CHAMPIONSHIPS (4): 2016 (GNAC), 2017 (GNAC), 2018 (GNAC), 2019 (GNAC)

COACH OF THE YEAR (5): 2009 (NAC), 2010 (NAC), 2016 (GNAC), 2018 (GNAC), 2019 (GNAC)

CAREER RECORD: 218-107 (.671)

ALL ACADEMIC HONOREES: 241 

ALL CONFERENCE HONOREES: 76

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: 14

ALL REGION HONOREES: 20

ALL AMERICANS: 3

Click here to read Coach Lewis' "Chalk Talk" feature

In his 18 years at the helm, Head Coach Rupert Lewis has established the Saint Joseph’s College field hockey program as one of the best programs in New England.

Overview:

Taking over in the fall of 2005, Lewis inherited a program that posted a 2-14 record the previous season and endured the only two losing seasons of his tenure before setting the team record for victories in his third year.

Prior to the “Lewis Era” the SJC field hockey team posted an aggregate 48-107 (.310) record – with just one winning season - in 10 years as a varsity program. Heading into the 2021 campaign, the 27th-year program is 241-200 (.546).

By far the winningest (207-98) and most successful (.678 winning percentage) in the program’s history, Coach Lewis has orchestrated 10 or more wins in a season on 13 occasions with a program-best 19 victories in 2018.

With a coaching philosophy based on stout defensive play and a balanced offensive attack, Lewis has built a program that routinely competes for a conference title. In six years in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), Coach Lewis has led the Monks to four conference titles (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), three GNAC regular season crowns (2014, 2018, 2019), and a runner-up finish (2015). In 2016, his team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time and posted a thrilling 1-0 victory over Montclair State - ranked 10th nationally at the time - in the first round before falling to Skidmore College in a Sweet 16 contest several days later.

The Monks also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2017 and held a 1-0 lead over #19 University of New England late in the second half before allowing two scores in the final 14 minutes. In 2018 St. Joe's suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of CCC Champion Endicott College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and in 2019 the Monks fell to #14 Babson College, 2-0, in the first round.

In six seasons as a member of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), Lewis led his Monks to a pair of regular-season titles with four NAC Championship runner-up efforts. Since 2008, St. Joe's is 61-11 (.847) in conference play - including an incredible 22-2 (.917) mark in GNAC play.

Coach Lewis also propelled the Monks to ECAC Tournament appearances in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Monks advanced all the way to the ECAC Championship before falling to Bridgewater State University at Mercy Field in the title bout that season.

With Coach Lewis leading the way, Saint Joseph’s has consistently ranked among the national leaders in a variety of defensive statistics, including goals against average and team shutouts.

Recently: In 2021, Coach Lewis notched his 200th career win at SJC in with a 3-0 victory over conference-rival Lasell University on October 2nd. The Monks posted a record of 14-5, with a 9-2 overall record in conference play. The Monks season came to a close in a 1-0 OT loss in the GNAC Semifinals against Johnson and Wales University. Six Monks earned all conference honors, (Rutledge (1), Hill (1), Esposito (2), Dalton (2), Quirion (3), Michalik (3)) and senior captain Emma Rutledge also being nominated on the NFHCA Senior Team and NFHCA All Region 1st Team. The Monks finished first in the conference for total assists (46) and a goals against average of 1.04. They also finished second in total goals scored, tallying 71 on the year. 

MIC'D UP WITH COACH LEWIS

Past Seasons:

2019: 

In 2019 the Monks posted an 18-4 overall record with a perfect 8-0 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play en route to winning their fourth-consecutive GNAC Championship. St. Joe's toppled Lasell University, 4-0, in the conference title contest at the SJC Athletics Complex on November 9th and played at #14 Babson College in the first round of the NCAA DIII Tournament four days later. After a scoreless first half, the Beavers hit pay dirt twice in the third quarter to clinch the 2-0 victory.

The NCAA Tournament setback signaled the end of collegiate field hockey for the Monks' three seniors: Maddy Beaulieu (West Gardiner, Maine), Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine), and Kylee Veilleux (Sabattus, Maine). The 2020 senior class helped Saint Joseph's win four GNAC Championships while posting a 66-19 (.777) overall record, including a 25-2 (.926) mark in GNAC play, during their time on the turf. 

2018: 

In 2018, Saint Joseph's posted perhaps the finest season in program history. With a 19-2 overall record and a 7-0 mark in GNAC play, the Monks claimed their third-consecutive GNAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in as many years. Playing at Endicott College in the first round, the Monks suffered a 3-1 season-ending loss.

The 2018 team set new SJC single-season records for wins, goals (95), assists (76), points (266), shots (487), shutouts (13), and goals-against average (0.66) and finished the year as the NCAA DIII leader in assists per game (3.57), penalty corners per game (14.10), points per game (12.62), and scoring margin (3.81). St Joe's also ranked third in the country in goals per game (4.52) and scoring average (4.47), fourth in winning percentage (.905), eighth in save percentage (.841), and ninth in goals-against average (0.66).

2017: Lewis led Saint Joseph's to 15-6 overall record with a 6-1 GNAC mark en route to winning the GNAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive season. St. Joe's faced #19 University of New England in the opening round of the NCAA tourney and led 1-0 early in the second half, but the Nor'easters netted a pair of goals late to end the Monks' campaign. 

Following the regular season, six Saint Joseph's players garnered All-Conference accolades with sophomore Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine) and senior Hayley Winslow (Falmouth, Maine) claiming Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors, respectively. Senior Elyse Caiazzo (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) and junior Kayla Veilleux (Sabattus, Maine) joined Pomerleau and Winslow on the First Team while juniors Kayla Kelly (York, Maine) and Arianna Kahler (Lisbon Falls, Maine) collected Second Team All-GNAC acclaim.

Pomerleau and Winslow also earned Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III All-Region honors. Pomerleau was a First Team New England East selection while Winslow collected Second Team mention.

2016: Under Lewis's watch, Saint Joseph's earned GNAC regular season and tournament championships with a 13-6 overall record and a 5-1 mark in conference play in 2016. The program's first conference title resulted in an automatic berth into the NCAA DIII Tournament, and the Monks opened national tourney play with a 1-0 win at #10 Montclair State University on November 9th before falling to #11 Skidmore College in a Sweet 16 match-up three days later. The Monks were very well represented on the GNAC All-Conference docket, as three individuals garnered major honors, with Lewis being named as the GNAC Coach of the Year, sophomore Megan Baker (Gorham, Maine) earning 2016 GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year accolades, and freshman Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine) being chosen as the 2016 GNAC Rookie of the Year. Seven of the 11 First Team All-GNAC honorees hailed from Saint Joseph's, as Pomerleau and Baker are joined by senior Kelsey Dumond (Lewiston, Maine), freshman Maddy Beaulieu(Gardiner, Maine), junior Elyse Caiazzo (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus), sophomore Arianna Kahler (Lisbon, Maine), and junior Hayley Winslow (Falmouth, Maine) on the top conference team. Saint Joseph's capped the 2016 campaign ranked 12th in NCAA DIII Field Hockey in goals against average (0.94) and shutouts per game (0.48). 

2015: It was another banner year for the Monks’ field hockey program, as the Royal Blue went 13-7 overall with a 5-1 mark in GNAC play in 2015. Saint Joseph’s avenged a 2014 tourney setback at the hands of Anna Maria College with a 3-1 triumph over the AMCATS in the 2015 semifinal round. With the victory, the Monks advanced to the conference championship for the fifth time in the last eight seasons and faced top-seeded Simmons College, who edged Saint Joseph’s by a 1-0 margin to claim the GNAC crown for the second time in as many seasons. Following the completion of the regular season, five SJC standouts garnered All-GNAC accolades, including senior defender Meghan Williams who collected First Team honors.

2014: In 2014, Saint Joseph's went 14-3 overall and 6-0 in GNAC play en route to earning the top seed in the 2014 GNAC Tournament. With a bye in the quarterfinal round, the Monks faced #4 Anna Maria College in a semifinal matchup at Mercy Field on November 5th and suffered a season-ending 1-0 loss at the hands of the AMCATS. One of the top defensive programs nearly every season, the 2014 squad ranked seventh in the nation with a 0.81 goals against average and 14th in shutouts per game (0.41).  The Monks also finished 10th in winning percentage (.824), 12th in penalty corners per game (12.71), 16th in scoring margin (2.15) and 18th in assists per contest (2.12).  St. Joe’s also set team records in winning percentage and goals against average in 2014 and landed six players on the All-Conference docket. 

2013: The 2013 campaign was arguably the finest season to date for the field hockey program, as Coach Lewis guided the Royal Blue to a 15-4 overall record and a 7-2 mark in NAC play en route to earning the #2 seed in the conference tournament. The Monks advanced to the championship for the fourth time with tourney triumphs over Lasell College and Husson University before falling to top-seeded Castleton State College in the championship. Although certainly frustrating for a program that is still in search of its first-ever conference title, the championship loss should not spoil what was otherwise a terrific season. The 2013 Monks set team records for winning percentage (.790), longest win streak (8), longest shutout streak (5), fewest goals allowed (17), shutouts (10) and goals against average (0.89) while tying the program marks for most wins and fewest losses. Also, the 2013 club ranked second in all of NCAA DIII Field Hockey in shutouts per game (0.53) and seventh in goals against average. Also, with a NAC Tournament semifinal victory over Husson on November 6th, Coach Lewis became the first in program history to reach the 100-win plateau.

2012: The 2012 season was uncharacteristically subpar for a Lewis-led program, as the Royal Blue went 9-8 overall with a 5-4 record in NAC play. Saint Joseph’s, the #5 seed in the NAC tourney, was bounced from contention in the quarterfinal round for the first time with a 2-1 loss to New England College on October 27th.

2011: It was another successful year for the SJC field hockey team, as the Monks went 13-6 overall and 8-1 in NAC play en route to earning the #2 seed in the 2011 conference tournament. The Royal Blue recorded tourney wins over Simmons College and New England College before dropping a heartbreaker, 2-1 in a stroke-off, to Husson University in the NAC Championship game at Mercy Field on November 5th. Senior goalkeeper Meaghan Johnson achieved an important milestone for the Monks in 2011 when she became the first player in the program’s 17-year history to collect All-America accolades. Johnson, the 2011 NAC Defensive Player of the Year, garnered Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Third Team All-America honors after posting the second-highest save percentage (.882) and ninth-lowest goals against average (0.95) in NCAA DIII Field Hockey. The 2011 NFHCA First Team All-New England honoree notched a 13-6 record with six shutouts and 19 goals allowed and 142 saves in 19 starts and 1393 minutes during the 2011 campaign.

2010: The 2010 Monks went 13-6 overall and posted a flawless 7-0 record in NAC contests for the second consecutive year under the guidance of Coach Lewis, who collected Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row for his efforts. In the conference tourney, St. Joe's defeated Castleton State, 2-1 in overtime, before falling to Husson University by a 2-1 margin in the NAC Championship at Mercy Field on November 6th. Senior forward Courtney Rague became the second consecutive SJC field hockey player to garner NAC Player of the Year honors after leading the team in goals (14), assists (12) and points (40) and classmate Kayla Nowell capped her career as the team's all-time leader in goals (57), points (146), shots (346) and game-winners (13).

2009: In 2009, Lewis guided the Monks to a 14-4 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in North Atlantic Conference play. As the regular season champs, St. Joe’s gained the top seed in the NAC Tournament but suffered a penalty-stroke loss to Husson in the semifinal round. Coach Lewis was selected as the 2009 NAC Coach of the Year and four players, including Player of the Year Julia Ostrowski (Albany, NY), received All-Conference recognition. Also, the Monks set new program single-season records for winning percentage (.778) and shot percentage (.219) and tied the marks for fewest losses (4) and consecutive shutouts (2) during the 2009 campaign.

2008: In 2008, Lewis led the Monks to a 15-6 overall record and a trip to the North Atlantic Conference championship game as a first-year member of the league. As the third seed with a 5-1 record in NAC play, Saint Joseph's defeated Thomas and Farmington before falling to top-seeded Castleton, 1-0, in the title match. Following the hard-fought loss to the Spartans, St. Joe's made an appearance in the ECAC Championship Tournament for the second consecutive year. With a 4-2 triumph over Castleton at Lakeside Field on October 5th, Lewis became the winningest coach in SJC Field Hockey history. His 2008 team set program records for wins, winning percentage (.714), goals (75), assists (65) and points (215).

2007: The 2007 squad enjoyed a breakout season, posting a 14-7 record and earning a berth into the ECAC Championship Tournament for the first time. After defeating Wheaton College, 2-1, in an unconventional shootout round that required three days to complete, St. Joe's proceeded to topple Plymouth State to advance to the championship. Unfortunately, the Lady Monks fell to Bridgewater State at Lakeside Field in the title game, but they certainly made their presence felt as an up-and-coming team in the New England Region on their journey to the season-capping match.

Previously:

A 1982 University of Southern Maine graduate, Lewis went on to hold the position of Assistant Field Hockey Coach for the Huskies from 1984 to 1991 and proved instrumental in helping the Field Hockey program to get to their first NCAA Division III national tournament.

In addition to coaching field hockey, Lewis is a nationally licensed soccer coach and has played semi-professionally in Massachusetts where he made the All-Massachusetts Select Travel Team. He was also the Assistant Coach for the University of Southern Maine's 2004 Men's Soccer Team.

Lewis has a distinguished and winning soccer resume as well, and has been named to the NCAA Division III All-State and Regional Teams, as well as receiving Honorable Mention for the All-America Collegiate Team. He has played and coached for a number of southern Maine summer soccer teams, winning both the Division I and II leagues numerous times. Lewis also coached the 2003 U-14 Boys Premier Club for Maine Metro in Portland, Maine.

In 2010, Lewis also earned personal accolades for his efforts as a men’s soccer player at University of Southern Maine when he was inducted into the Huskies’ Hall of Fame on October 2nd, 2010. Lewis, a 1982 USM graduate, helped lead USM to an NAIA District 5 Championship in 1979, a pair of trips to the NAIA Final Four, and a 52-19-7 (.732) record during his four years. Among his numerous awards, Lewis earned All-District 5 honors in 1981 and 1982, All-New England honors in 1982 and All-State honors in 1981 and 1982.

Coach Lewis is a native of Jamaica, where he began his illustrious career in field hockey and soccer. While in high school in Jamaica, he represented his country nationally in both sports. During his senior year, he played and coached his high school team through a winning season at Cornwall College High School located in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

 

	OVERALL			CONFERENCE
Year	W	L	W%	W	L	W%	ACHIEVEMENTS
2005	1	13	.071
2006	6	10	.375
2007	14	7	.667				ECAC Runner-up
2008	15	6	.714	5	1	.714	ECAC #4 Seed
2009	14	4	.778	7	0	1.000	NAC Regular Season Champions
2010	13	6	.684	7	0	1.000	NAC Regular Season Champions
2011	13	6	.684	8	1	.889
2012	9	8	.529	5	4	.556
2013	15	4	.789	7	2	.778
2014	14	3	.824	6	0	1.000	GNAC Regular Season Champions
2015	13	7	.650	5	1	.833
2016	14	7	.667	5	1	.833	GNAC Champions/NCAA Tournament
2017	15	6	.714	6	1	.857	GNAC Champions/NCAA Tournament
2018	19	2	.905	7	0	1.000	GNAC Champions/NCAA Tournament
2019	18	4	.818	8	0	1.000	GNAC Champions/NCAA Tournament
2021	14	5	.737	9	2	.818	GNAC #3 Seed
2022	11	9	.550	8	3	.727	GNAC #3 Seed
TOTAL	218	107	.671	93	16	.853