PITMAN--After finishing the 2010 season with a 13-6 overall record, Rowan University has been selected as the 2011 preseason field hockey favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs will be seeking their seventh conference crown since 1998.

Led by 14th-year head coach Penny Kempf, the Profs were selected to finish first on five-of-the-seven ballots cast by the league head coaches. Under Kempf, Rowan has produced a 200-55 overall record. Rowan, which finished second in the NJAC in 2010 with a 5-1 league mark, returns a trio of all-conference players from its NJAC runner-up team, including senior back Lauren Conner, senior forward Julie Cairone, and senior back Rachael Dix.  

The College of New Jersey, which claimed the 2010 NJAC Championship with a perfect 6-0 league record, was selected to finish second and received two first place votes. The Lions advanced to the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament en route to a 17-5 overall record. Now in her 27th season with the TCNJ program, 2010 NJAC Coach of the Year Sharon Pfluger has guided the Lions to a record of 390-68-5, with her career collegiate coaching record standing at 459-87-9. The Lions return three of the major NJAC award winners from the 2010 season, including the reigning NJAC Attack Player of the Year in senior Leigh Mitchell, the reigning NJAC Goaltender of the Year in senior Shannon Syciarz, and the 2010 NJAC Rookie of the Year in junior forward Kathleen Notos. In addition, TCNJ returns an additional pair of all-conference players from its 2010 NJAC Championship squad in senior back Alexandria Okuniewicz and junior back Camille Passucci.

Montclair State University, which posted an 11-7 overall record in 2010, was selected to place third. The 2010 Red Hawks finished third in the NJAC with a 3-3 league mark. Led by 10th-year head coach Beth Gottung, MSU has produced an overall record of 125-50 during her tenure.  

Kean University, which earned a selection to the 2010 ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament, was selected to place fourth. The Cougars posted a 10-7 overall record in 2010 while finishing fourth in the NJAC with a 3-3 conference mark. Third-year head coach Leslie LaFronz has guided Kean to an overall mark of 21-12, while improving her career collegiate coaching record to 50-59. The Cougars return the 2010 NJAC Midfielder of the Year in senior Olivia Triano.       

William Paterson University, which posted a 6-13 overall record in 2010, was selected to place fifth. Under the leadership of eighth-year head coach Lindsay Bard, the Pioneers have produced a 72-55 overall record. William Paterson returns one all-league player from a 2010 squad which finished fifth in the NJAC in junior forward Kelsey Rella.

Richard Stockton College, which posted a 3-16 overall record in 2010 under second-year head coach Michelle Andre, was selected to place sixth and was tapped as the coaches’ dark horse selection for a second straight season. Andre’s career collegiate coaching record stands at 60-74. The Ospreys return one all-league player from their 2010 squad in senior back Nancy White.

Ramapo College, which posted a 9-10 overall record in 2010, was selected to place seventh. The Roadrunners have produced a 22-32 overall record under fourth-year head coach Concetta Valerio. Ramapo returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2010 squad, including senior forward Amanda Baretta and senior midfielder Aimee Herbert. 

The 30th season of NJAC field hockey will get under way on Thursday, September 1 with six teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin 12 days later on September 13 when Kean hosts Montclair State, and Rowan hosts Richard Stockton in the first two league contests of the season.

For the first time in the history of the conference, the NJAC will sponsor a conference field hockey tournament in 2010. The top four finishers in the regular season standings will advance to the conference tournament, with semifinal games scheduled for Wednesday, November 2. Both semifinal winners will advance to the first-ever NJAC Field Hockey Championship Game which will be hosted by the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 5. The winner of the NJAC Tournament will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.