PITMAN, NJ – The sixth-ranked Rowan field hockey team had three of the NJAC's top individual award winners, while five players earned All-Conference honors.
Kristiina Castagnola was named the Midfielder of the Year,
Molly Gorczyca was chosen the Defender of the Year and
Michelle Andre was selected as the Coach of the Year.
Additionally,
Krystyna Hovell and
Bridget Guinan were named to the All-NJAC First Team and freshman
Julia Patrone received Honorable Mention.
Castagnola earns one of the major awards for the first time but receives All-Conference First Team recognition for the third consecutive year. The midfielder is the team's second leading scorer with 16 goals and seven assists, and two game-winning goals on the season. Castagnola has five multiple-goal games this season and has recorded at least one point in all but four games.
Gorczyca becomes the fourth consecutive Prof to earn the league's top defensive player honors. The senior handed out two assists but was the anchor of a defense that allowed only 18 goals in 17 games, while recording seven shutouts on the season. Gorczyca, who returned to action after missing the 2019 season with an illness, earns All-NJAC First Team honors for the first time in her career after receiving honorable mention in 2018.
Andre earns the Coach of the Year award for the second time. Under her guidance, Rowan has been in the Top 10 for the majority of the season and is in the midst of a 13-game winning streak. The Profs achieved the top seed in the NJAC Championship and will be playing for the conference title on Saturday.
Hovell earns All-League First Team distinction for the second time. She has scored 15 goals and handed out seven assists this season, and recorded five multiple-goal games. The junior forward has notched at least one point in all but three contests this year.
Guinan also receives First-Team honors for the second consecutive year. The forward tops the team in assists with eight, while scoring five goals with one gamewinner.
Patrone, a freshman, earns honorable mention as she made an immediate impact, topping the team with 18 goals. The forward has added four assists for a team-high 40 points and has six game-winning goals to her credit. Patrone has also registered two hat tricks this season.
The Profs (15-2) will now host second-seeded and fifth-ranked Kean in the NJAC Championship game on Saturday, November 6 at 6 p.m.
