, Rowan has been predicted to repeat as NJAC field hockey champions this fall based on polling of the conference’s head coaches.
The Profs collected five of the six possible votes. TCNJ also picked up one first place vote and is predicted to finish second. Kean has been tabbed third and Montclair State fourth. Dark horse selection Stockton along with Ramapo round out the six-team poll.
2023 NJAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses):
- Rowan (5)
- TCNJ (1)
- Kean
- Montclair State
- Stockton (dark horse)
- Ramapo
ROWAN
Head Coach Michelle Andre returns a core group from a team that has won two NJAC titles and competed in two Final Fours. Although there are big shoes to fill upon the graduation of the Rowan’s all-time leading scorer Kristiina Castagnola, who is now on the sidelines as an assistant coach, Andre is confident in her 2023 squad’s ability to score in set plays and open field with a group of veterans behind them in the backfield.
Andre will look to Vanessa DiDonato to lead the offense. She ranked fourth in the NJAC last year with 36 points on 16 goals and four assists; her 16 goals were also ranked fourth among all conference players. Forward/midfielder Sidney Pavlishin is also expected to step up into a bigger role this season. Pavlishin started 17 of 23 last year and chipped in seven points on three goals and an assist.
Rowan’s staunch defense mostly returns, including all-conference back Julia Cavicchio and reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year Tess Herman. The Profs were the number one ranked defense in the NJAC last year, allowing just 1.04 goals per game. Cavicchio was also a scoring threat from the backfield, putting up 23 points on eight goals and seven assists. Her seven assists put her in the top 10 among all conference players. Herman started all 21 games in her rookie season and contributed four goals along the way.
TCNJ
Head Coach Sharon Pfluger is excited about the 2023 season, seeing outstanding potential in her returners as well as her very large incoming class.
Two-time all-conference forward and 2021 NJAC Rookie of the Year Rayhanah Ahmed is the leading returning scorer. Ahmed ranked fifth in the conference last year with 29 points on 10 goals and nine assists. Her nine assists tied her for third and 10 goals tied her for sixth in the conference in those categories. Carly Cole also returns as a solid scorer, ranking eighth in the NJAC with 24 points on 11 goals and two assists. Middie Claire Engebreth started all 20 games and contributed 15 points on six goals and three assists.
Heather Kimak returns to the back line after helping the Lion defense rank second in the NJAC last year with a 1.20 team goals against average.
Newcomers to Watch:
Taylor Wielechowski (D/M; Covenant Day School (NC))
Jadyn Huff (F/M; Princeton Day School)
Isabel Maher (M/D; Pompton Lakes)
Karlie Warner (F/M; Haddonfield)
Codie Sciacca (F/M; Florence Township)
Kendal Justus (D/M; Collingswood)
Kara Wilson (M/F; Egg Harbor Township)
Emma McElroy (M/F; Lenape Valley)
KEAN
Kean looks to be a contender again this fall, with Head Coach Leslie LaFronz welcoming back four graduate student returners along with a solid mix of newcomers.
The Cougars have reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and two-time all-conference forward Peyton Mann back. Mann led a Kean squad that averaged 3.58 goals per game, the second-highest scoring offense in the NJAC. She ranked second among all conference players with 54 points on 23 goals and eight assists last year. She is joined by middie Jorja Hibschman as another solid scoring option this year. Hibschman chipped in five goals and two assists for 12 points in 2022.
Kean’s defense will be anchored by reigning Goaltender of the Year and two-time all-conference goalie Jenna Flemings and two-time all-conference back Morgan Stump. Flemings posted the conference’s best save percentage last year (.832) and sported a 1.36 goals against average for the season. Stump leads the back line and is also another scoring option from her defensive position as she ranked eighth in the NJAC last year with 24 points on eight goals and eight assists.
Newcomers to Watch:
Olivia Dieterle (M; Matawan)
Madison Brege (F; Akron (NY))
MONTCLAIR STATE
MSU looks for a strong season this year as Head Coach Eileen O’Reilly returns a majority of key players from 2022. She has also put together one of the nation’s toughest schedules as the Red Hawks’ strength of schedule sits above .600 and is among the top 20 in Division III.
The Red Hawks’ top two scorers from last year are back, including three-time all-conference honoree Carlie Van Tassel along with all-conference selection Gab Maisto. Van Tassel led the team with 19 points on nine goals and one assist last year, while Maisto was the second-leading scorer at 16 points on six goals and four assists.
MSU’s defense is also more experienced this year, led by two tested starters on the back line in Kylie Compton and Carly Amerman. Both started all 19 games last year. Amerman also chipped in three goals and Compton added one.
Newcomers to Watch:
Jordan Vandermark (F/M; Hackettstown)
Sami Bloom (F/M; Cherry Hill East)
STOCKTON
This year’s dark horse team, Head Coach Sarah Elleman’s squad heads into 2023 with much more experience and ready to make an impact in the conference.
A trio of offensive starters will lead the way, with two-time all-conference pick Alexandria Palumbo along with Kirsten Bailey and Autumn Hunter. Palumbo posted a team-high 14 points on six goals and two assists and Bailey was the second-leading scorer with four goals. Hunter started every game in the midfield, setting up plays and chipping in an assist.
Ameera Bilgrami will lead the defensive unit. She started all 17 games last year and was tied for third on the team in scoring as well, with seven points on two goals and three assists.
Newcomers to Watch:
Carlee Thompson (F; Montclair State/Eastern Regional)
Kaelin Drey (D; Boyertown Area (PA))
Hannah Ayari-Dias (G; West Essex)
RAMAPO
A very young but talented and devoted squad this year, interim head coach Kelsie Murphy is excited about her Roadrunners’ abilities and is looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish.
Although Ramapo loses the prolific scoring of the graduated Victoria Docherty, Murphy is looking to Ana Plaia and Julianna Gentilucci to step up into greater roles this year. Both reserves last year, they gained a year of experience in the process. Gentilucci chipped in a goal and two assists and Plaia added a goal last season.
Defensively, the Roadrunners will look to goalie Michelle Kukan to anchor the defensive unit. She ranked second in the NJAC with a 1.11 goals against average last season and was third among conference goalies with a .800 save percentage and three shutouts. She is joined by defensive mid Victoria Chavez, who also poses a scoring threat as a two-way player. She is the team’s leading returning scorer after contributing three goals and two assists for eight points last year.
Newcomers to Watch:
Eliana Momm (M; Toms River South)
Rachel Geller (M; Somerville)