West Essex Field Hockey Remains
Class Of Essex & Group 2 Scene

NORTH CALDWELL- There is usually little drama on the Essex County field hockey scene when it comes to the annual dominance of West Essex; however, the Knights continue to seek out as strong an independent schedule as possible, which has certainly been the case once again this fall with a number of matches against national-level competition.

Veteran coach Jill Cosse’s Wessex stickers defeated Sacred Heart of Kentucky, 2-1, in the MAX Field Hockey Invitational played at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, Pa. on Sept. 18, a day before blowing past Staples (Conn.), 5-1, in the same exclusive showcase that involved 14 top teams.

There were also a 2-1 victory at Episcopal (Pa.) on Sept. 5, and a tough 5-0 setback to national power Notre Dame de Namur of Pennsylvania on Sept. 9.
In their first five matches vs. New Jersey schools this fall the Knights had outscored opponents, 35-2, with three shutout victories.     

It all adds up to preparing for what could be another Group 2 state title and an almost sure ECT crown.

When it comes to the West Essex field hockey dynasty what’s certainly amazing in addition to countless victories is the fact that the Knight have had just two head coaches in 58 varsity seasons with the legendary Linda Alimi (1967-1996) and Cosse (1997-present) who is fourth on state's all-time wins list in the sport.

Now, Cosse is looking to guide the 2024 state ‘Team of the Year’ in nj.com to an eighth straight Group 2 state title along with continuing domination in the ECT where the North Caldwell regional school has won 19 of the 21 finals played since 2004.

The Lady Knights have also won 23 state titles overall and they stand just one state crowns behind the state-leading total of perennial South Jersey power Eastern.

In coaching circles, Cosse stands only behind an impressive trio of now retired all-time greats in terms of all-time statewide victories. Fist in 1-Nancy Williams of Shore Regional (839-67-55 from 1971 to 2014), 2-Ann Marie Davies of Madison (632 wins from 1982-2018) and 3-Claudia McCarthy of Millville (610-238-21 from 1971-2020).

Cosse’s total stands at 608 as she prepared to send her Knights vs. Johnson in regular season action on Wednesday (Sept. 24) in North Caldwell.

The Lady Knights’ longtime head mentor had passed by her own, former high school coach Nancy Gross of Wall Township (576-217-22 from 1971-2017) on the all-time victory list in 2024 to move into the fourth spot overall.

West Essex defeated Point Pleasant Boro, 2-0, for both the 2025 and 2024 Group 2 state titles and have now defeated the Shore-based program four straight years in the overall Group 2 final.

Meanwhile, the Knights have continued to face a great independent schedule including also in 2024 with matches against eight nationally-ranked teams while finishing 5-3 in those tests against elite-level opponents.

West Essex is a member of the Essex/Union Red Division.

In what is annually the top in-division game of the regular season, the Lady Knights will host their top Essex/Union Red rival Oak Knoll 4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30. The Royal Knights are guided by 21st-year coach Ali Good (427 wins, .90 %), who is another top-notch, veteran coach ready to lead her defending Non-Public state champs in what promises to be another strong season for the Summit-based private school.  

West Essex returns a number of top players from last season even after bidding adieu to Cosse’s very talented daughter, forward Adelaide Minnella, the Knights’ all-time leading scorer who is already impacting in her freshman season at Villanova University.

Top seniors on this season’s Wessex team include forward Julia Conforti, midfielder Alex Agostini, defender Julian Breslin and goalies Lizzy Kosoy and Katie Moran.

Juniors Delaney Farrell (midfielder) and Tessa Delvescovo (forward) and sophomore midfielder Abby Agostini are among the talented, young Knights ready to help the team pursue more titles in 2026.

Cosse, who was selected as the 2021 National Coach of the Year by USA Field Hockey, is also the winningest coach in Essex County where among the other veteran coaches returning for another season are Montclair Kimberley Academy’s Injoo Han (208 wins in 16 seasons entering recent action) and Caldwell’s Sarah Pallino, who has 139 wins now in the midst of her second season with the Chiefs after 12 seasons guiding the Millburn Millers.  

Essex County field hockey and the entire state bid farewell in 2024 to an all-time great coach in Montclair’s Mary Pat Mercuro who had retired after 31 seasons at the helm of the strong Mounties’ program.

Moving up from her assistant coach's position under Mercuro was former West Essex standout player Michelle Hagel who Montclair Athletic Director Matt Belford entrusted with carrying on the rich tradition of the sport at the Essex County Group 4 school.

Mercuro, a member of Columbia High School’s Class of 1980, and a 2008 CHS Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, compiled an impressive record of 457-146-53 in her 31 seasons at Montclair, while directing her Mountie stickers to seven state sectional titles (2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2024), and two Essex County Tournament crowns (2005 and 2010).

MHS gave perennial champion West Essex a real run for its proverbial money in the 2024 ECT final, falling 3-2 in a very close county tourney championship match at the Lady Knights’ Travis Field.

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