STANDISH, ME – The SJC Field Hockey team, led by sixth-year Head Coach Rupert Lewis, figures to be in the thick of the North Atlantic Conference title hunt again this fall.
The Monks have posted an incredible 12-1 record in NAC play as a two-year league member, with a conference championship appearance and regular-season crown to show for their efforts. Lewis, the 2009 NAC Coach of the Year, guided the Monks to the conference championship contest in 2008 and, with a 7-0 league record, the top seed in the 2009 playoffs. St. Joe's lost to Castleton, 1-0, in the NAC title contest in 2008 and fell to Husson University in a penalty-stroke battle in last year's tournament.
Although the NAC title and subsequent NCAA berth have proved to be elusive thus far, the SJC stickers have gained valuable playoff experience and hope 2010 will be their year.
If the Monks are to make such a title-run, however, they will do so without the services of a stellar graduating class that included four-year starters Julia Ostrowski '10, Jillian Kimball '10 and Kim Glynn '10. Ostrowski, the 2009 NAC Player of the Year, left the program owning a majority of the team's career and single-season offensive records. Kimball and Glynn, both All-NAC defenders, will certainly be missed as well as the duo provided valuable leadership on and off the field.
Top returners include forward Kayla Nowell '11 (Bridgton, ME), defender Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) and goalkeeper Meaghan Johnson'11 (Portland, ME/Cheverus). Nowell, a two-time All-NAC honoree, heads into her senior season within reach of all the team's career records and needs just three goals to surpass Ostrowski as the Monks' all-time leading scorer. Dunn is a punishing defender with a blistering shot from the point and Johnson has proven to be one of the best keepers in the conference in two years as the starter.
Other anticipated contributors include forwards Sarah Bartell '12 (Exeter, NH) and Courtney Rague'11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME), a duo that combined to tally nine goals and seven assists last season. Bartell is one of the Monks' three captains along with Dunn and Johnson, and Rague looks to have a huge senior year.
Saint Joseph's also features a solid group of newcomers, including defender Carley Denis '14 (Lewiston, ME) and goalkeeper Jackie Goodell '14 (Lebanon, NH). Look for this pair of rookies to make a difference for the Monks on the defensive end of the field in their first year.
Saint Joseph's, 14-4 overall and 7-0 in NAC play last year, will open the 2010 season with a non-conference contest at Framingham State on Thursday, September 2nd at 4:00 PM. The Monks' home-opener will take place on Saturday, September 11th at 1:00 PM against NAC foe Lasell College.
