The Stockton field hockey team had a record-setting 2018 season and capped it off with the school's first-ever postseason championship. The squad captured the ECAC Division III title in dramatic fashion, scoring the game-winner in overtime, and set school records with 15 wins, a 1.18 goals against average and nine shutouts.
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Three players from head coach
Sarah Elleman's squad earned NJAC First Team honors and the Ospreys had the NJAC Goaltender of the Year in junior
Emily Gilligan. Senior back
Victoria Caiazzo and sophomore forward
Britney Stein earned NJAC First Team nods along with Gilligan. Caiazzo and Gilligan later were selected to the NFHCA All-South Atlantic Second Team as well.
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Defensively, the Ospreys were among the league's best, finishing tied for second in the NJAC in shutouts plus third in saves and saves per game. Caiazzo led the way with five defensive saves (T-4th in NJAC) while also topping the team with eight goals, including five game-winners (T-3rd in NJAC), and 20 points.
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Caiazzo's five defensive saves tied the third-highest season total in school history. The senior finished her brilliant career with 11 defensive saves (2nd in program history), 15 goals (7th), eight assists (T-10th) and 38 points (T-8th).
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Caiazzo was joined on the tough backline by sophomores
Issy Gilhooley (2 assists, 2 defensive saves),
Casey Cordonna,
Hannah Wescoat,
Lauryn Flynn and
Arielis Reyes (2 defensive saves before season-ending injury). Cordonna, the MVP of the ECAC Tournament, was a breakout player for the Ospreys with seven goals, including three game-winners, and one defensive save.
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Backstopping the team was junior
Emily Gilligan, who had a tremendous season, tying the school record with five solo shutouts and also playing in four combined shutouts. Gilligan finished third in the conference in saves (107) and save percentage (.817). She became the first Osprey to be named NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year since Caitlin Nolan in 2005.
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Junior goalie
Niya Calloway came on as the penalty stroke specialist in net and made three saves, none bigger than her stop on a stroke in the ECAC championship game that preserved a 1-1 tie at the time and giving the Ospreys a shot at the title. Overall, Calloway played in four combined shutouts and sophomore
Natalie Ricevuto appeared in two.
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Stein led the forwards with six goals, three of which were game-winning tallies, and three assists for 15 points. One of those game-winners was the title-winning score in overtime, giving Stockton the ECAC championship 2-1 over Arcadia.
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Junior
Jennelle Long (5 goals, 3 assists, 13 points), sophomore
Kassidy Wentzell (3 goals, 6 assists, 12 points) and senior
Sarah Fisher (2 goals, 4 assists, 8 points) added scoring punch. Wentzell led the team and tied for eighth in the NJAC in assists. Fisher set up Stein for the game-winner in overtime for the ECAC championship.
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Senior
Lauren Sontupe gave the Ospreys steady play in the midfield while junior
Harlee York and sophomores
Isabelle Marsh and
Madison Dancisin provided quality depth off the bench. Both of Dancisin's goals in her first season as an Osprey were game-winners, and York contributed two assists as well.
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