STANDISH, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College field hockey team is already off to a terrific start.
The Monks opened the 2018 season with huge victories over Skidmore College and Wellesley College, two teams that had never lost to St. Joe's, last weekend. The Monks nipped Skidmore, 3-2, in a rematch of the 2016 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 contest (won by Skidmore, 2-0, which was ranked 11th nationally), on Friday and made a big statement with a 7-0 win over Wellesley, a top team from the NEWMAC, on Sunday.
STARTS AT THE TOP:
Head Coach Rupert Lewis returns for his 14th season on the Monks' sideline. By far the winningest (156-87) and most successful (.642 winning percentage) skipper in program history, Lewis has orchestrated 10 or more wins in a season on 10 occasions with a program-best 15 victories in 2008, 2013, and 2017. His teams routinely compete for a conference title with an overreaching philosophy based on strong defensive play and a balanced offensive attack.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF:
Last fall, Saint Joseph's went 15-6 overall with a 6-1 GNAC record 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.
DEARLY DEPARTED:
The Monks graduated a pair of All-Conference players last spring, as four-year starting defender Hayley Winslow '18 and three-year starting midfielder Elyse Caiazzo '18 have departed following distinguished careers.
Winslow, the 2017 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-GNAC honoree, collected Longstreth/NFHCA New England East Region Second Team honors after netting six goals and two assists for 14 total points with three game-winners during her senior season.
Caiazzo, a two-time First Team All-GNAC honoree, played and started in 60 games in her career with seven goals and 10 assists for 24 points along with four game-winners.
KEY RETURNERS:
Junior Libby Pomerleau (Limerick, Maine) highlights the group of returning players after scoring an SJC single-season record 22 goals with 49 total points en route to claiming GNAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades last fall. In two collegiate seasons Pomerleau has scored 38 goals with 15 assists for 91 total points and already owns the Monks' career game-winning goals record with 16.
Seniors Kayla Kelly (York, Maine) and Kara Kelly (York, Maine) return after combining to score 13 goals with 31 total points last season. Both midfielders bring great speed to the SJC lineup and create headaches for opposing defenses in transition.
Senior goalkeeper Megan Baker (Gorham, Maine), a two-time All-Conference netminder and 2016 GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year honoree, enjoyed another fine season last fall when she established career-highs in minutes (1363) and wins (14) while posting a 0.92 GAA with a .778 save percentage. She heads into her senior year with 21 career shutouts and 178 saves with a .771 save percentage with only 53 goals allowed over 58 games.
Senior defender Kayla Veilleux (Sabattus, Maine) and senior midfielder Arianna Kahler (Lisbon Falls, Maine) also return to lead their respective position groups while senior Meghan Burke (Falmouth, Mass.) and junior Kylee Veilleux (Sabattus, Maine) help fortify what will likely be on the of the best defenses in the conference, if not the region.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH:
Coach Lewis's recruiting efforts have yet again yielded a promising freshman class, including several who are expected to make an impact right away.
Freshman forward Emma Rutledge (Alfred, Maine), a First Team All-State player who starred for Massabesic High School, is a polished player who is adept at both finishing and setting up others to score and has solidified her position in the starting lineup. Midfielder Logan Champlin (Alfred, Maine), defender Morgan Dalton (Livermore Falls, Maine), and forward Leah Mayes (Lebanon, N.H.) look to play important roles this fall as well.
GAMES TO SEE:
Sep. 16 vs. Kean University: Ranked 14th nationally in the NFHCA Preseason Poll, Kean figures to yet again be a powerhouse after going 21-3 and advancing all the way to the Elite 8 last fall. The Cougars handed the Monks their worst loss (6-0) last season, but this year's game will be played at the SJC Athletics Complex, where the Monks have posted an 11-1 record since the complex opened last fall.
Sep. 27 at Southern Maine: The Monks look to avenge a 2017 setback at the hands of the Huskies in the annual rivalry game, which will be played on USM's Hannaford Field turf.
Oct. 14 vs. Lasell College: A rematch of the 2017 GNAC Championship game, the Lasers will attempt to spoil the Monks' regular-season finale, and potentially their chance at the top seed in the conference tourney, while avenging a 3-0 loss at the hands of SJC in the GNAC title bout on their home field last fall.
2018 SCHEDULE SYNOPSIS:
