Stockton's 50 Greatest Moments, Part 2

Stockton Athletics has a rich history that dates back practically to the inception of Stockton University. Osprey teams and student-athletes have achieved success at the highest levels of NCAA Division III, winning national championships and earning All-American honors. Thousands of student-athletes have worn a Stockton uniform as the intercollegiate athletics program has grown to its current plateau of 19 sports.

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Stockton University, Stockton Athletics has chosen its 50 greatest moments. Here is part two, with the events listed chronologically.

1987 - Men’s Basketball earns the first NCAA Final Four berth by any Stockton team

Stockton defeated Roanoke College 67-64 and California State-Stanislaus 88-80 in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament on March 6-7. The Ospreys then edged Widener 68-65 at I-Wing Gym on March 14, 1987 to advance to the NCAA Final Four, which was held at Calvin College (Mich.).

1988 - Greg Foster wins the NCAA National Championship in the Indoor Long Jump

Foster won the event with a jump of 7.53 meters (24’8.5”) at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Foster set a meet record with the performance and his distance ranks sixth-best in the history of the NCAA Indoor Championship meet.

1988 - Greg Foster wins the NCAA National Championship in the Indoor Triple Jump

Foster won his second NCAA Championship and set his second meet record with a distance of 15.56 meters (51’0.5”) that gave him the victory by nearly three feet. As of 2019, Foster’s triple jump was tied for fifth in the history of the NCAA Indoor Championship meet.

1993 - Women’s Soccer wins the program’s first ECAC Championship

The Ospreys defeated Mary Washington 4-2 and Keuka College 3-0 before nipping Plattsburgh State 2-1 in overtime to win the title. Stockton finished 18-1-2 for the season, a win total that has been surpassed only once and equaled twice in the succeeding 27 seasons.

1993 - Men’s Soccer earns the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth 

The Ospreys received an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament after posting a 16-3-1 record during the season. Stockton edged Trenton State 1-0 in the first round and tied Rowan University 0-0 in the second round before Rowan advanced by topping the Ospreys 4-1 in a penalty kick shootout.

1995 - Women’s Soccer earns the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth

Stockton received an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament after going 18-1 during the regular season. The Ospreys began the season with 11 consecutive wins and later added a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) before finishing with 19 victories, a school record that still stands.

1995 - Women’s Soccer advances to the program’s first NCAA Final Four and hosts Stockton’s first Final Four

The Ospreys avenged their only loss of the regular season with a 2-1 victory over Trenton State in the first round and advanced to NCAA Final Four by topping Amherst College 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 tie. Stockton then was chosen as the host site for the Final Four, the only time that the University has hosted the event in any sport.

1996 - Men’s Basketball advances to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament

Stockton defeated Mount St. Vincent 80-54 and NYU 81-77 in overtime in first and second round games at I-Wing Gym. The Ospreys then traveled to Rowan University, where they defeated Anna Maria 95-88 before falling to eventual national champion Rowan 98-70 in the NCAA quarterfinals.

1996 - Men’s Soccer wins the program’s first NJAC Championship

The Ospreys shut out Rutgers-Camden 2-0 in the regular season finale to finish atop the conference standings with a 6-1-2 record and claim the program’s first NJAC championship. Stockton also earned its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and advanced to the second round.

1996 - Volleyball wins the program’s first NJAC Championship and first ECAC Championship

Stockton won the NJAC title with 3-0 wins over Rowan and Rutgers-Newark in the NJAC Tournament. The Ospreys then defeated Johns Hopkins and Washington & Jefferson, both by 3-2 scores, to win the ECAC championship and set a school record with 32 wins.