NJAC All-Conference Team
PITMAN, NJ – Rowan University had six women’s soccer players that were named to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Conference first team. Two players earned Player of the Year honors and Scott Leacott was honored as the NJAC Co-Coach of the Year.
Forward Jess Babice (jr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) was selected the NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and back Christine Foy (so. Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert) was chosen the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. Babice and Foy were joined on the NJAC All-Conference first team by forward Veronica Rhea (so. Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI), midfielders Krista Verzi (sr. Delran, NJ/Delran) and Christie Fink (so. Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert) and back Caitlin Toomey (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.).
This is Leacott’s 11th season as the Profs’ head coach. He has a 148-42-18 won-loss record. He has guided Rowan to the NJAC Championship Tournament nine times and five appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. It is his second straight Coach of the Year honor.
A captain, Babice is the team’s leading scorer with 43 points. She has scored 19 goals and assisted on five. This season, she was named the NJAC Player of the Week for totaling nine points in a 2-0 week. Babice scored three goals in Rowan’s 4-0 shutout over The College of New Jersey (Sept. 23) and she had one goal and one assist in a 2-0 win against William Paterson (Sept. 26). In the overall conference statistics, Babice is tied for second in goals (19) and third in points (43). She is ranked second in goals (1.27) and points (2.87) per game. Her seven game winning goals is first in the NJAC.
Foy has started two straight seasons in the backfield. This year, she has contributed with three assists. In 2008, she was chosen the NJAC Rookie of the Year. A four year starter, Verzi has added four points with one goal and two assists. She is a team captain along with Toomey. Babice, Foy and Verzi were all members of the 2008 NJAC All-Conference first team.
Rhea is second in scoring with 40 points, 12 goals and 16 assists. This season, she was selected the conference’s Player of the Week once. She compiled 10 points in two wins. Against St. Joseph’s College (Oct. 12), Rhea had one goal and tow assists in a 7-0 shutout. Rhea scored three goals in a 3-2 victory over Kean University (Oct. 14). She is the NJAC leader in assists (16) and assists per game (0.94). She is also tied for fourth in goals (12) and is fourth in points (40). In addition, Rhea is third in points (2.35) and fourth in goals (0.71) per game.
This is Fink’s first season with the Profs. She has started every game and has six assists. Toomey starts on a defense that has only allowed nine goals this season. She has assisted on three goals. Rowan ranks second in the conference in goals against average (0.52) and in shutouts (10).
The women’s soccer team has an overall record of 15-1-1. The Profs are the defending conference champion and the top seed in the NJAC Championship Tournament.