PITMAN, N.J. – The TCNJ field hockey team was picked second in the NJAC preseason poll released Monday morning by the league office.
 
Rowan received six of a possible seven first-place votes to top the preseason prognostications of the conference's head coaches, with the Lions taking the other first-place ballot. Montclair State was third, followed by Stockton (selected as the 'dark horse'), Kean, Ramapo, and William Paterson.
 
The Lions graduated two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Year Rayhanah Ahmed and another All-American in Claire Engebreth, but bring back a balanced group of returners looking to make its mark on the national landscape.
 
Junior forward Jadyn Huff is the squad's leading returning scorer after posting a 22-point campaign in 2024, while junior midfielder Isabel Maher is coming off a first-team All-NJAC season.
 
First-team all-conference goalkeeper Brigitte Racey anchors the defense between the pipes, with plenty of returning support from two-time all-league honoree Taylor Wielechowski and Rachael Tetzlaff, who started every game and made six defensive saves as a rookie.
 
Captain Heather Kimak and Avery Vacca also started every game a year ago, while Mackenzie Hart made nine starts and finished third on the team with 14 points.
 
Head coach Sharon Pfluger is also hopeful for contributions from a strong class of newcomers.
 
"The 2025 team encompasses a terrific group of student-athletes who are super excited about the season," Pfluger said. "Everyone works extremely hard and it is obvious that there was a lot of effort put into the summer preparations for the season. The team possesses incredible potential to be successful."
 
The Lions open the new season at home on Saturday against Catholic, part of a non-conference schedule that also features perennial powers Johns Hopkins, Messiah, and Ursinus before NJAC play begins in earnest against Kean on October 7.