The West Essex field hockey team is known around the community, and their numerous titles prove why. The team has been named Group 2 state champions, Group 2 North sectional champions, Essex County champions, Conference champions, No.1 team in New Jersey and No.5 in the country. West Essex Field Hockey has won the state championship six seasons in a row and beaten Point Pleasant Boro in their last three matchups against them. The Knights shut out Point Pleasant Boro 2-0 in this huge win. Led by their five captains, West Essex Field Hockey again comes out on top after another very successful season.
The field hockey program is not new to winning state championships. Their victory versus Point Pleasant Boro gives the team its 24th state championship. Since 1997, Jill Cosse has been head coach, leading the program and revolutionizing it to become one of the best in the country. Cosse’s daughter, Adelaide Minnella, had a terrific season, becoming the first junior ever at West Essex to get 100 goals and becoming a part of the small group of eight other players who have reached this accomplishment. Senior captain Sophia Sisco had 103 assists in her four years, surpassing West Essex Field Hockey’s assist record and becoming the first athlete in the program to reach 100 assists.
The Knights ended the season with an impressive record of 22-3. West Essex had key contributions from first-year players. Freshman forward Tessa Delvescovo was a starter, scoring 14 goals and earning six assists. Along with Delvescovo, freshman midfielder Delaney Farrell had 10 goals and six assists. Sophomore goalie Katie Moran, who transferred from Oak Knoll, greatly impacted the team this year as the starting goalie. Moran had 122 saves this season and 15 shutouts in 25 games. Heading into the highly awaited championship game, West Essex defeated Cranford, Voorhees, Warren Hills and West Morris to secure becoming sectional champions. West Essex held their opponents scoreless in these four games, which built momentum for the state championship.
The Knights headed to South Jersey for the finals and left their best efforts on the field. With goals scored by Farrell and senior captain Ava Russo and another shutout game from Moran, the Knights left Point Pleasant Boro scoreless to make a perfect ending to a successful season. This year, the team has seven seniors on the roster, most of whom have played field hockey all their lives and have been key contributors to the varsity program. Two seniors, Sisco and Russo, are committed to playing in Division I collegiate programs. Sisco is playing at Boston College and Russo is playing at Dartmouth University. As the Knights say their goodbyes to the seniors, they continue to build a foundation for the 2025 season with the underclassmen.
West Essex continues to push for future championships and sectional wins. With new key additions on the team, a winning head coach and great leaders in its upperclassmen, West Essex Field Hockey looks to continue dominating and winning state championships for years to come.
