Women's Soccer Highlights November Sports

TCNJ’s 2005 women’s soccer team finished the season as the NCAA Division III national runner-up after falling in the championship match, 1-0, to Messiah College. TCNJ has now appeared in the NCAA championship game six times in the program’s 15-year history. Sophomores Dana DiBruno and Courtney Krol and freshman Jamie Kunkel were all named to the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play.

In the semifinal game, DiBruno broke TCNJ’s single-season scoring record after adding five points on two goals and an assist. She finished the 2005 season with 48 points, two better than the previous mark of 46.

Earlier in the season, TCNJ won the NJAC Women’s Soccer Championship for the ninth time in the league’s history. DiBruno earned a selection as the 2005 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Krol was named the NJAC’s Defensive Player of the Year. Senior goalie Alissa Kacar was also recognized as the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Named to the NJAC All-Star First Team were Brittny Boyd and Laura Delaney, while Kristen Cubiocciotti was named to the second team.

TCNJ’s men’s soccer team won the 2005 NJAC men’s soccer regular-season championship and finished as the NJAC Tournament champion after being tapped ninth by the league’s coaches in a pre-season poll. TCNJ’s George Nazario was named the NJAC Coach of the Year after leading the Lions to the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual national champion, Messiah College.

Sophomore Matt Kasperavicius was named Goalkeeper of the Year, while senior Matthew Connor earned the David Logar Leadership Award and Matt Luber, Joseph McGinley, and Kasperavicius were all named to the NJAC All-Star First Team. Tim Dudek, Connor, and Jeff Lageman were recognized with spots on the second team.

In cross country, TCNJ’s rookie head coach, Phil Jennings, was named the NJAC’s Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year as well as the Atlantic Regional Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Jennings directed both the men’s and women’s teams to the 2005 NJAC Championships, with the Lion men also winning the Atlantic Regional Championship. TCNJ’s women’s team finished in third place, qualifying both teams for the 2005 NCAA Division III Championships at Ohio Wesleyan University. At the NCAAs, TCNJ’s women’s squad finished in ninth place nationally, and the Lion men took home 10th place. TCNJ’s women’s cross country team has now finished in the Top 15 in 10 of the last 11 NCAA championships. TCNJ’s men’s team has now finished in the Top 20 in eight of the last nine NCAA championships and improved upon last year’s 18th place showing.

At the NCAA Championships, senior Jenna Fasulo was the Lions’ top finisher in 47th place for the 6,000 meter course in a time of 23:14, while senior Jeff Zodda led the Lion men with a 66th place finish in 26:55 for the 8,000 meter course.

Earlier in the season at the NJAC championships, senior Matt Randal was named the NJAC Male Runner of the Year after winning the men’s title with a title of 25:16.00. Junior Kristen Pogorzelski was named the NJAC’s Female Runner of the Year after winning the women’s race in 22:47.10.

In field hockey, The College of New Jersey's team earned the program's 25th consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament selection after earning an at-large spot in the 2005 tournament. The Lions advanced to the second round before their season came to an end as the team posted a 15-5 record for the year. Earning All-America honors for the Lions this year were Allison Greene and Meg Hess, as both were named to the 2005 Dartfish/NFHCA Division III All-America Second Team.

Hess was named the NJAC’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Jennifer Lubin was the recipient of the NJAC’s Rookie of the Year Award. Earning a spot on the 2005 NJAC All-Star First Team from TCNJ were juniors Jess Berkowitz, Greene, and Hess, as well as sophomore Sheri Grondski.

In women’s tennis, the Lions won the program’s 23rd consecutive NJAC championship with a perfect 5-0 conference record, extending their NJAC winning streak to 111 consecutive matches - a streak that dates back to the start of NJAC tennis in the fall of 1982. Sophomore Christina Contrafatto earned her second straight selection as the NJAC’s Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, while Haley Kutner was named the NJAC’s Rookie of the Year. Earning NJAC All-Star honors were Contrafatto, Kristen Turturiello, Kutner and Jackie Gavornik.

In football, the Lions had several players named to the conference’s all-star team. Senior co-captain Ramie Roye was named to the NJAC’s All-Star Second Team on the offensive line, while sophomore Joe King and junior Josh Baker were named to the NJAC’s All-Star Second team on defense. Honorable Mention honorees include sophomore Jeff Bower, junior Ryan Ross, junior Kevin Plfuge, and senior Alan Kotteles.

TCNJ’s basketball teams have opened the 2005-2006 season on an impressive note. TCNJ women’s player Erin Frank earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Buffalo State University Tournament to open the year, while TCNJ’s men’s team opened the year collecting the championship trophy at the Salem State College Tournament. Seniors Scott Findlay and Jason Stallworth were named to the All-Tournament Team, and junior Matt Diamond was named the MVP of the Tournament.

In wrestling, TCNJ junior Joe Galante jumped up a spot to claim the top ranking at 157 pounds in the latest NWCA Brute – Adidas Division III individual rankings. Senior Brian Dempsey is ranked second at 125 pounds and is undefeated on the season. Also earning individual ranking is sophomore Jeff Harrington. The Lions are currently ranked sixth in the newest national poll. TCNJ will be hosting the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championships on March 3-4. This is the fourth time TCNJ will serve as the host of the event.

The 2005-2006 academic year marks the 25th anniversary of women’s championships sponsored by the NCAA. With the close of the 2005 field hockey season, the NCAA announced the 25th anniversary Division III Field Hockey Team. Among the former Lion student-athletes selected to the team were Gina Carey-Smith, Diane Smith, Melanie Vasofski, and Tiffany Trockenbrod. TCNJ’s current head coach, Sharon Pfluger, was named the coach of the 25th anniversary team.

TCNJ’s director of athletics, Kevin McHugh was recently named the 2005 recipient of the Garden State Award from the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ). This award is bestowed annually upon an individual who has made substantial and enduring contributions to the development of intercollegiate athletics nationally, regionally and in the state of New Jersey. McHugh received the prestigious award in conjunction with the CAANJ’s Annual Meeting at the Holiday Inn Hotel.