Fact Sheet
This year, the Rowan University field hockey team is counting on another successful season. In 2009, the Profs had a 14-5 overall record and they captured their sixth New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title with a 6-0 mark. The field hockey team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. It was Rowan’s fifth straight appearance in the national tournament and 17th overall.
In the NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Rowan was selected to finish first. The Profs received five of the seven first place votes. The field hockey team is also ranked ninth in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Preseason Poll.
“We are a strong team this season,” stated head coach Penny Kempf. “We have a lot of experience coming back and some very strong additions to the program. Our goal is to repeat as conference champs and to go further in the NCAA tournament.”
Rowan returns its top six scorers from last season. The first three are forwards Lauren Ross (sr. Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester), Nicole Valianti (sr. Oaklyn, NJ/Collingswood) and Julie Cairone (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee). Ross was first in scoring with 38 points, 18 goals and two assists. She was named the NJAC Attack Player of the Year and to the All-Conference first team. In addition, Ross was a member of the NFHCA All-America second team and the South Atlantic All-Region first team.
Valianti was second in scoring with 12 goals and four assists for 28 points. Cairone followed with 25 points, 10 goals and five assists. She received NJAC All-Conference honorable mention. Midfielder Ashley Adams (jr. Erial, NJ/Timber Creek Reg.) contributed with 10 points (three goals and four assists) while back Lauren Conner (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and midfielder Janna Tighe (sr. Sewell, NJ/Gateway Reg.) added eight points apiece. Conner scored three goals and had two assists. She was chosen to the NJAC All-Conference first team and the NFHCA South Atlantic All-Region second team. Tighe was tied for first in assists with six and she also had one goal.
“Lauren (Ross) brings to the team a great amount of energy and speed,” Kempf commented. “She works and plays at 100 percent at all times. Nicole’s greatest strength is her acceleration and speed. She comes off the mark faster than anyone else. Julie has already taken her game to a higher level. She is playing better and with more confidence.”
At midfield, the Profs also have Rachael Dix (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and Laura DiMenna (jr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro). Marisa Schoepflin (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) will see time at forward or in the midfield. Dix played in six games last year while DiMenna registered one goal and three assists in 17 contests. Schoepflin was in only two games as a rookie.
“Jana returns in the midfield,” continued Kempf. “She is a solid defender that we can rely on. Ashley brings speed and enthusiasm to the team. Laura is working hard to earn a starting position. Marisa is a finesse player and has grown a lot.”
The Profs return backs Sam Williams (sr. Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood), Kelsey O’Neill (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and Conner. Williams started every game last year and registered four points (one goal and two assists). O’Neill earned a starting position in her first season.
“Sam is providing us with a lot of leadership and consistency on defense,” said Kempf. “Lauren (Conner) is a natural leader. She is very up beat and motivating for her teammates. Kelsey was a starter as a freshman. With one year of college hockey experience, I expect her to be able to play more.”
Newcomers looking to break into the lineup are backs Janice Camlin (fr. Thorofare, NJ/West Deptford), Ashley Fuhrer (so. Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) and Erika Mecchella (fr. Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester). At West Deptford High School, Camlin earned All-Conference first team honors her junior and senior year. Fuhrer transferred from Roanoke College. Last season, she started every game and compiled 14 defender saves which was a school record.
Lisa Apt (jr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) was the starting goalie last year. She accumulated 88 saves in 19 games for a 78.6 save percentage. Apt had a 1.32 goals against average and five shutouts. She was chosen the NJAC Goaltender of the Year and to the All-Conference first team. In addition, Apt was a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Metro Region All-Star first team. Jen Goldberg (so. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) played in three games as a freshman.
“Lisa is doing well in the preseason,” explained Kempf. “With one more year of experience under her belt, she should be playing at a higher level this season. Jen has improved a great deal from last year to this fall.”
Rowan has a tough schedule with seven games against teams that are ranked in the NFHCA Division III Preseason Poll. The Profs will play Salisbury University who is in the number one spot and Messiah College and Ursinus College who are second and third respectively. They also face Christopher Newport University, 12th; The College of New Jersey, 17th; Stevens Institute of Technology, 18th and Eastern University, 19th.
“Our schedule is the hardest it has ever been,” Kempf stated. “We play seven schools that are ranked in the first poll. I don’t know many schedules that are harder. We have added RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and picked FDU-Florham back up.”
In the NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll, The College of New Jersey is second while Montclair State University is third. The Lions and the Red Hawks each received one first place vote. William Paterson University and Kean University are fourth and fifth respectively. Richard Stockton College, the dark horse, is picked sixth followed by Ramapo College seventh.
Rowan starts the 2010 season at home against Cabrini College on Wednesday, September 1 at 7 p.m.
