The College of New Jersey has been selected as the favorite to win the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference Field Hockey Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s seven head coaches. The 2004 NJAC Champion Lions will be seeking their second straight NJAC crown and their 19th conference championship since the inception of field hockey as a conference sport back in 1982.  

TCNJ finished the 2004 season with a 14-6 overall record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lions received five-of-the-seven first place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of 21st-year head coach Sharon Pfluger, TCNJ has posted an overall record of 359-43-5.   

The Lions return four all-conference players including a pair of junior forwards in Jess Berkowitz and Allison Greene. Defensively, TCNJ also returns a pair of junior all-conference backs in Blair Alber and Meg Hess.  

Rowan University, the NJAC Champion in 2002 and 2003, was selected to place second and received two first place votes. Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Penny Kempf, the Profs have posted an overall record of 111-24. Rowan returns a pair of all-conference players from a 2004 squad which finished 10-7 including sophomore forward Danielle Miranda and the 2004 NJAC Midfielder of the Year, senior Elizabeth Unger.  

Montclair State University, which finished the 2004 season with a 12-7 overall record while earning a bid to the ECAC Tournament, was tapped to place third. Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Beth Gottung, the Red Hawks have posted a 39-18 overall record. Montclair returns three all-conference players including the 2004 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore forward Jennifer Tanis. In addition, MSU returns junior all-conference midfielder Jen Soss and senior all-conference back Elyse Winkle.

The coaches' dark horse selection, William Paterson University, was tapped to place fourth. Under the direction of second-year head coach Lindsay Bard, the Pioneers posted a record of 12-5 in 2004 while earning a bid to the ECAC Tournament. The Pioneers return an all-conference senior back in Mindy Coxe.  

Kean University, which finished the 2004 season with an 11-6 overall record, was selected to place fifth. The Cougars return one all-conference player in sophomore midfielder Shawn Cumberland. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Dipi Bhaya, Kean has posted an overall record of 48-26. 

After completing its first year of NJAC competition with a 9-7 overall record, Ramapo College was tapped to place sixth. The Roadrunners are led by third-year head coach Leslie LaFronz.

Richard Stockton College, led by second-year head coach Amy Topham, was tapped to place seventh.

NJAC league play will get underway on Wednesday, September 14 when Montclair State hosts Ramapo in the first conference contest of the year. 

The NJAC Champion receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.