About The Team 

The field hockey program at Elms College was the first intercollegiate team established by the college’s Athletic Department in 1981. The Blazers were especially dominant from 1986 to 1991, when they recorded a winning percentage of better than .670, including a 15-4-1 record in 1989. That same year, the program claimed the school’s first-ever state championship by winning the MAIAW (Massachusetts Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) title.

In 2012, under second-year head coach Kim Cosenza, the Blazers posted one of the most historic seasons in program history, notching eight – the team’s most victories since the 1994 season.

Goalkeeper Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.) became the program’s all-time saves leader, finishing her four-year career with 784 saves. For the second consecutive season, Bonavita was honored as the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-NECC selection and also became the first field hockey player to be named Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III All-New England West Region.

Elms finished its 2012 NECC slate with a 5-1 record – also a program best mark in conference play – and won five of its last eight regular season contests to earn the second seed in the league’s postseason tournament. The Blazers won a hard-fought 5-4 game over third-seeded Becker College and advanced to the team’s second NECC tournament title game since 2008.

Elms received stellar play from its defensive unit all season, highlighted by sophomores Allie LaMonica (Salem, Mass.) and Ashley Reid (Enfield, Conn.) who were each named Honorable Mention All-NECC. LaMonica and Reid each tallied two defensive saves against conference competition. The pair also combined for five shots during league action and LaMonica finished the season with a goal and two assists, while Reid chipped in three assists.

Freshman forward Kristina Kopyscinski (Agawam, Mass.) led Elms in scoring with nine markers, and junior Kayla Narey (South Hadley, Mass.) found the back of the cage seven times and added an assist. Sophomore forward Jaclyn Soderquist (Enfield, Conn.) chipped in 11 points on four goals and three assists to help the Blazers total 32 goals for the season.

In addition to competing in the NECC the Blazers are also members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).