Complete NJAC Release

Ewing, NJ...The College of New Jersey field hockey team was picked to finish second in the preseason poll for the New Jersey Athletic Conference as voted upon by the coaches.

Rowan University is the preseason favorite collecting five of the seven first-place votes with the Lions and Montclair State University each getting one.

The Lions are poised to make a run at their fourth NJAC title in the last five years with a number of key players returning, including their top three scorers. Leading that group are sophomore Caitlyn Jenkins (Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway), who paced the team with 10 goals last season, along with junior Alex Okuniewicz's (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) seven goals and senior Kellyn Riley's (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) six. Adding even more firepower are senior Jessica Falcone (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) and junior Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape). Falcone netted five goals last year and Mitchell returns to the field after missing the 2009 campaign due to injury. In 2008, she led the Lions with 19 goals and was an All-NJAC First Team selection.

Another strong suit for the team is at midfield where senior Mary Waller (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) was named to the 2009 Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-America Third Team.

TCNJ also has a veteran presence in goal as junior Shannon Syciarz (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) returns for her third season as the team's starter.

The Lions are coming off of a 9-6 season and went 5-1 in conference play.

NJAC Preseason Poll
1. Rowan University (5)
2. The College of New Jersey (1)
3. Montclair State University (1)
4. William Paterson University
5. Kean University
6. Richard Stockton College (Dark Horse)
7. Ramapo College